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DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN THE POLITICAL PARTIES

John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, Notts. has held mini referenda of his constituents on particular issues. I understand that other local political parties were involved in organising these, to my mind an example of how referenda can be a co-operative, unifying process, rather than the artificial divisions of party politics. Please encourage your own MP to follow his example.

Diana Wallis - Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber has a particular interest in issues of direct democracy: http://www.dianawallismep.org.uk/pages/aboutdiana.html

In 2006 Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester put forward a Bill to require a local authority to hold a referendum about a matter of major local importance for which it is responsible if one tenth of its electorate demand the holding of such a referendum; and for connected purposes.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060208/debtext/60208-04.htm#60208-04_head1
or russell.htm

The Green Party include the use of referenda as part of their Principles of Government:
"PA252 Legislation will be introduced to provide for referenda to be held on any government decision at the instance of a prescribed percentage of that body's electorate.
PA253 When a Bill of Rights has been enacted, a prescribed percentage of the citizens of any area shall be able to take a Citizens' Initiative, whereby they place a proposition on a ballot paper for popular vote. Should the proposition succeed the result will, subject to the law, be binding on the relevant government body."
see: http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfsspa.html#PA252


Revised September 2009