Electoral Reform Society: Straw faces his ‘Nixon in China’ moment
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Monday, 02, Jul 2007 12:00
Labour’s commitment to real reform put to the test.
As Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw finalises the details of Gordon Brown’s long awaited constitutional settlement, the Electoral Reform Society has led calls for genuine democratic reform in proposals expected later this week.
Straw, never an enthusiast for fairer voting in the House of Commons, has the opportunity to radically transform British Politics.
Dr Ken Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society said:
“They said only Nixon could go to China. Well perhaps only Jack Straw can deliver a fresh start for our democracy.
“The Labour Party has had a mandate for change in three successive elections but so far has refused to grasp the nettle. The time is now. Straw has a once in a generation opportunity to put aside prejudice and out-dated arguments and choose reform.
“This will be the measure of the 100 days. Whether commitments to real change in the way we do politics in this country is just talk or whether we now have a government prepared to tackle the central defects in our democracy.
“We hope that Straw will draw a line under first past the post politics: the failed politics of confrontation and unrepresentative government – a politics that’s driving a wedge between politicians and the people they serve. A bankrupt system that’s bad for voters, bad for the politicians and, as I hope he knows from his colleagues processing membership forms at Labour HQ, ultimately bad for parties.
“Reform will be fought by many of Mr Straw’s parliamentary colleagues, but if he is to restore public confidence in our elections, he has got to show he is a bigger politician than they are. He must put democracy first and not allow their vested interests to be block the path to a new type of politics.
Notes to editors:
- Labour have already faced criticism for use of fair voting systems in internal elections which have not been extended to the general public. More at: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/news.php?ex=0&nid=77
- The Electoral Reform Society has recently launched a new campaign calling for a Fresh Start for Democracy. More information is available at www.electoral-reform.org.uk or on their campaign website www.a-fresh-start.org.uk
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