Tory calls for direct democracy

Guy Aitchison (London, OK) Today The Daily Telegraph, in association with Direct Democracy, launches a six week discussion aimed at promoting ‘localist’ politics, by which they mean the devolution of power to the lowest practicable level. Debate will be stirred up by ‘The Localist Papers’, a series of pamphlets produced by the Centre for Policy Studies and Direct Democracy, which is a group of Conservative MPs, MEPs, MSPs and candidates. The idea is to focus on how the principles of direct democracy apply across the board. Released with perfect timing is today’s pamphlet, ‘Open Politics’. It focuses on the need for a radical overhaul of the political system. Key proposals are: give local councils the same degree of legislative autonomy Holyrood got in 1998 Scotland Act and make them financially autonomous; use referendums locally and nationally; allow petitions with enough signatures to become legislative proposals in Parliament (a proposal that is also in The Power Inquiry); and scrap the executive's powers under Crown prerogative. Telegraph readers are asked to contribute to the debate at Think Local where Helena Kennedy can also be found giving her views on how Gordon Brown can change politics. (Health warning: when I tried the link was down).