Like many fellow-citizens right now, May 2009, I am very angry about the state of British politics.
The expenses scandal is the symptom not the disease. Therefore – I see the current furore as the greatest opportunity in the last half-century – to get a modern political system in the UK.
The first draft of my non-party, or trans-party, political manifesto, is below. It’s addressed to fellow citizens and MPs.
PLEASE ADD YOUR VARIATIONS AS A COMMENT or as your own version of a personal manifesto.
The first item Fair Voting is the most important:
ESTABLISH FAIR VOTING – take the best from all countries that operate fair voting systems.
MAKE VOTING COMPULSORY – it will reduce wasteful and dispiriting carping – when combined with fair voting so that every vote counts. Currently we are ruled by MPs who represent only 25% of the people.
Seriously reduce TRIBAL POLITICS – get out of the strait-jacket of the tired Tory & Labour ideologies – Cameron and his lot are no real alternative to the Blair-Brown lot.
CENTRE ON ISSUES BEFORE IDEOLOGIES – MPs need to learn to group around the country’s needs and the electorate’s concerns – i.e focus on real issues rather than tribal loyalties.
ENABLE MORE INDEPENDENT MPs – more than a third should produce positive results.
ACCELERATE FAIR REPRESENTATION – of women and minorities.
DEMAND FACTS BEFORE OPINIONS – the public as well as MPs need to get the best quality, accurate info from independent sources. Stop all the spinning bull-s***.
COOPERATE MORE – more cooperation than wasteful combat for combat’s sake.
MAKE MPS REWARDS FAIR – combined with serious and continuous accountability.
INSTITUTE PRIMARIES – but only after a close examination of their benefits in other countries?
FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL STAKE-HOLDERS – i.e stick to social justice and quality of life as pre-eminent virtues.
REDUCE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – create best-practice, county-level, broad policies e.g. ‘You are statutorily required to provide a holistic set of services for youth in your area.’ Then keep central government out – other than to check that every county is implementing effectively a range of best practice via effective accountability.
MAXIMISE FREE VOTING and SECRET BALLOT VOTING IN PARLIAMENT – as in election of new Speaker – whipping distorts.
HABITUALLY IMPORT BEST PRACTICE FOR GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS PARLIAMENT – from Denmark, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia, Germany etc.
CREATE A SIMPLE WRITTEN CONSTITUTION WITHIN 1 YEAR – Confine it to three sides of A4 – Invite everyone to write a version. Then take 10 years to refine it. Curb the lawyers.
ELIMINATE WASTE – everywhere, at all levels.
CONTINUE BEEFING UP TRANSPARENCY IN ACCOUNTABILITY – we want MPs to be transparently accountable for everything they do, not just their expenses.
EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION – all ages – use all media – use carrots and sticks.
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OK NOW TELL US THE CHANGES YOU WANT TO SEE!
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