RIGHT TO REFERENDUM ON ANY PUBLIC ISSUE

Deep below the surface of the government's Localism Bill and strewn across other policy areas there may be some "hidden treasures" which if "refined" and improved could bring us stronger and better democracy. Major problem is that the Con/Libdem proposals are imperfect, offering weak and ill thought out procedures.

So why not take the Coalition partners at their word and demand what they promised, "power to the people", now!

Let's push for improvement before the new laws and regulations are finally passed! (This would not be the first time that a weak conservative government has "allowed" better democracy through an error of judgement.)

Help grow the Campaign for strong democracy.

Pass this on via all available media!

Info at  http://bit.ly/ew8xMv  http://bit.ly/fAgJrV

Have your say at parliament.uk/

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EXAMPLES

Some major weaknesses of the Con/Libdem proposals are shown in the following examples:

STRONGER DEMOCRACY IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
*"We will ensure that any petition that secures l00,000 signatures will be eligible for formal debate in Parliament. The petition with the most signatures will enable members of the public to table a bill eligible to be voted on in Parliament.*" (Source: Coalition agreement).

Suggested improvements: In 2009 David Cameron proposed to introduce *citizen-instigated referendum at both local and national levels*. He should stick to this. *A petition is not democracy, it is merely a way of begging for a favour. *A citizens' proposal endorsed by, say half a million voters should be debated in the elected parliament. If parliament rejects the proposal then a binding referendum must follow. A proposal by the Power Inquiry (2006) adds detail showing how this could work in practice (reference on request).

RIGHT TO REFERENDUM ON ANY LOCAL ISSUE
*"We will give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue.*" (Source: Localism Bill)

Suggested improvements: The Coalition suggests that 5 percent of an electorate will be able to instigate a referendum on "any local issue". With some adjustment for size of the political unit (e.g. parish, town., large city) this proposal could be satisfactory. However the Coalition's referendum idea is flawed because as it stands the result, the people's decision, will not be legally binding: *the council is obliged to consider the referendum result but under the Localism Act will be given the freedom to ignore it completely*. Under international agreements which we have ratified the people have the right in governing to decide on public issues as well as electing politicians. The result of a referendum about a public issue must therefore carry the same weight as a decision of the elected parliament and so must be accepted as legally binding.

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