Oh daarlings, you just have to vote AV...

Really think this is a load of silly nonsense:

Celebrities have thrown their weight behind the campaign for electoral reform – writing to voters urging them to support the cause.

Colin Firth, Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry are among those endorsing the campaign in a Yes To Fairer Votes leaflet sent out to householders.

On May 5, Britain will go to the polls to decide whether to keep Westminster’s historic first-past-the-post system – or replace it with the Alternative Vote system. Famous faces in favour of reform are keen to drum up support.

The leaflet includes an endorsement from actress Miss Lumley, who says: ‘I hope the Yes Campaign is successful. It will really help our democratic voices be more fairly heard.’

Oscar winner Colin Firth says: ‘This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change our clapped-out voting system for good, so I’m voting Yes.’

Other supporters of the AV campaign include actresses Helena Bonham Carter, Honor Blackman and comedian Eddie Izzard.

And not forgetting Stephen Fry, which should give the campaign that final required push...

Alex Ferguson is the greatest ever football manager the United Kingdom has produced but that doesn't necessarily make him an expert on the subject of Scottish politics; similarly winning the odd Oscar doesn't give an actor any greater insight into the workings of British democracy than, for example, my postman.

Wot? No Northern Irish Conservatives?

It seems Baroness Warsi's proclamation hasn't quite had the desired effect yet... More seriously, you don't have to be English to be disturbed by the proposed forest sell-off. You also don't need to be English to complain to your MP about it or sign this petition.

I'll leave it up to your own discretion whether or not you also mention that English parliament;)

A V-sign to Westminster's latest attempt at constitutional vandalism

This idea is catching on...

On the 5th May 2011 the UK Government will ask us ''Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?''

There are far more pressing issues that the Government should be consulting us on but do not, it's time for a Vendetta on AV in protest at this denial of democracy.

Mission:To encourage a mass protest on 5th May 2011

Description:A V-sign to Westminster is a campaign to persuade the voters of England to spoil their AV referendum ballot papers in protest at the UK Government's refusal to grant us referendums on the issues that we actually want referendums on, namely: Our membership of the EU and the creation of an English parliament

Like the Scottish version, I don't (obviously) agree with the originators' ultimate aims but the salient point here is that the AV referendum is attempting to deal with a topic which is the very least of our constitutional worries at the minute.

According to Political Betting's most recent aggregation here, 44% "don't know, don't care" about the referendum, a clear winner over those committed one way or the other. It would be an excellent message to send to the political elite if on the day the percentage of "spoilt" ballots received continued that trend.

Cameron promises People Power (Let's hope they can be bothered)

David Cameron's speech spelling out his vision for reform of the British political system is here.

"No, this political crisis shows that big change is required.

We do need a new politics in this country.

We do need sweeping reform.

But we've got to get it right.

And that means understanding what's gone wrong."

He isolates the problems well; lack of control, lack of responsibility, social breakdown and proposes the answer, "redistribution of power".
A redistribution:

"From the state to citizens; from the government to parliament; from Whitehall to communities.

From Brussels to Britain; from judges to the people; from bureaucracy to democracy.

Through decentralisation, transparency and accountability we must take power away from the political elite and hand it to the man and woman in the street."

But through which framework is that power to be redistributed?
Ah, this is where it gets all a bit airy-fairy:

"We should start by pushing political power down as far as possible, wherever possible.

Could we let individuals, neighbourhoods and communities take control?

How far can we push power down?"

Rhetorical question I think.

"But it's not always possible to give power back to individuals, and in those cases, we need to do the next best thing: redistributing power to neighbourhoods and local government."

Bypassing the unmentioned three Toy parliaments in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh?
It’s not specified, although it would seem local government is going to get a lot of new powers:

"Of course we can trust them with more power and control."

Hmmm...

Regarding reform at Westminster:

1. The number of MPs will also be reduced by 10%

2. Select Committee Chairmen and members should be elected by backbenchers, not appointed by Whips.

3. Limit in the use of the Royal Prerogative

4. A "strong" Speaker.

5. Transparency

6. Limits on the number of political advisers

7. Strengthening of the Ministerial Code

8. Protection of the independence of the Civil Service

9. Fixed-term parliaments (or at least to be considered)

10. More collegial decisions at Cabinet level.


But no proportional representation at General Elections because:

"Proportional representation takes power away from the man and woman in the street and hands it to the political elites.

Instead of voters choosing their government on the basis of the manifestos and leadership put before them in an election campaign...

...party managers would choose a government on the basis of secret backroom deals."

Not necessarily, but apart from that, nothing much else to argue with there.

Predictably, the EU also takes a polite kicking; not so predictably so do the judges, or at least those non-accountable judges working under the strictures of the Human Rights Act "increasingly making our laws".

"The EU and the judges - neither of them accountable to British citizens - have taken too much power over issues that are contested aspects of public policy...

...and which should therefore be settled in the realm of democratic politics."

Indeed.
So, referendum on Lisbon and "a British Bill of Rights to strengthen our liberties, spell out the extent and limit of rights more clearly, and ensure proper democratic accountability over the creation of any new rights".
A British Bill of Rights for British citizens- that’ll do for me and once it’s passed the McWilliams' Clique’s ridiculous Wish List can sail away dishonourably up the Swanee.

Rest of speech, not much really...transparency, expenses, opening up politics although "Open primaries for parliamentary candidates" which pops up in the "Conclusion" is an intriguing prospect.

My own conclusion is if he achieves half of what he’s attempting to, then he will have truly revolutionised politics in the UK. Two things will stop him achieving 100% though; as Iain Dale mentioned, the forces of conservatism, small "c". The second is apathy from Mr and Mrs Joe Public, on whose behalf DC is putting himself out here. At this moment, Oliver Cromwell and the new Model Army would get a shoo-in if they were to stand at an immediate General Election. Give it a couple of months and we'll be back to "Business as Usual"- political rage and activism will be back in the hands of the OAP busy-bodies, Disgruntled of Tunbridge, the obsessives, the nutters and er...bloggers.


Chekov has more here.

Quote of the day

Oliver Cromwell's speech* to the Long Parliament, April 20th 1653:

"It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth? Ye sordid prostitutes, have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance. Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God's help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do; I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place; go, get you out!"

Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!"

Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate; Manchester, 18th of May 2009.

"What did we do with the trust of your vote?
Hired a flunky to flush out the moat."

Probably Oliver's is closer to the public mood at the present...



*Hattip CEP.

"Nothing British about the BNP"

If you're thinking about registering a protest by voting for the BNP in June, I suggest you check this out first.

DUPes (and others) save the ghurkas!

More local reaction to last night’s vote:

The Democratic Unionist Party has helped to ensure the passage of a motion in the House of Commons calling upon the government to abandon its plans surrounding UK residency rights for former and serving members of the Gurkha Regiment. The DUP was joined by members of the Tory Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party in voting for a parliamentary motion demanding the government abandon their plans on this issue.

For the record record, the 6 DUP MPs who voted (Iris Robinson, David Simpson and Ian Paisley couldn’t make it apparently) were also joined by members of the Ulster Unionist Party, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the SDLP in voting for this parliamentary motion.
Would it really have hurt that much to include that extra bit of information in the press-release? A very childish and petty omission.