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Cameron in 'people power' pledge Cameron in 'people power' pledge
(30 minutes later)
David Cameron has pledged to bring "big change" to politics, including looking at introducing fixed term Parliaments.David Cameron has pledged to bring "big change" to politics, including looking at introducing fixed term Parliaments.
A Tory government would restore "real people power" through a "radical" redistribution of power from Westminster, he said in a speech.A Tory government would restore "real people power" through a "radical" redistribution of power from Westminster, he said in a speech.
But he ruled out a switch from the current first-past-the-post electoral system to proportional representation.But he ruled out a switch from the current first-past-the-post electoral system to proportional representation.
Minister Jack Straw welcomed the speech but said a lot had been done, the Lib Dems said it did not go far enough.Minister Jack Straw welcomed the speech but said a lot had been done, the Lib Dems said it did not go far enough.
As the main parties try to shift focus away from the expenses revelations, Mr Cameron said he would reduce prime ministerial power and boost the role of Parliament. As the main parties try to shift focus away from MPs' expenses, Mr Cameron said he would reduce prime ministerial power and boost the role of Parliament.
Fixed term ParliamentsFixed term Parliaments
"I believe there is only one way out of the national crisis that we face, we need a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power," he said in a speech in Milton Keynes."I believe there is only one way out of the national crisis that we face, we need a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power," he said in a speech in Milton Keynes.
"I'm making clear that big change and a new politics is exactly what people can expect from a Conservative government."I'm making clear that big change and a new politics is exactly what people can expect from a Conservative government.
"We will begin a massive redistribution of power in our country, from the powerful to the powerless, from the political elite to the man and the woman in the street.""We will begin a massive redistribution of power in our country, from the powerful to the powerless, from the political elite to the man and the woman in the street."
Just imagine the effect that an army of armchair auditors is going to have on those expense claims David Cameron Johnson urging electoral reform MP's husband 'advised ministers'Just imagine the effect that an army of armchair auditors is going to have on those expense claims David Cameron Johnson urging electoral reform MP's husband 'advised ministers'
He said a Conservative government would "seriously consider" the possibility of fixed-term parliaments. He said a Conservative government would "seriously consider" the possibility of fixed-term parliaments - which would end the right of the government to choose the timing of elections.
"If we want Parliament to be a real engine of accountability we need to show it's not just the creature of the executive to be dissolved on the whim of a prime minister," he said."If we want Parliament to be a real engine of accountability we need to show it's not just the creature of the executive to be dissolved on the whim of a prime minister," he said.
But he said he would not consider a move towards proportional representation because he said that meant party managers - as opposed to voters - would end up choosing a government "on the basis of secret backroom deals".But he said he would not consider a move towards proportional representation because he said that meant party managers - as opposed to voters - would end up choosing a government "on the basis of secret backroom deals".
He pledged an end to policies "dreamt up on the sofa at Number 10 Downing Street", more transparency by limiting the number of special advisers and to strengthen the independence of the civil service.He pledged an end to policies "dreamt up on the sofa at Number 10 Downing Street", more transparency by limiting the number of special advisers and to strengthen the independence of the civil service.
Armchair auditorsArmchair auditors
A Conservative government would ask the Boundary Commission to look at reducing the House of Commons by, initially 10% and make sure constituencies were the same size, he said.A Conservative government would ask the Boundary Commission to look at reducing the House of Commons by, initially 10% and make sure constituencies were the same size, he said.
He also suggested legislation was published online in a more digestible way - and said people could get "text alerts" when issues they are interested in are debated in the Commons. He also suggested legislation was published online in a more digestible way, Parliamentary proceedings put on YouTube - and said people could get "text alerts" when issues they are interested in are debated in the Commons.
And he said the expenses of all public servants paid more than £150,000 a year would be put online - as would all public spending over £25,000. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY I am all for electoral reform and applaud Cameron and Johnson. But why didn't they come up with this before the expenses scandal? JB, Leamington Spa class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6494&edition=1&ttl=20090525225453">Send us your comments
The expenses of all public servants paid more than £150,000 a year would be put online - as would all public spending over £25,000.
"Just imagine the effect that an army of armchair auditors is going to have on those expense claims," he said."Just imagine the effect that an army of armchair auditors is going to have on those expense claims," he said.
