BRIDGET FOX IS SUPPORTING PEOPLE POWER IN THE NEXT PARLIAMENT (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

BRIDGET FOX IS SUPPORTING PEOPLE POWER IN THE NEXT PARLIAMENT

April 8, 2010 9:55 AM

Bridget Fox: signing up for fairer politics

Bridget Fox has signed up to a cleaner, better politics today by supporting the POWER2010 pledge. The pledge is part of a major new campaign asking the next parliament to take forward 5 reforms chosen by a　nationwide vote　to help restore trust in our political system.

100,000 votes were cast across the UK　to choose the pledge.　 The five ideas chosen by the public were:

o　　　　　　　 1　 Introduce a proportional voting system

o　　　　　　　 2　　Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state

o　　　　　　　 3　 Replace the Lords with an elected chamber

o　　　　　　　 4　 Allow only English MP's to vote on English laws

o　　　　　　　 5　 Draw up a written constitution

Bridget says: "Power2010 is pushing for just the kinds of democratic reforms that Lib Dems have been campaigning for, for years. I welcome the initiative to get people in all parties and none to back real reform - like replacing the Lords with an elected chamber, so that our representative democracy lives up to its name, and so that people, not politicians, are in charge."

"Labour made promises to reform the House of Lords, introduce fair votes and clean up our politics, but they have failed to deliver. Only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted on this vital issue."

Stephen Whitehead, local Islington resident said: "I am pleased by the commitment of Bridget Fox to fight for these urgent reforms in the next parliament. I'm looking forward to working with all the candidates who are ready to work to ensure the public's wishes on democratic and political reform become a reality. It's time to heal the wounds in our system caused by the expenses scandal."

Many local residents have already voted for these issues as things that fundamentally affect the way we're represented.　 If we're going to get our voice heard on the big issues locally it's important we have a more open and democratic system nationally.

ENDS

For more details on Power2010, a unique democratic experiment contact Annie Quick on annie@power2010.org.uk or 07816119393.

Our website has more information about our campaign and the pledge www.power2010.org.uk

Notes to editors

-　　　　　　　 Over 100,000 people voted in the Power2010 poll, on 29 ideas chosen by the public which seek to improve our politics and democracy in the wake of the expenses scandal.

-　　　　　　　 Power2010 is non-party political and backed by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.

-　　　　　　　 Power2010 is conducting a nationwide campaign to get members of the public to pressure their candidates to pledge to make the 5 top issues in our vote a priority.　　 All of these ideas were suggested by and voted on by the public, not by staff at Power2010.

-　　　　　　　 Power2010 is working positively with candidates who are engaging with us on the issues and supporting all of, or a majority of the pledge.　 As a campaign we are also campaigning actively against candidates who are 'roadblocks to reform' as publicised on our website,　 those MP's who have voted against several items of the pledge and have a poor record on expenses and parliamentary transparency will be targeted.