[jambutty]

With an acknowledgment to Martin Luther King.

In his opening post at http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f69/accyweb-elections-37647.html entwisi asked what sort of a manifesto people would adopt if they had the opportunity.

Although a first rate topic for discussion it was slightly flawed in that asking for a manifesto was asking for too much. I started to write my own but quickly realised that it would be far too long for meaningful discussions.

So I am resurrecting his idea but instead of a complete manifesto just one part of one. Things like Parliamentary Reforms, Taxation, Law And Order, Health Education, Public Transport, Energy etc. with a separate thread for each one.

So to set the ball rolling –
Parliamentary Reform.

Major reforms are needed and to this end party politics would be abolished. A country this size does not need 650 odd MP’s let alone they voting along party lines. Less than half that number could do the job just as well.

Each county would be a constituency where up to 5 MP’s would be elected on their own personal manifesto. How many MP’s would be determined by the number of eligible voters in the county. Thus a sparsely populated county would have fewer MP’s than a heavily populated one. For England there would be less than 250 MP’s.

A parliament to last for 4 years. No early elections at the whim of the PM.

The elected MP’s would select and vote for a PM, the cabinet and the ‘Speaker’. The MP’s could thus also vote out someone who is not doing the job properly.

Each MP would be required to vote in line with his manifesto. If an issue is not in the MP’s manifesto that MP could vote as his/her conscience dictates but preferably seeking guidance for the constituents.

MP’s would be required to attend the House every day – that is 9:00am to 6:00pm (1 till 2 for lunch) Tuesday to Friday. This would leave Mondays free for the MP to hold ‘surgeries’ in his/her constituency.

Do away with all the historical waffle that goes on and in particular with ‘talking out’ a proposed bill.

MP’s would not be allowed to have second jobs, consultancies etc. The taxpayer pays their salaries so they should serve the paymaster fulltime.

MP’s would be given government funded accommodation in either purpose built accommodation or local hotels. No second homes at the country’s expense.

The salary should be commensurate with the importance of the job. Running the country is a very important job so the MP’s salary should be £125,000 pa with a capped allowance to run a constituency office. £150,000 pa for cabinet ministers, with £175,000 pa for deputy PM and £200,000 pa for PM.

Prospective candidates would be government funded for their electioneering. No donations allowed.