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C

Speech

David Cameron: Constitutional Renewal Bill response

David Cameron, Wednesday, June 10 2009

The Prime Minister has spoken a lot about constitutional change and
innovation.

But of course, isn't the real change we need not really much of an
innovation at all?

Isn't the answer to our discredited politics, to our disillusioned country

and to our desperately weak Government a General Election?

Two years ago, the Prime Minister didn't call an election because he
thought he'd win it.

Three weeks ago, he said he didn't want one because it would bring
chaos.

Lord Mandelson, the man who now runs the Government, says Labour are against one because they might
lose it.

How many more excuses will they come up with before recognising it's time for the people to have their
say?

Let me turn to the proposals themselves.

The country is too centralised.

Parliament is too weak.

And the Government is too top-down, too secretive and too unwilling to give up power.

Above all, isn't the real problem that people feel shut out of decision making, unable to control the things
that matter to them?

There is much in this Statement that we support - not least because it is taken from the comprehensive
case for reform that I made to the Open University.

They have at least mastered the power of copying things.

More power for local government. We agree.

But let's not stop there. Why not abolish the regional quangos that have taken so much power away from
local government?

We support greater independence for select committees, which gets a mention today.

But why can't the Prime Minister say today that these watchdogs should be freely elected and not
appointed by the whips office?

I accept this is a difficult decision for him. In a way it's a difficult decision for me because it means giving
up patronage. But I'm prepared to do it. Is he prepared to?

We will back a Parliamentary Standards Authority to supervise all matters relating to MPs' pay and
expenses.

But there are still serious questions to answer.

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Not least how it relates to this House and to whom it will be ultimately accountable.

The problem is Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has promised constitutional change countless times
before.

He promised it when he launched his leadership for the Labour Party two years ago.

Again in his first statement as Prime Minister to the House.

Again in his speech on liberty in the autumn of 2007.

He promised it in two Queen's Speeches when he specifically pledged a Constitutional Renewal Bill.

That Bill was first mooted in November 2007.

Then again in December 2008.

Why has it taken so long?

If you look at the things he's proposed in the past - a British Day, an Institute of Britishness, a Bill of Rights,
a written constitution, reform of the Lords, all endlessly launched and relaunched but nothing ever happens.

It's not so much a Government strategy; it's a sort of relaunch distraction strategy to try to give the Prime
Minister something to talk about when he's in desperate straits.

The Prime Minister's latest brainchild - you can't make this one up - the National Council for Democratic
Renewal. It sounds like something out of North Korea.

But let us be clear about what this is.

It's not some outward-looking convention open to the public.

It's not even cross-party.

It's just a bunch of Ministers talking to themselves.

Mr. Speaker, what these proposals fail to address is the central question that we believe should lie behind
any program for constitutional reform.

How do we take power away from the political elite and give it to the man and woman in the street?

Let me give him some real ideas.

Isn't it time to allow people the opportunity to put forward a proposition and have it voted on in a local
referendum? Shouldn't we introduce so-called Citizens' Initiatives?

Isn't it time to give local people the right to stop excessive taxation? Shouldn't we give them the right to
hold a referendum on massive council tax rises?

And when we as democratically elected politicians promise a referendum, as we all did on the European
Constitution, shouldn't we stick to it?

Isn't it things like that that really sap the faith that people have in politics?

At the heart of any program of constitutional reform should be proper taxpayer transparency.

Isn't it time to publish all public spending, national and local, online - so each taxpayer can see precisely
how their hard-earned money is being spent?

If the test of effective constitutional reform is pushing power downwards, then isn't it the case that nothing
fails more than Proportional Representation?

Let me reaffirm. We believe this is a recipe for weak coalition governments.

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Instead of voters choosing their Government on the basis of manifestos, doesn't it all too often mean party
managers choosing Governments on the basis of backroom deals?

Our view is clear.

We should not take away from the British people the right to get rid of weak, tired and discredited
Governments.

The most powerful thing in politics is not actually the soapbox or the despatch box, it's the ballot box -
particularly when it leads to the removal van.

And I have to say to the Prime Minister: won't people conclude that he's only started talking about
proportional representation because he fears he's going to lose under the existing rules?

If we want an electoral system that is fairer, shouldn't we be considering making sure each constituency has
equal worth?

Right now some constituencies have twice as many voters as others, putting a premium on some votes.

Isn't it time to ask the Boundary Commission to re-draw boundaries to make them the same size?

At the same time, shouldn't we be reducing the size of the House of Commons?

Mr Speaker, isn't it the case that it's not the Alternative Vote people want right now; they want the chance to
vote for an alternative Government?

Aren't these proposals a pretty sorry attempt to distract attention away from a Prime Minister who has lost
his authority; a Cabinet full of second preferences; and a Labour Government that has led this country to
the brink of bankruptcy?

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Promoted by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DP

3z3 2009-07-20 23:18