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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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If you want to attend this meeting then you must contact the organisers.
http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blogs/upcoming_events/archive/2008/04/23/referendums-what-are-they-good-for.aspx

ANNOUNCEMENT

Referendums: What are they good for?
Tuesday 17 June, 6.45 - 7.45pm, House of Commons

Speakers:
Dr David Butler, Oxford University, David Curry MP, Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Steve Richards, The Independent, Rt Hon Clare Short MP.

Chair - Virginia Gibbons, Hansard Society

This meeting will discuss the highly topical issue of the role of referendums in the British political system. Can they be used in a representative Parliamentary democracy without usurping the power of our elected representatives? What issues are appropriate to be put to a referendum? How can we ensure that referendum outcomes are not skewed by political or financial resources?
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Background materials:
Butler, David & Ranney, Austin (eds.), Referendums around the world: the growing use of direct democracy. (Macmillan, 1994)

Macpherson, Michael J., Citizens’ initiative and referendum in Britain and Northern Ireland 2007: Prospects for reform http://europa-magazin.ch/zone/.3bb51286/cmd.14/cert.201.A0J0awU8Zxh.2

Qvortrup, Mads Supply-side politics. Centre for Policy Studies 2007. http://www.cps.org.uk/newsarchive/news/?pressreleaseid=27

House of Commons Library: Citizens’ Initiatives Standard Note: SN/PC/04483 Last updated: 1 May 2008 Author: Lucinda Maer, Parliament and Constitution Centre.
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With compliments from
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/