"Indeed, the promise of public scrutiny is going to have a powerful effect on over-spending of any variety. ""Indeed, the promise of public scrutiny is going to have a powerful effect on over-spending of any variety. "
Other issues the party will look at include possible curbs on the whipping of votes - when MPs come under pressure to toe the party line - in considering bills line-by-line at the committee stage.Other issues the party will look at include possible curbs on the whipping of votes - when MPs come under pressure to toe the party line - in considering bills line-by-line at the committee stage.
Among Mr Cameron's proposals are: MPs would also be handed the power of deciding the timetabling of bills and backbenchers would get powers to choose the chairmen and members of select committees.
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  • 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 when bills are considered at committee stage. MPs would also be handed the power of deciding the timetabling of bills
  • Increasing the power of backbenchers by allowing them to choose the chairmen and members of select committees
  • Limiting the use of the royal prerogative which allows the prime minister, in the name of the monarch, to make major decisions without the backing of Parliament
  • 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.
The use of the royal prerogative which allows the prime minister, in the name of the monarch, to make major decisions without the backing of Parliament, would be limited.
'Nip and tuck'
Justice Secretary Jack Straw welcomed Mr Cameron's comments but said many of the ideas had been around "for some time" and there was always a gap between rhetoric on the need for constitutional reform and what politicians could actually deliver.Justice Secretary Jack Straw welcomed Mr Cameron's comments but said many of the ideas had been around "for some time" and there was always a gap between rhetoric on the need for constitutional reform and what politicians could actually deliver.
"What's important is that there is now a growing consensus in favour of many sensible changes," he said."What's important is that there is now a growing consensus in favour of many sensible changes," he said.
If we rely on turkeys to vote for Christmas, Ministers and MPs will never give up real power Andy SawfordLocal Government Information Unit
Labour's achievements included the introduction of the Human Rights and Freedom of Information Acts, he said, as well as progress on reform of party funding and a proposed bill of rights.Labour's achievements included the introduction of the Human Rights and Freedom of Information Acts, he said, as well as progress on reform of party funding and a proposed bill of rights.
"For constitutional reformers this is a glass three-quarters full, not a quarter empty," Mr Straw added. However, he distanced himself from the idea of a referendum on the electoral system at the next election - a plan floated by Cabinet colleague Alan Johnson - saying it should not be "confused" with the wider issues at stake at the election.
'Nip and tuck' Mr Straw also warned that electoral reform would not be a solution in itself, for the damaged reputation of Parliament.
However, Mr Straw distanced himself from the idea of a referendum on the electoral system at the next election - a plan floated by Cabinet colleague Alan Johnson - saying it should not be "confused" with the wider issues at stake at the election.
While there should be a debate on the issue, Mr Straw also warned that electoral reform would not be a solution in itself, for the damaged reputation of Parliament.
HAVE YOUR SAY I am all for electoral reform and applaud Cameron and Johnson. But why didn't they come up with this before the expenses scandal? JB, Leamington Spa Send us your comments
The Liberal Democrats, who favour proportional representation, said Mr Cameron's plans did not go far enough.The Liberal Democrats, who favour proportional representation, said Mr Cameron's plans did not go far enough.
Party leader Nick Clegg told the BBC: "David Cameron's ideas really don't go far enough. They are not a shakeup of British politics, they are a sort of nip and tuck of British politics.Party leader Nick Clegg told the BBC: "David Cameron's ideas really don't go far enough. They are not a shakeup of British politics, they are a sort of nip and tuck of British politics.
"They say nothing about giving people the right to sack their MPs if they have done something seriously wrong."They say nothing about giving people the right to sack their MPs if they have done something seriously wrong.
"They say nothing about the scandal of having a House of Lords which can make the law of this land, but no-one elects them.""They say nothing about the scandal of having a House of Lords which can make the law of this land, but no-one elects them."
The Local Government Information Unit, a think tank that supports councils, said Mr Cameron should commit to "a massive roll back of central government".
Chief executive Andy Sawford said: "Whitehall is bloated, Parliament is bloated, MPs' expenses are bloated, and we have to burst the bubble.
"Talk of radical decentralisation is welcome, but this kind of rhetoric has been around for years. If we rely on turkeys to vote for Christmas, ministers and MPs will never give up real power."