Our vision for political reform

There are profound faults in the UK political system. Public confidence in both individuals (MPs, peers and civil servants) and the wider political system has been undermined. This has resulted in increasing numbers of people failing to engage with politics at all, thus destabilising our democracy. We therefore believe that reform is essential.

A parliament that works for people, not politicians

• Stricter control of MPs’ and Peers’ ability to support legislation where they or their family have a personal or financial interest.
• A monthly People’s Question Time.
• An end to the ‘revolving door’ through which civil servants, politicians and corporate employees put profit before professionalism as they move between the private and public sectors.
• Much greater control and transparency of corporate lobbying of civil servants and elected officials.

Better access to democracy

• Appoint an independent Commission to investigate a move towards a system of proportional representation.
• Lower the voting age to 16.
• Liberalise the rules governing access to the media both before and during election campaigns.
• Repeal the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill.

 House of Lords reform

We support a completely new second chamber to review proposed legislation. At least 80% of the members of a reformed Upper House should be by direct election using a single transferrable vote system. The remaining members to be appointed for fixed terms on the basis of expertise in specialist fields such as science, technology, health, education, business, charities, the voluntary sector, local government and trade unions.