Tag: democracy

Letters: An overhaul of Westminster politics is long overdue

For all the divisions on display in this election campaign, there’s one point nearly all voters agree on: the desperate need for reform in Westminster.

Yet despite many parties commenting on the need for change in their manifestos, the issue of political reform has been dangerously absent from the campaign trail.

This radio silence is indefensible when polling for the Electoral Reform Society shows 85% of people feel that politics isn’t working, and 80% feel they have little or no influence on decision-making today. With public faith this low our politicians cannot afford to stay silent.

The signs of democratic decay are all around us – from an electoral system that wastes votes on an industrial scale, to the private members’ club that is the unelected House of Lords. This year we’ve seen our parliament lunge from crisis to crisis.

This election is a watershed moment for our democracy – inaction is not an option. Today we are calling for leaders to make the issue of updating and transforming Westminster front and centre, as part of #DemocracyDay.

We are asking them all to commit to a constitutional convention involving citizens, to set out how to reform Westminster after the election.

There is a high degree of cross-party unity around issues like updating Britain’s analogue-age campaign rules, spreading power outside of London and reining in our crumbling constitution.

With trust in politics at record lows, voters want to see parties open up about how to overhaul Westminster. Today is an opportunity to do just that. It is time for all parties to present their proposals with pride and passion.

Let’s start to build a better politics.

Willie Sullivan Electoral Reform Society
Ruth Lister Compass
Klina Jordan and Joe Sousek Make Votes Matter
Frances Foley Citizens Convention UK
Alexandra Runswick Unlock Democracy
Neal Lawson Up To Us
Anthony Barnett OpenDemocracy
Jennifer Nadel Compassion In Politics
Matteo Bergamini Shout Out UK
Tabitha Morton More United
Richard Murphy Professor of International Political Economy, City, University of London
Heidi Allen and Peter Dunphy Unite to Remain
Ed Dowker Represent.me
Mark Cridge mySociety
Richard Tunnicliffe and Sue Ellar Represent Us
Dimitri Scarlato the 3million
Paul Thistlethwaite XR Future Democracy Hub
Indra Adnan The Alternative
Andrew Pendleton New Economics Foundation
John Doolan and Paul Blomfield Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
Keith Sharp Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform
Frances Scott 50:50 Parliament
Jon Christensen Tax Justice Network

Voters urged to have their say as General Election approaches

Edinburgh’s Returning Officer has urged residents to have their say on 12 December, with just days to go until Thursday’s UK Parliamentary Election.

In the Capital, 362, 956 people are currently registered to vote following the registration deadline on 26 November, with around 20,000 residents registering since the notice of election on 8 November. Continue reading Voters urged to have their say as General Election approaches

Citizens’ Assembly: Weekend 2

We are looking forward to the second meeting of the Citizens’ Assembly which takes place at the Golden Jubilee in Clydebank from Friday evening through to Sunday. The weekend 2 agenda has been published which sets out what will be covered across the weekend by members.

The outputs from the first weekend have now been published on our website. The outputs online include the weekend 1 report, a series of factsheets and an explanation of terms. We are delighted that some members have shared their experience of weekend 1 through their diaries which can be found on the blogs pages.

Due to the proximity to the General Election we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it would not be appropriate to live-stream the forthcoming meeting of the Citizens’ Assembly.

This is because it is important that we do nothing that might lead to suggestions that we are drawing attention away from or otherwise intervening in the General Election, which could have the effect of undermining public confidence in the independence of the Assembly.

The relevant parts of the meeting will be recorded and may be viewed on the website after the General Election. Evidence presented to the Assembly will be published on the meetings page of the website over the weekend.

We realise this will be a disappointment to the many people who followed our last meeting and intend to do so in the future. We have not taken this decision lightly, but believe it is the right thing to do.

There are a limited number of places for people to apply to attend in person to observe the public session of the Assembly. Details can be found here.

Best wishes,

Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland Secretariat

Votes for foreign residents and prisoners?

Foreign nationals resident in Scotland should be able to have a say in how the country is run. This the view of the majority of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee following its consideration of the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill. Continue reading Votes for foreign residents and prisoners?

General Election 2019: Your candidates confirmed

UK General Election – 12 December 2019

Candidates in Edinburgh have been confirmed as:

Edinburgh East

GILMORE, Sheila – Scottish Labour Party
MILLER, Claire Helen Innes – Scottish Green Party
PRICE, Eleanor Margaret Louise – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
REILLY, Jill Mary – Scottish Liberal Democrats
SHEPPARD, Tommy – Scottish National Party (SNP)

Edinburgh North and Leith

ASTBURY, Heather Jane – Renew
BROCK, Deidre Leanne – Scottish National Party (SNP)
BURGESS, Steve – Scottish Green Party
MCGILL, Iain – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
MUNRO, Gordon John – Labour and Co-operative Party
SPEIRS, Robert – Brexit Party
WILSON, Bruce Roy – Scottish Liberal Democrats

Edinburgh South

BEAL, Alan Christopher – Scottish Liberal Democrats
COOK, Nick – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
MACDONALD, Catriona Mary Elizabeth – Scottish National Party
MURRAY, Ian – Scottish Labour Party
NEVENS, Kate – Scottish Green Party

Edinburgh South West

BALLANTINE, David Craig – Brexit Party
BROWN, Mev – Social Democratic Party Scotland
CHERRY, Joanna Catherine – Scottish National Party (SNP)
COOKE, Sophie – Scottish Labour Party
INGLIS, Tom – Scottish Liberal Democrats
LAIDLAW, Callum Arron – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
PARKER, Ben – Scottish Green Party

Edinburgh West

BOLTON, Craig William – Scottish Labour Party
GUNN, Elaine – Scottish Green Party
HUTCHISON, Graham James – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
JARDINE, Christine Anne – Scottish Liberal Democrats
MASSON, Sarah Louise – Scottish National Party (SNP)

Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh in the UK Parliamentary Elections, said: “The forthcoming election has dominated the news for all sorts of reasons and I’m certain it’s a big talking point for residents in Edinburgh and beyond.

“It’s essential that anyone that wants to take part in the vote makes sure they are registered – it’s easy to do.

“Visit gov.uk/register-to-vote to check if you’re registered by 26 November – it only takes a few minutes. Those who have already registered will soon begin receiving poll cards – read your poll card carefully to make sure you get to the right place to cast your vote on polling day.”

To vote in the UK Parliamentary Elections on 12 December, voters must be aged 18 or over and either a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Voter registration closes at midnight on Tuesday 26 November. Anyone already registered for the European Election on 23 May does not need to re-register.

However, anyone who has changed address since then needs to re-register to be able to vote in the UK Parliamentary Elections on 12 December. Visit the voter registration website to register.

Applications for postal votes must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday 26 November.

Applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 4 December.

Postal ballot packs will soon be sent out to residents who have registered. Postal voters are encouraged to return their completed ballots as soon as possible.

Voters should mark an X beside one candidate.

Find out more about where, when and how to vote.

Let’s hear it for our hard-working councillors!

Home advantage for four city councillors!

LGiU (Local Government Information Unit) Scotland and sponsora CCLA have unveiled the shortlist for the 2019 Councillor Awards.

For the second year running, the Councillor Awards have been showcasing the best of local government. The Councillor Awards are the only national awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of individual councillors across Scotland.  Continue reading Let’s hear it for our hard-working councillors!