Direct democracy (England and Wales) promised -- then dropped
iniref | 15.05.2012 15:32
In their coalition agreement 2010 the Tory/Libdems promised "localism", "power to the people" and stronger local democracy. Although imperfect, early drafts of the Localism Bill contained some improvement in citizen-led democracy, such as the right to trigger a referendum on any local issue. Predictably, big industry and conservative interest groups, acting through liberal "democrat" MPs (peers), lobbied to sabotage the Bill.
Lords and lobbies demolish democracy in Localism Bill
Were you looking forward to getting together with some like-minded fellow-citizens to start up a local, district, town or city referendum? New rules for referendum were promised, to feature in the ruling coalition's much touted Localism Act.
Well, forget it!
Many people will be angry to learn that a showpiece reform which was supposed to deliver "power to the people" has been drastically cut back.
FROM PARLIAMENT'S OWN WEB SITE, 14th May 2012
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/localism.html
"Localism Act 2010-12 Royal Assent 15 November, 2011
Key areas
The provisions relating to councils include:
* giving residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue"
-----------------------------------------
This statement at services.parliament.uk is now WRONG and the government has known for some months that it is wrong.
A section of the Localism Bill "giving residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue" (see detail below, 1) was removed by the government in late 2011 after objections by lobbyists and an attack by liberal "democrat" politicians in the House of Lords. Elected MPs in the House of Commons, apart from a tiny group, did not resist this serious setback to reform of local politics and democracy.
THE RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO "TO INSTIGATE LOCAL REFERENDUMS ON ANY LOCAL ISSUE" DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE NEW LOCALISM ACT
-----------------------------------------
1. Features of the Localism Bill (December 2012) included:
– Citizens will be able to demand and obtain a referendum on any local issue "economic, social or environmental".
– One in twenty members of an electorate must endorse the referendum proposal.
– All levels of local government are to be involved, e.g. the Greater London Area, cities, towns, counties and districts.
– Electronic collection of endorsements can be used.
--------------------------------------------------------
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/
Were you looking forward to getting together with some like-minded fellow-citizens to start up a local, district, town or city referendum? New rules for referendum were promised, to feature in the ruling coalition's much touted Localism Act.
Well, forget it!
Many people will be angry to learn that a showpiece reform which was supposed to deliver "power to the people" has been drastically cut back.
FROM PARLIAMENT'S OWN WEB SITE, 14th May 2012
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/localism.html "Localism Act 2010-12 Royal Assent 15 November, 2011
Key areas
The provisions relating to councils include:
* giving residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue"
-----------------------------------------
This statement at services.parliament.uk is now WRONG and the government has known for some months that it is wrong.
A section of the Localism Bill "giving residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue" (see detail below, 1) was removed by the government in late 2011 after objections by lobbyists and an attack by liberal "democrat" politicians in the House of Lords. Elected MPs in the House of Commons, apart from a tiny group, did not resist this serious setback to reform of local politics and democracy.
THE RESIDENTS' RIGHT TO "TO INSTIGATE LOCAL REFERENDUMS ON ANY LOCAL ISSUE" DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE NEW LOCALISM ACT
-----------------------------------------
1. Features of the Localism Bill (December 2012) included:
– Citizens will be able to demand and obtain a referendum on any local issue "economic, social or environmental".
– One in twenty members of an electorate must endorse the referendum proposal.
– All levels of local government are to be involved, e.g. the Greater London Area, cities, towns, counties and districts.
– Electronic collection of endorsements can be used.
--------------------------------------------------------
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/
iniref
e-mail:
info@iniref.org