Lies damned lies? Coalition/RECALL

[mm at iniref.org]

*More than eight voters out of ten want the right to sack their own MP*

"Radical changes to the political system are overwhelmingly backed by 
voters after an expenses scandal
that has damaged all parties" (1)

"Eighty-two per cent (want) a system of "recalling" MPs (....) if they 
have broken the rules" Source: Survey for The Times (1).

Before the general election, knowing that many voters are dissatisfied 
with politicians and how government is run, the parties all promised 
effective reforms. After the victory of Conservatives and Liberal 
Democrats in 2010, the coalition agreement was published. This contains 
the following statement:

"We will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, 
allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP is found to have 
engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a 
by-election signed by l0% of his or her constituents."

*COALITION HAS FAILED TO INTRODUCE THE RECALL SYSTEM!*

A recall bill was put before Parliament but the proposed procedure for 
sacking an MP was so bad that it was heavily criticised by experts from 
across the political spectrum. The recall bill was dropped. Private 
members (MPs) also presented proposals for recall but these failed to 
gain support. In late 2010 there are no bills or proposals about recall 
to be found at Parliament's web site.

When will the coalition government obey the will of the people by 
enabling we constituents to remove an MP who is corrupt or has performed 
badly?

If HM government is too incompetent to legislate on this, then give us 
the job. Hold a binding referendum to introduce the "recall". And let's 
add in a "piggy back" ballot proposal to give ourselves the right to 
obtain a referendum about any public issue (very useful if gov. 
"forgets" something important).

-------------------------------

1. Poll suggests voters want radical reform of Parliament, The Times May 
30, 2009 Philip Webster, Political Editor.
2. The Coalition: our programme for government. Freedom, fairness, 
responsibility. David Cameron and Nick Clegg for HM government 2010

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Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
http://www.iniref.org/  Link to site index
http://www.iniref.org/recall.html  The Recall: How it works
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