Real Reform Now!

by | May 30, 2009 | Articles, Section: Article | 1 comment

Politicians of all parties are beginning to identify the abuse of
the expenses rules as a wider systemic problem which has its roots in
the powerlessness the public feels in the face of our over-centralised
institutions and political culture. The leaders of the main parties are
talking the language of political change, but our democracy belongs to
all of us and it cannot be left to politicians in Westminster alone to
determine the next stage of reform.

The fact that constitutional reform has proceeded in such a
piecemeal fashion points to the lack of consensus between the main
parties, and it is unlikely that, on their own, politicians will reach
the necessary state of agreement to make real reform possible. A few
politicians have recently called for a Constitutional Convention to
determine changes to the constitution which have evaded Parliamentary
consensus to date. We believe that alongside a number of other reforms,
a Convention made up of citizens could help to end the deadlock on a
number of constitutional issues, at the same time as putting citizens
at the forefront of designing the shape of a constitutional settlement
for the next era.

A Citizens’ Convention should be brought together to determine the following issues:

  • House of Lords reform
  • Parliamentary reform including fixed term Parliaments and
    strengthening Select Committees and other ways of holding the Executive
    to greater account
  • Funding of political parties
  • Changing the voting system to more closely reflect voters’
    preferences resulting in a referendum on the day of the next general
    election
  • New routes into politics including primaries and directly elected mayors
  • Greater devolution of power, accountability and funding to local government

The moment for seizing the day is upon us. Letting politics slide
back into business as usual cannot be allowed to happen. Not everyone
will agree with all of the reforms listed above, but individual
preferences may have to give way to a package of measures which can
form the real change our democracy deserves now. In making these
changes we could create a future where power truly resides with the
many not the few.

  1. Jessica Asato, Acting Director, Progress
  2. Stephen Twigg, Chair, Progress
  3. Professor Brian Brivati, Director, John Smith Memorial Trust
  4. Professor David Marquand, Visiting Fellow, University of Oxford
  5. Patricia Hewitt MP, former Secretary State for Health
  6. Martin Linton MP
  7. Barry Gardiner MP
  8. Guy Lodge, Associate Director, ippr
  9. Lewis Baston, Electoral Reform Society
  10. Roger Liddle, Vice-Chair, Policy Network
  11. Nick Smith, Labour PPC for Blaenau Gwent
  12. Sunder Katwala, General Secretary of the Fabian Society
  13. Wes Streeting, National President, National Union of Students
  14. Mary Honeyball MEP
  15. Oona King, former MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
  16. David Rowntree, Labour PPC for Cities of London and Westminster and musician
  17. Simon Fanshawe, Writer and Broadcaster
  18. Anne Campbell, former MP for Cambridge
  19. Luke Bruce, Former Labour Party Assistant General Secretary (Policy and Political Development 2004-2006)
  20. Steve Reed, Labour Leader, Lambeth Council
  21. Gabe Trodd, Founder, The Stand up Tall Project
  22. Matt Cooke, Councillor, Labour Borough of Haringey
  23. Kevin Bonavia, Labour PPC for Rochford and Southend East
  24. Kevin McKeever, Labour PPC for Harborough
  25. Jonny Reynolds, Councillor, Tameside
  26. Luke Bozier, Former Downing St Adviser on E-campaigns
  27. Bambos Charalambous, Labour PPC for Enfield Southgate
  28. Tom Flynn, Labour PPC for Southend East
  29. Emily Georghiou, Womens Officer, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
  30. Alex Hilton, Labour PPC for Chelsea and Fulham
  31. Jude Robinson, Labour PPC for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle
  32. Phil Taylor, Norwich North CLP
  33. Catharine Arakelian, Labour PPC for Chingford and Woodford Green
  34. Alex Smith, Editor, LabourList
  35. Richard Angell, Chair, Brixton and Streatham Hill Labour Party
  36. Tim Shand, Labour PPC for Guildford
  37. Andy Burkitt, Member Bristol West CLP and Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
  38. Peter Kyle, Deputy CEO, ACEVO
  39. Patrick Vernon, Labour Councillor, London Borough of Hackney
  40. Jon Harvey, Member Buckingham CLP
  41. Ed Williams, Labour PPC for Meriden
  42. Terry Ashton, Former General Secretary, London Labour Party
  43. Swatantra Nandanwar, Labour PPC for Maldon Essex
  44. Councillor Catherine West, Leader, Islington Labour Group
  45. Kate Groucutt, Chair, Young Fabians (in a personal capacity)
  46. Ken Ritchie, Member Daventry CLP
  47. Steve Munby, Labour Councillor, Liverpool City Council
  48. Sue Sturgeon, Chair, Tewkesbury CLP
  49. James Asser, LGBT Labour and member Hove CLP
  50. Paul Burgin
  51. Terry Philpot, writer and journalist
  52. Rick Muir, Senior Research Fellow, ippr

If you would like to sign the statement please contact Jessica Asato at [email protected] or on 07939 594634

1 Comment

  1. Diversity on May 31, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    To get down to getting something done now, while there is momentum, how about putting down this motion in the Commons:

    “For the Better Ordering of Our Constitutional Affairs

    Noting widespread and rising dissatisfactions with the great centralisation of public business, with the declining engagement of citizens in our public affairs and with trends of change in political accountability, this House resolves:

    that Mr Speaker be charged with convening a conference of such persons as he shall deem appropriate to prepare a range of possible reforms to diminish these evils to the full extent that reducing the evil may prove practicable, to report within one year;
    (To get substantial political reform moving.)

    that in the conference convened by Mr. Speaker, leaders and spokesmen of political parties may have voice, but not vote;
    (To prevent the parties blocking consideration of reforms they fear.)

    that six months after the conference convened by Mr. Speaker has reported, an assembly of 650 citizens chosen at random from the electoral registers shall be convened to debate and consider the reforms proposed by the conference, and in a period no longer than three months recommend to this House which of these reforms should be enacted;
    (To provide citizen input to the reforms, and to build wider momentum and pressure for reform.)

    that within three months of receiving the recommendations of the citizens’ assembly, this House shall vote on whether or not to enact each recommendation received.”
    (To prevent party leaders kicking into the long grass reforms which citizens see we need.)

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