Labour needs to urgently step up the pace on constitutional and political reform or risk losing a generation to apathy and the lure of extremist politics, according to a new pamphlet launched today by the centre-left pressure group Progress.
In the pamphlet entitled Real Reform Now: Why Progressives Should Embrace Democratic Renewal and How We Get There, eight modernising voices put forward practical ideas for reforming Britain’s political system to tackle the dangerous lack of public trust in politics exposed by the MPs expenses scandal, which the government has so far failed to address.
Writing in the introduction to the pamphlet, Brian Brivati says: ‘We face the danger that we are watching a generation being lost to politics – alienated by the current scandal, turning to the extremist parties or giving in to apathy.’ While the National Council for Democratic Renewal set up by the government is ‘an important step forward’, its establishment ‘misses the central point that the real stakeholders in politics, the voters, have been excluded once again from the process of selecting the options for change,’ says Brivati.
In addition the government has also failed to recognise that ‘these sets of problems can only be dealt with by a connected set of reforms and not just one change,’ and risks putting ‘a plaster of a new system of allowances and a new speaker over the deep wound that has been cut through our constitution’.’
The authors propose several areas for reform at the national and regional political level, which together could achieve the radical overhaul that Britain’s constitutional arrangements urgently need. These include:
Metro mayors: Dermot Finch proposes the creation of directly elected ‘metro mayors’ in Britain’s biggest cities such as Birmingham and Manchester. He says: ‘Metro mayors would re-engage millions of voters, and provide more effective leadership for our most important economies outside London … They would provide a clear answer to the unresolved question of English devolution, a refreshing (and directly accountable) alternative to quangoland, and a magnet for new political talent.’
Local devolution: In his chapter Steve Reed calls for further devolution of power to the local level, including the opportunity for councils, subject to a referendum, to opt out of council tax and move instead to alternatives such as local income or sales tax. Along with fellow author Dermot Finch he also calls for the abolition of regional development offices, which, Reed says, have ‘become resource-hungry nannies imposing bureaucratic targets on local councils that distort locally agreed priorities’.
Referendum on electoral reform and an elected second chamber: Stephen Twigg and Lewis Baston call for a referendum on electoral reform at the next general election, providing a route map for how this can be achieved within the next parliamentary session. Fiona MacTaggart also calls for a referendum on an elected upper house. She criticises the current number of Lords currently sitting in the cabinet and the elevation of unelected GOAT ministers by the government: ‘This unprecedented reliance on patronage weakens Labour and send a very clear message that democratic control is a second-order issue.’
Reform of Parliament: In his chapter Guy Lodge highlights the need for root and branch reform of Parliament, including reducing the cap on the number of ministers, giving MPs greater control over their timetable and agenda with more free votes and less whipping. Lodge proposes beefing up the committee system giving select committees confirmation powers over senior appointments to public bodies, and replacing the public bill committees with specialist and permanent legislative committees with powers of post-legislative scrutiny. He also suggests setting up a public petitions committee similar to the Scottish Parliament, a ‘citizens’ chamber’ to sit alongside the Commons and Lords and introducing a recall mechanism for MPs.
State funding for political parties: Matt Cain calls for a system of state funding for political parties linked to parties’ activity levels and their ability to recruit and retain members and small donors. He says: ‘Recent progress towards an agreement has been thwarted by members of the Labour party, who have used the issue to grandstand over the union link, and general secretaries, who have been prepared to listen to conspiracy theories that it is a Trojan horse for ending their political influence … All should recognise that the cost of failing to reform party funding is ongoing competition as to who can attract the most wealthy donor.’
Labour primaries: Will Straw calls on the Labour party to adopt a system of primary elections for selecting its parliamentary and mayoral candidates. He suggests primaries could be used to select London’s mayoral candidate in 2012 and also for PPCs where local membership in a constituency falls below 200. He says: ‘Primaries have the potential to increase participation and democratic accountability, especially in areas where the legitimacy of existing selection methods has been lost … By creating a British system to fit British norms and values, primaries can play an important part in the future of our demoracy.’
Notes to editors
1. Progress is an independent organisation of Labour party members, set up in 1996, which aims to promote a radical and progressive politics for the 21st century. Progress seeks to discuss, develop and advance the means to create a more free, equal and democratic Britain which plays an active role in Europe and the wider world. Go to the Progress website for more information: archive.progressonline.org.uk
2. Media contact: Jessica Asato, Director, 07939 594 634
3. Progress is holding a joint debate with Compass, The Fabian Society, and Vote for a Change this evening at Labour Party conference in Brighton. Full details follow:
Has Labour got what it takes? Rally for democratic renewal
John Denham, Oona King, Billy Hayes, Jonathan Hopkin, David Rowntree, Neal Lawson, Medhi Hasan
29 September 2009
20:00 to 21:30
This rally will demonstrate the unity of purpose that exists across the party around the need to present a bold programme of democratic reform to restore public trust in the political process. The meeting aims to consider what measures Labour could take to empower voters and restore the sense that representatives are both legitimate and accountable. A number of speakers will advance the case for a referendum on the electoral system as a potential ‘litmus test’ of Labour’s commitment to such reform.
Speakers
Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government
Billy Hayes, General Secretary, Communications Workers Union
Professor Jonathan Hopkin, London School of Economics
Oona King, Patron of Progress
Neal Lawson, Compass
Dave Rowntree, PPC for Cities of London & Westminster
Chaired by Mehdi Hasan, New Statesman
Venue: Regency Lounge, Royal Albion Hotel, 35 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1NT