Make My Vote Count - Campaign News

Referendum 2010 Campaign

The campaign is now publicly launched.  A broad range of civil society organisations and individuals have come together to call for a referendum on the day of the next general election to change the way we elect our MPs.  Add your name to the list of supporters.

Our message is simple and strong: real change, not just new faces. An end to safe seats and seeming jobs for life for some MPs. Remove the power that MPs have to decide how they are elected ... and give that to the voters instead. Bring in greater accountability for those who represent us; and greater choice at the ballot box in the first place.

At the next general election, we want to give voters the chance to register their feelings twice: once to get rid of a tainted MP; and once to get rid of a rotten system and change things for good. One vote to elect a fresh face to represent them; and one vote (in a nationwide referendum) to bring a fresh start to politics.

- launch letter in The Observer - signed by a range of leading figures from across the cultural, academic, political and civil society worlds.
- accompanying article and editorial in The Observer.
- explanatory webpage on ERS site  (a campaign website will go live in a few days)
- ERS press release welcoming Alan Johnson's calls for a referendum  

Elections affect all of us; this campaign is about all of us. We want your vote to count the same wherever you live and whoever you are. A list of influential people may have been necessary to launch the campaign and get media coverage, but now it is your turn to star. 

What you can do:

1) Show your support for the campaign - add your name to the list of signatories. Sign up online now.  Alternatively, email malcolm@makevotescount.org.uk

NB: The official campaign website, messaging, actions and spokespeople will be announced and rolled out over the next week. 

Posted: 24/05/09

The letter that officially launches our campaign

Signalling the full public launch of our campaign for an election day referendum on the voting system, today in The Observer the following letter has been published:

The expense crisis reveals a nation governed by a political elite that has stopped listening and who are accountable to no one but their party machines. Too many MPs seem more interested in changing their homes than changing the world. Our society faces real problems - mass unemployment and growing poverty, the threat of climate chaos and an erosion of our civil liberties to name but three. These all require effective government working on behalf of the popular will. Yet our whole political system is close to collapse. We demand a new electoral system that makes everyone's vote count.

On the day of the next general election, there should be a binding referendum on whether to change to a more proportional electoral system. This should be drawn up by a large jury of randomly selected citizens, given the time and information to deliberate on what voting system and other changes would make Parliament more accountable to citizens.

We demand the right to be able to vote for a change:

(signatories)

Helena Kennedy, QC;  Philip Pullman, author;  Damon Albarn, musician;  John Sauven, Greenpeace;  Martin Bell, anti-sleaze campaigner; Richard Wilson, actor; Polly Toynbee, journalist; Susie Orbach,  author and psychologist; Jonathan Pryce, actor;   Caroline Lucas, leader Green party;  Brian Eno, musician;  Neal Lawson, Compass;  Ken Ritchie, Electoral Reform Society;  Colin Hines, Green New Deal; Matthew Taylor (personal capacity), RSA;  Hari Kunzru, author; Mark Thomas, comedian;  Oona King,  ex Labour MP;  Michael Brown, journalist and ex-Tory MP; Pam Giddy, Power Inquiry;  Salma Yaqoob,  Leader Respect; Wes Streeting, President NUS; Gordon Roddick; Lisa Appignanesi, Chair of PEN; Prof James Forrester; Carmen Callil, author and publisher; Sunder Katwala, Fabians; Billy Bragg, musician; Sam Tarry, Chair Young Labour; Peter Facey, Unlock Democracy; Prof David Marquand; Dave Rowntree, musician; Richard Reeves, Demos; Ann Pettifor, Advocacy UK; Prof Richard Sennett; Sunny Hundal, Liberal Conspiracy; Anthony Barnett, openDemocracy; Richard Grayson, Social Liberal Forum; John Harris, journalist; Pete Myers, enoughsenough.org; Steve Richards, journalist; Tony Robinson, actor; Richard Murphy, Tax Justice; Jeremy Leggett, Solarcentury; AC Grayling, philosopher; Katie Hickman, author; Benedict Southworth, World Development Movement; Lance Price, journalist; Ann Black, Labour activist; Peter Tatchell, Human Rights campaigner; Hilary Wainwright, Red Pepper; David Aaronovitch, journalist; Kevin Maguire, journalist.

via makemyvotecount.org.uk

Posted via web from sunwalking's posterous