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IR+R NEWS - news about democratic reform, citizens' initiative,
referendum, recall of elected officials. A service of 
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
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AUTUMN 2008

I&R ~ GB A comment on Tory party politicians and direct democracy

1) The conservative party "think tank" dubbed "Direct Democracy": 
Douglas Carswell and others.

I&R ~ GB comments on: Whistling in the wind. Labour's plan to rewrite 
the Act of Succession is very small beer, but few Conservatives dare to 
entertain radical constitutional reform either. Lewis Baston 
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday September 30 2008

I&R ~ GB questions the intentions of the Tory party regarding citizens' 
direct democracy

Reply to 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/30/electoralreform.toryconference 


The conservative "think tank" founded a few years ago named itself 
"direct democracy", exploiting a concept which has attracted growing 
interest and support in recent decades both in Britain and across the 
world. In western style democracies, the most widely applied forms of 
direct democracy are the "citizens' initiative" and the 
citizen-triggered referendum. With the "initiative", a person or group 
can put forward a proposal. If enough support can be shown by collecting 
a large, agreed number of voter endorsements (signatures), then the 
proposal must go to referendum. In the case of a law-proposal or veto, 
the referendum result resembles a decision of council or parliament and 
is legally binding on government and the rest of us. An intermediate 
step may allow parliament to debate the citizens' proposal. If rejected 
there, the proposal goes on to referendum.

If we had this well-tried sort of governing then we could call a 
referendum on any subject in the competence of a local council, city 
council or central government.

Now, on the front (index) page of their web site "Direct Democracy", the 
authors who include the MP for Harwich D. Carswell, list their ten aims. 
Nowhere to be found is -- guess what -- direct democracy. They state 
"Decisions should be taken as closely as possible to the people they 
affect.". This is vague and certainly does not guarantee that if elected 
they will introduce direct democracy. They talk of "localism" -- giving 
more power to local government but they do not promise to give more 
power to the people (contrast this with recommendation 24 of the 
acclaimed Power Report into british democracy). It is no coincidence 
that the Tories have a strong power base locally, via government, land 
and property ownership and their business networks.

In other published articles Carswell has indeed put forward the idea of 
citizens' initiative. But it appears that he is suggesting only a very 
weak form of direct democracy, namely the "agenda setting" 
initiative-proposal. This he described in a bill (under the ten minute 
rule) which he introduced in the House of Commons this spring. 
Government is not obliged to heed this citizens' proposal (even though a 
huge number of endorsements are required). If parliament rejects the 
proposal NO referendum must be held. Also officials have the right to 
reject unwanted proposals of the electorate. A second reading of this 
motion, which should be radically amended or thrown out, is due soon, in 
October.

Better proposals for citizens' direct democracy in UK and the countries 
may be found at the web site of I&R – GB,

PROPOSAL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES IN GREAT 
BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND http://www.iniref.org/steps.html

Proposals for the introduction of Elements of Direct Democracy in Great 
Britain and Northern Ireland http://www.iniref.org/gb-debate-dd.html

Citizens and Direct Democracy: What chance of reform do the major UK 
political parties offer? http://www.iniref.org/CDD,ConLibDemLab.pdf

Douglas Carswell (Harwich) Hansard 30 Apr 2008 : Column 309
Citizens’ Initiative 12.43 pm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080430/debtext/80430-0004.htm#08043089000003

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