Voting reform
Posted by Martin Linton, MP for Battersea, at 14:24, Wed 20 May 2009:
Today I asked the Prime Minister at Questions to give the voters a chance to decide how to resolve the crisis in our political system. I urged him to hold a referendum in May 2010 on the establishment of a Citizens’ Convention, which would come back to the voters within two years with a package of measures on party funding, House of Lords reform and voting reform. The Prime Minister promised to come forward with new proposals in the next few weeks.
I’ve always been a passionate advocate of modernising the House of Commons, reforming allowances and changing the voting system. But as we have seen over the last fortnight, MPs are not very good at changing the system here at Westminster . That’s why I’m in favour of handing the power over to the voters through a referendum.
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced the setting up of an independent authority to regulate MPs’ allowances and the end of the “gentlemen’s club” system of self-regulation. We should go further and hand over the power to decide how we are elected to Westminster to the voters. After all, it’s not for us to decide how we are elected.
Martin
PS if you want to see my views on expenses visit my website www.martinlinton.org.uk
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Posted by Conor McCormack, 14:34, Wed 20 May 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
"We should go further and hand over the power to decide how we are elected to Westminster to the voters." Quite - time for a general election. If you want to make such proposals get them into your Election Manifesto and let us decide at the ballot box.
Posted by Christopher Smith, 18:25, Wed 20 May 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Dear Martin,
I have been very disappointed at the length of time it has taken for any MP to address the issue of expenses and funding. I am not convinced that Parliament is the place to decide on MPs expenses and I would like to see changes very quickly. Members should lose the title honourable as many whom I have trusted have been dishonourable. I'm not sure that anything that happens from here will change my opinion. Chris Smith SW11
Posted by Alex Balfour, 07:06, Thu 21 May 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
test
Posted by alasdair Honeyman, 15:55, Fri 4 September 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
"I’ve always been a passionate advocate of modernising the House of Commons" -As a constituent who watches what you say in the commons, I consider this to be a bit rich Martin.
I look forward to you sharing the detailed evidence to back up your statement. Otherwise, us lowly citizens, might assume you are playing us yet again.
We suffer under an over powerful executive and members sitting for us (supposedly on our behalf) who are conflicted by their own sychophancy to their party.
Martin - Are we fools :-)