UK: More Possibilities for Referendum

The following outlines a proposal by the Liberal Democrats in the U.K. that would expand direct democracy in that country somewhat by allowing people more say in some legislation. - Editor

Let the people have a say over bills in the Commons

If 1 million voters rejected an act within 60 days of its being passed, a referendum would be held, under a Lib Dem proposal

Bridget Fox Thursday August 28 2008 11:27 BST
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/aug/28/liberaldemocrats.houseofcommons

August bank holiday week, and it must be the quietest of the year for British politics. And one of the most exciting in the US. Whether you support Barack Obama or not, whether he wins in November or not, this week we are witnessing history in the making, a revived American dream.

Obama and Joe Biden may embody the dream, but they're well aware, as Bill Clinton told the convention, that, for many Americans, their dream is "under siege", with rising inequality and poverty in the land of the free market.

We like to think we do better here. But after 10 years of Labour we still have a postcode lottery affecting people's lives from the start: health, childcare, exam results.

Across Islington, there are improved exam results this year. Good news, especially given that the best-connected parents still tend to send their kids out of the borough (our local Labour MP included). Meanwhile Lord Adonis (Islington resident and unrepentant Blairite), is calling for a massive expansion of the academies programme.

Under Tony Blair it was made very clear to councils that academies were an offer they couldn't refuse. Now it looks as if that will continue under Gordon Brown. But Islington's best-performing schools aren't academies. So do academies really make a difference? Especially since the Building Schools for the Future programme means secondaries don't have to become academies to get better buildings.

If the government really believes its own rhetoric on localism, and believes that local communities should have choices around schools, that must include the choice to reject the academy model.

Next month I'm off to Bournemouth for Lib Dem party conference, where one of the issues for debate is improving direct democracy in the UK. Two of the most interesting proposals are for "people's bills" and a "people's veto".

With people's bills, the six bills that got the most petition signatures each year would be guaranteed a second reading debate in the House of Commons. It wouldn't mean the law would get passed - that responsibility would still sit with MPs - but it would mean that citizens could set the agenda.

With a people's veto, if 1 million registered voters petitioned against an act within 60 days of its being passed, a referendum would be held on whether to repeal it. That could give us a real national debate on nuclear power, ID cards, or a third runway at Heathrow.

The impact of having people - and politicians - aware that voters can really influence the agenda between elections could be revolutionary. A similar process already works in the US state of Maine. Their state motto is Dirigo (I lead). Where they lead, perhaps we should follow.

Party conferences are memorable for all sorts of reasons. I'll always associate the Harrogate conference of September 1992 with Black Wednesday. The day interest rates went through the roof, I was worried about losing mine. A group of us abandoned plans for a restaurant meal and contemplated life in negative equity over jacket potatoes instead. There was a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the north Yorkshire weather.

Now with falling house prices, but rising housing costs, it's happening again. Last year repossessions hit a 15-year high. More families are facing the horror of losing their homes – and joining the long queue for affordable rented housing.

So it's good to see that at this year's Lib Dem conference, Vince Cable will be setting out our plans for people who are getting left behind.

It's not about subsidising mortgages, but practical measures to help people stay in their homes with help from housing associations, and to help councils get more social housing too.

Once again Vince is providing excellent free advice to the government: but is Labour listening? Unlikely given the complacency of Ministers reported by the FT.