This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8067505.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Cameron pledges shake-up of power Cameron pledges shake-up of power
(about 6 hours later)
David Cameron has promised his party would deliver a dramatic redistribution of power in response to voter disgust over MPs' expenses. Tory leader David Cameron has promised his party would address voter disgust over MPs' expenses with a dramatic redistribution of power.
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. Writing in the Guardian, he says he would reduce prime ministerial power and boost the role of Parliament.
His proposals include fixed-term Parliaments, limiting use of the royal prerogative and free votes for MPs. His proposals include fixed-term Parliaments and free votes for MPs.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has also called for "radical" electoral reform. Latest claims over expenses suggest at least four ministers have paid the husband of a Labour MP a total of more than £5,000 for personal tax advice.
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. Dennis Bates, who is married to former Foreign Office minister Meg Munn, was paid by MPs including Foreign Secretary David Miliband, according to leaked documents seen by the Daily Telegraph.
Foreign Office Minister Gillian Merron, local government minister John Healey, schools minister Jim Knight (Dorset South), and Sheffield Hillsborough MP Angela Smith also used Mr Bates's services.
In a statement insisting they had not broken any rules, the four said: "Dennis Bates worked for 12 years for the Inland Revenue, specialising in the tax affairs of small businesses and is eminently qualified to provide advice."
If we want Parliament to be a real engine of accountability, we need to show it's not just the creature of the executive David CameronConservative leaderIf we want Parliament to be a real engine of accountability, we need to show it's not just the creature of the executive David CameronConservative leader
Neither Miss Munn nor Mr Bates have been available for comment.
As the main parties try to shift focus away from the expenses furore, Mr Cameron set out his plan to shake up Parliament by writing: "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."
The Conservative leader, who will speak further about political reform in Milton Keynes on Tuesday, says his party will "look seriously" at the idea of fixed-term Parliaments and at the "immense power" prime ministers wield through the ability to decide when to call an election.The Conservative leader, who will speak further about political reform in Milton Keynes on Tuesday, says his party will "look seriously" at the idea of fixed-term Parliaments and at the "immense power" prime ministers wield through the ability to decide when to call an election.
"If we want Parliament to be a real engine of accountability, we need to show it's not just the creature of the executive," he argues."If we want Parliament to be a real engine of accountability, we need to show it's not just the creature of the executive," he argues.
'Less whipping''Less whipping'
It will also investigate 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.It will also investigate 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.
"There should be much less whipping during the committee stages of a bill," he writes. "That's when you really need proper, impartial, effective scrutiny - not partisan point-scoring and posturing.""There should be much less whipping during the committee stages of a bill," he writes. "That's when you really need proper, impartial, effective scrutiny - not partisan point-scoring and posturing."
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.
  • Publishing the expenses claims of all public servants earning more than £150,000.
  • 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.
  • Publishing the expenses claims of all public servants earning more than £150,000.
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.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.
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 commentsHAVE 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
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.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."We need to overhaul the engine, not just clean the upholstery," he wrote.
But Mr Cameron rejects any change from the current first-past-the-post system.But Mr Cameron rejects any change from the current first-past-the-post system.
"Proportional representation takes power away from the man and woman in the street and hands it to the political elites," he says."Proportional representation takes power away from the man and woman in the street and hands it to the political elites," he says.
"Instead of voters choosing their government on the basis of the manifestos put before them in an election, party managers would choose a government on the basis of secret backroom deals. How is that going to deliver the transparency and trust we need?""Instead of voters choosing their government on the basis of the manifestos put before them in an election, party managers would choose a government on the basis of secret backroom deals. How is that going to deliver the transparency and trust we need?"