Direct Democracy identifies a mix of decentralisation and centralisation in Queen's Speech
The Direct Democracy group - established by Tory parliamentarians Douglas Carswell and Dan Hannan - has welcomed the moves towards 'people power' that are widely expected to be announced in today's Queen's Speech:
- Directly elected police commissioners by local communities.
- Devolution of powers to local councils and communities. Yesterday the Chancellor announced that most ringfencing of central-to-local government funding would be lifted.
- A Great Repeal Bill for repealing burdensome and costly regulation.
- Citizen’s initiatives in order to put forth both local and state referendums.
DD also listed six other initiatives that they hope to see the Coalition deliver in future:
- A referendum on Britain's membership of the EU (as promised in the Liberal Democrat manifesto).
- The power of recalling ethically questionable MPs should be triggered by local voters rather than - as the Coalition proposes - a group of politicians in SW1.
- Similarly the power to initiate open primary elections in 'safe seats' should be in the hands of constituents. The Coalition risks giving the power to party machines.
- The Great Repeal Bill should - wiki-style - include the ideas of the population.
- Greater use of referenda so that voters decide more of the great issues of the day.
- Future Queen's speeches should include People's Bills that would emerge from popular votes.
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