By-elections, broken promises and direct democracy

[mm at iniref.org]

By-elections are coming up  --- Manchester Central in November 2012 and 
Corby, maybe also in November.

Direct democracy DD supporters can use by-elections to prepare and 
rehearse our campaign for future elections.

How?

Demand (or try politely asking) politician-candidates for election to 
our Parliament that they should support our proposals for reform of our 
antique democracy. See also our election tactics for DD. 
<http://www.iniref.org/carta.htm>

For instance, ask them to introduce and support a new law-proposal :::

THE DEMOCRACY BILL
This Bill will set out principles of democracy as rule-by-the-people and 
provide regulations for new instruments of citizen-led, issue-based 
democracy including:
Citizens' initiative which may be a law proposal and can lead to binding 
ballot of the electorate,
Veto referendum with which the electorate can block an unwanted 
government law or policy,
Recall -- sacking by the electorate -- of elected officials such as MPs.

BROKEN PROMISES
"We will give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any 
local issue." Con/Libdem Coalition agreement HM Government UK 2010. This 
item was thrown out of the Localism Bill by Liberal Democrat (!) peers 
in cahoots with lobbyists such as local government associations and 
large building companies. So, the prospects for local democracy with 
this government look bleak.

David Cameron promised that if elected he would introduce 
citizen-initiated referendum both at local and national levels. In 
government the coalition allows us to petition parliament by collecting 
thousands of signatures. We have enjoyed the right to petition 
parliament for hundreds of years so we gain little. No citizens' right 
to demand and obtain a national referendum is foreseen.
-----------------------------
Recent governments were elected on promises to reform our democratic 
system but they have failed to keep their promises.

We demand that they must do better in future! We must press politicians 
to keep their word; obtain from them new guarantees for early reform.

I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/




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