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/6497751.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tories must be more open - Clarke Clarke targets 'sofa-style' Blair
(about 5 hours later)
Tory leader David Cameron will be urged to sign up to a new ministerial code to ensure a government led by him is open and accountable, the BBC has learned. Tory leader David Cameron will be urged to sign up to a new ministerial code to ensure a government led by him is open and accountable to Parliament.
The party's democracy task force, led by former chancellor Ken Clarke, will call for MPs to be given access to papers showing how decisions were made. The party's democracy task force, led by former chancellor Ken Clarke, wants to see a return to "proper" Cabinet government if the Tories get power.
Mr Clarke has said the Tories must end the "presidential" style of government seen under Tony Blair. Mr Clarke said the Conservatives must end the "presidential" and "sofa-style" style of Tony Blair's government.
The Tory priority must be to restore voters' trust in politics, he will say. The Tory priority must be to restore voters' trust in politics, he says.
'Judgement' It is difficult to exaggerate how broken the system is at the moment Ken Clarke
Mr Clarke, in an interim report, will demand a more traditional type of government, where ministers have more power than unelected advisers.Mr Clarke, in an interim report, will demand a more traditional type of government, where ministers have more power than unelected advisers.
His democracy task force will call for MPs to be given access to papers showing how decisions were reached, allowing them to make a judgement on whether proper processes had been followed. His democracy task force will call for ministers to be given access to papers ahead of Cabinet discussions so they can consult their officials and consider issues, rather than just nodding through decisions in other departments.
These measures would be enshrined in a ministerial code. He said: "It is difficult to exaggerate how broken the system is at the moment."
In a warning that lip service will not be enough, Mr Clarke wants a firm commitment that Mr Cameron will sign up to his proposals, BBC political correspondent David Thompson said. He also said the civil service needed more independence, while decisions about going to war should be considered by Cabinet and Parliament.
"I hope the politics will not just be based on seeking tomorrow's headlines or based on focus groups, but actually will be based on some considered view...on what's best in the national interest," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
This is the first report by the task force, which began work in 2005.This is the first report by the task force, which began work in 2005.
In a speech that year, Mr Clarke said: "A British 'presidency' has been created in Number 10.In a speech that year, Mr Clarke said: "A British 'presidency' has been created in Number 10.
"Too much power has been concentrated in the hands of the prime minister."Too much power has been concentrated in the hands of the prime minister.
"We have seen a wholesale and deeply regrettable move from Cabinet government to autocratic government. "We have seen a wholesale and deeply regrettable move from Cabinet government to autocratic government."
"We have a prime minister who is more George III than Clement Attlee."
Last year, Mr Clarke criticised Mr Cameron's plans to replace the Human Rights Act - based on a European convention - with a British Bill of Rights are "xenophobic and legal nonsense".