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IR+R NEWS - news about democratic reform, citizens' initiative,
referendum, recall of elected officials. A service of
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
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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
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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
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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”).
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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