IR+R NEWS. Tory politicians, the Citizen and Direct Democracy


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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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AUTUMN 2008

I&R ~ GB Two comments on Tory party politicians and direct democracy

1) The conservative party "think tank" dubbed "Direct Democracy": Douglas Carswell and others.
2) Zac Goldsmith. Give voters a direct line to power. Regular referendums will revive democracy

1) The conservative party "think tank" dubbed "Direct Democracy": Douglas Carswell and others.

I&R ~ GB comments on: Whistling in the wind. Labour's plan to rewrite the Act of Succession is very small beer, but few Conservatives dare to entertain radical constitutional reform either. Lewis Baston guardian.co.uk, Tuesday September 30 2008

I&R ~ GB questions the intentions of the Tory party regarding citizens' direct democracy

Reply to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/30/electoralreform.toryconference

The conservative "think tank" founded a few years ago named itself "direct democracy", exploiting a concept which has attracted growing interest and support in recent decades both in Britain and across the world. In western style democracies, the most widely applied forms of direct democracy are the "citizens' initiative" and the citizen-triggered referendum. With the "initiative", a person or group can put forward a proposal. If enough support can be shown by collecting a large, agreed number of voter endorsements (signatures), then the proposal must go to referendum. In the case of a law-proposal or veto, the referendum result resembles a decision of council or parliament and is legally binding on government and the rest of us. An intermediate step may allow parliament to debate the citizens' proposal. If rejected there, the proposal goes on to referendum.

If we had this well-tried sort of governing then we could call a referendum on any subject in the competence of a local council, city council or central government.

Now, on the front (index) page of their web site "Direct Democracy", the authors who include the MP for Harwich D. Carswell, list their ten aims. Nowhere to be found is -- guess what -- direct democracy. They state "Decisions should be taken as closely as possible to the people they affect.". This is vague and certainly does not guarantee that if elected they will introduce direct democracy. They talk of "localism" -- giving more power to local government but they do not promise to give more power to the people (contrast this with recommendation 24 of the acclaimed Power Report into british democracy). It is no coincidence that the Tories have a strong power base locally, via government, land and property ownership and their business networks.

In other published articles Carswell has indeed put forward the idea of citizens' initiative. But it appears that he is suggesting only a very weak form of direct democracy, namely the "agenda setting" initiative-proposal. This he described in a bill (under the ten minute rule) which he introduced in the House of Commons this spring. Government is not obliged to heed this citizens' proposal (even though a huge number of endorsements are required). If parliament rejects the proposal NO referendum must be held. Also officials have the right to reject unwanted proposals of the electorate. A second reading of this motion, which should be radically amended or thrown out, is due soon, in October.

Better proposals for citizens' direct democracy in UK and the countries may be found at the web site of I&R – GB,

PROPOSAL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND http://www.iniref.org/steps.html

Proposals for the introduction of Elements of Direct Democracy in Great Britain and Northern Ireland http://www.iniref.org/gb-debate-dd.html

Citizens and Direct Democracy: What chance of reform do the major UK political parties offer? http://www.iniref.org/CDD,ConLibDemLab.pdf

Douglas Carswell (Harwich) Hansard 30 Apr 2008 : Column 309
Citizens’ Initiative 12.43 pm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080430/debtext/80430-0004.htm#08043089000003

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2)

Zac Goldsmith
The Times September 28, 2008
Think tank: Give voters a direct line to power. Regular referendums will revive democracy
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4837658.ece

I&R ~ GB comments:

Politicians and many pundits are opposed to democracy of this stronger variety but it has been well tried in many countries, including about half of the USA states, German federal states, Italy, Switzerland and many recently established democracies.

For the foreseeable future we cannot rely on an a British government agreeing to stronger democracy so in order to achieve this reform a country-wide campaign is needed. This will allow people to learn how "citizens' direct democracy" works in practice. Candidates for election to parliament should be pressed by voters to support this reform.

Further information may be found at:
Bailey, R. Taking the initiative. In Citizen. Autumn 2008 http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/?p=1413

I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum http://www.iniref.org/
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I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/