Unlock Democracy supports Fixed Term Parliaments Bill

Thursday, 15 May 2008 12:00 AM

The UK's leading organisation campaigning for democratic reform has leant its support for the Fixed Term Parliaments Bill, which will be having its second reading debate in the House of Commons on Friday.

The Bill, introduced by David Howarth MP, would fix the date of the next general election at 7 May 2009 while future elections would take place every four years after that.

Commenting on the Bill, Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:

"The debacle last autumn over whether or not Gordon Brown was going to call a general election highlighted quite how arbitrary and potentially damaging our current system of leaving it to the Prime Minister to call an election at a date which suits him. Governments tend to call elections when they are popular and an election isn't really needed while putting off elections when they are not. The less popular the government, the longer they get to stay in power; surely it is time this iniquitous system was sorted out?

"In his constitutional reform green paper last summer, Gordon Brown conceded that it should be up to Parliament, not he, to declare when the election should be called. David Howarth's Bill merely takes this to its logical conclusion, by setting the date of the election within the legislative framework. If Parliament subsequently decided to change the date of the election it would be free to do so by passing another Bill.

"Fixed term parliaments would lead to better government. Instead of having ministers fighting phony elections, as we saw last autumn, or lame duck governments holding off the inevitable, as we saw between 1996 and 1997, we would have a simple and predictable system. Efforts by bodies such as the Electoral Commission to ensure that people are registered and informed about the election would be that much easier as well."

ENDS

1. Unlock Democracy, incorporating Charter 88 is the UK's leading campaign for democracy, rights and freedoms.

2. For more information, a quote or an interview, please contact James Graham on 020 7278 4443 / 07966 237550 / james.graham@unlockdemocracy.org.uk.

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