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Cameron pledges shake-up of power Cameron pledges shake-up of power
(10 minutes later)
David Cameron has promised his party would deliver a dramatic redistribution of power in response to voter disgust over MPs' expenses.David Cameron has promised his party would deliver a dramatic redistribution of power in response to voter disgust over MPs' expenses.
The Conservative leader, writing in the Guardian, says he would reduce prime ministerial power and boost the role of Parliament to win back public support.The Conservative leader, writing in the Guardian, says he would reduce prime ministerial power and boost the role of Parliament to win back public support.
Decisions must be handed back "to the man and woman in the street", he says. His proposals include fixed-term Parliaments, limiting use of the royal prerogative and free votes for MPs.
His proposals include fixed-term Parliaments, strengthening local government and free votes for MPs. Health Secretary Alan Johnson has also called for "radical" electoral reform.
In his article, Mr Cameron writes: "I believe the central objective of the new politics we need should be a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power.In his article, Mr Cameron writes: "I believe the central objective of the new politics we need should be a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power.
"From the state to citizens; from the government to Parliament; from Whitehall to communities. From the EU to Britain; from judges to the people; from bureaucracy to democracy."From the state to citizens; from the government to Parliament; from Whitehall to communities. From the EU to Britain; from judges to the people; from bureaucracy to democracy.
"Through decentralisation, transparency and accountability we must take power away from the political elite and hand it to the man and woman in the street.""Through decentralisation, transparency and accountability we must take power away from the political elite and hand it to the man and woman in the street."
Among his proposals are:Among his proposals are:
  • Limiting the power of the prime minister by considering fixed-term Parliaments, ending the right of Downing Street to control the timing of general elections
  • Boosting the role of Parliament by giving MPs free votes during the consideration of bills at committee stage. MPs would also be handed the power of deciding the timetabling of bills
  • Increasing the power of backbench MPs by allowing them to choose the chairmen and members of Commons select committees
  • Curbing the power of the executive by limiting the use of the royal prerogative which allows the prime minister, in the name of the monarch, to make major decisions
  • Strengthening local government by allowing councils to reverse Whitehall decisions to close popular services, such as a local post office. They would be given the power to raise money to keep them open.
  • Limiting the power of the prime minister by considering fixed-term Parliaments, ending the right of Downing Street to control the timing of general elections
  • Boosting the role of Parliament by giving MPs free votes during the consideration of bills at committee stage. MPs would also be handed the power of deciding the timetabling of bills
  • Increasing the power of backbench MPs by allowing them to choose the chairmen and members of Commons select committees
  • Curbing the power of the executive by limiting the use of the royal prerogative which allows the prime minister, in the name of the monarch, to make major decisions
  • Strengthening local government by allowing councils to reverse Whitehall decisions to close popular services, such as a local post office. They would be given the power to raise money to keep them open.
On Monday, Alan Johnson urged Gordon Brown to hold a national referendum on electoral reform and offer the public a "genuinely radical alternative" to the present system.
In an article for the Times, he urged the prime minister to involve the public in "a root and branch examination" of the political system in order to regain trust following the expenses scandal.
"We need to overhaul the engine, not just clean the upholstery," he wrote.