I&Rgb LOGO
===============================================================
IR+R NEWS - news about democratic reform, citizens' initiative,
referendum, recall of elected officials. A service of
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
===============================================================
IN THIS NEWSLETTER THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ::::::::::::::::::::

1) UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATES DIRECT DEMOCRACY?

2) THE INIREF ELECTION STRATEGY: MAKE DEMOCRACY AN ISSUE IN THE IMMINENT GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

3) PLEBISCITE FROM "ON HIGH" DECREED BY UK PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT INVESTIGATES DIRECT DEMOCRACY?

House of Lords Constitution Committee
Inquiry into Referendums in the UK's Constitutional Experience
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords_constitution_committee.cfm

Questions raised by the noble lords have included:
1.    What are the strengths and weaknesses of the referendum as a democratic and constitutional tool?
3.    How does, and how should, the referendum relate to the UK’s system of parliamentary democracy?
9.    How does the referendum relate to other tools such as citizens’ initiatives? Should citizens be able to trigger retrospective referendums?
10.   How would you assess the experience of other countries in relation to the use of the referendum? What positive or negative aspects of international experience would you highlight?   (Source: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/CfEReferendums.doc)

SOME SAMPLED MATERIALS:
Written Evidence
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords_constitution_committee/constwrevid.cfm

Hearings, transcriptions
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords_constitution_committee.cfm

Meetings:
with Peter Facey (Charter88/New Politics), Stuart Weir (Democratic Audit), Helena Kennedy (lawyer), Peter Kellner (YouGov)
Transcript: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldselect/ldconst/999/corrconst130110ev2.pdf

with Steve Richards, Chief Political Commentator on the Referendums Inquiry (27 January 2010) PDF http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/lduncorr/uncorrcst270110ev4.pdf

with Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government, Brasenose College, University of Oxford and Professor Stephen Tierney, Professor of Constitutional Theory, University of Edinburgh and then Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, former Director, Think Twice (1997 Scottish devolution referendum “no” campaign) and Daran Hill, former National Co-ordinator, Yes for Wales (1997) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/lduncorr/uncorrcnst200110ev3.pdf

I&R ~ GB recommends: Enjoy reading and consider letting the noble lords know your opinion about democracy reform!


2) THE INIREF ELECTION STRATEGY: MAKE DEMOCRACY AN ISSUE IN THE IMMINENT GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

To get an impression of our plan and strategies please visit our newly adapted web site http://www.iniref.org/

Show your parliamentary candidate or sitting MP our democracy promise and ask her/him to sign up!

An extract from our  ELECTION SPECIAL presentation:

... we will show that, however you judge our politicians and governments, you can help to promote change which will lead to the introduction of new democratic tools such as citizens' law proposal, the veto referendum plus the MP-recall.

Let's say that your intention is:

1) I will not vote in the forthcoming election.
According to a survey of over 1000 declared non-voters a large majority felt that if direct democracy for citizens were available then they would make use of it (no sign of apathy here).
Recommendation: Join our open campaign for genuine democracy reform. Here are some links to help you make a start: Web site index Brief Case Join Take a look at our proposed Constructive Protest Vote. Contact us if you need to know more and tell us how you get on.

2) In my home constituency I will probably vote for a candidate on election day.
Recommendation: Ask your favoured candidate about her/his attitude to democracy reform. Show our Statement on Democracy by ... prospective members of parliament and ask your candidate (who may be your sitting MP) to sign up! Also, feel free to join our Campaign.

3) I am undecided about whether to vote or not. I know of no political party which represents my wishes.
From our review of manifestos and their public statements we are NOT convinced that any political party with a chance of gaining power would introduce the genuine citizen-led democracy which we propose. Even though three-quarters of adults (in repeated opinion surveys) approve. When the "powers that be" oppose reform, much can be achieved by campaigning and protest.
Recommendation: Read our general election strategy for democracy and think it over. Maybe you will decide to vote for a candidate or political party as the "least bad" evil (then see 2. above). Or maybe you will take up our appeal to non-voters: convert your ballot into a CONSTRUCTIVE PROTEST FOR DEMOCRACY

May the best ideas and arguments, not the slickest and richest operators, win the general election!
......................................
P.S. CHOOSE A SYMBOL ... to show your support for democracy. Carry or wear it on POLLING DAY. Take one of the following or send us your suggestion ...

3) PLEBISCITE FROM "ON HIGH" DECREED BY UK PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN

In the dying days of Gordon Brown's first and perhaps last parliament as PM he has graciously decided to offer the people the chance to decide in a (non-binding) referendum a highly important matter: The electoral system for our principal legislative body, the House of Commons. Such a referendum was promised by Brown's party in 1997, a promise which they failed to fulfill. Worse, although there are several electoral systems which are widely considered to be better than our "first past the post", Brown wants to offer beside "no change" only one choice, perhaps the worst which could be dreamed up: The "alternative vote" (preference) in single seat constituencies.

The right to INITIATE a referendum of the people is, for no good reason, monopolised by government. In reality the prime minister of the day decides if and when to hold such a ballot. To organise a referendum the government presents a regulating bill to parliament which almost inevitably waves it through. On this occasion a bill already before parliament has been amended with a decree termed "Referendum on voting systems", some detail of which we supply below. If the bill is passed (and there is some doubt because of time limitation related to the forthcoming election) then assuming that Labour remains in power a referendum would be held early in the next parliament. The proposal, the timing and the conditions are all dictated by the government.

There is no hint of "citizens' initiative", not a trace of democracy BY the people. The prime minister dictates that a plebiscite shall be held in the style of roman emperors or Napoleon Bonaparte! And he will not regard the result as legally binding but only advisory!

EXTRACTS FROM:
Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill /as of March 31 2010 at 
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2009-10/constitutionalreformandgovernance.html
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldbills/040/10040.i-v.html 

Part 3

Referendum on voting systems

29 Referendum on voting systems //see more below

30 Entitlement to vote

31 Referendum period

32 Role of Electoral Commission

33 Regional Counting Officers

34 Payments to counting officers

35 Taxation of counting officer’s account

36 Restriction on legal challenge to referendum result

37 Conduct etc of referendum
------------------
29
Referendum on voting systems

(1) A referendum is to be held, no later than 31 October 2011, on the voting system for parliamentary elections.

(2) The Secretary of State must—

(a) present to Parliament a Command Paper describing an alternative-vote system for consideration by voters in the referendum;

(b) by order made by statutory instrument specify the question to be asked in the referendum (and any statement that is to precede the question) and fix the date of the poll.

(3) The question specified under subsection (2)(b) must ask voters whether they would prefer the alternative-vote system described in the Command Paper to be used for parliamentary elections instead of the existing voting system (commonly referred to as “first past the post”).


=============================================
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain


http://www.iniref.org/index.enter.html
Discuss or comment at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/democracy-forum
Donate via http://www.iniref.org/support.html