Why Labour?
It is clear that people want to change the way politics is done in this country. Labour will renew our politics with a radical, modern open and democratic process of reform to change the way our nation governs itself.
For Labour, democratic renewal is intended to forge a new relationship between government and citizen, so that Britain is better equipped to respond to the challenges that lie ahead. We want to create a society where power is held accountable and where individuals are able to maximise control over their own lives. That core objective is what has guided the substantial programme of constitutional change which we have undertaken since 1997 and will be entrenched in the vigorous reforms we are now undertaking to rebuild public trust and people's faith in politics for the future.
The expenses scandal scarred our democracy. It was a problem. We acted to fix it. Now we need to implement the reforms and rebuild trust in politics. We are determined to do all that is necessary to restore trust and to ensure that all politicians - as the vast majority do already - concentrate on serving the public and not themselves. We have acted quickly to clean up politics, with measures to increase transparency and strengthen public accountability of members of the House of Commons including: an independent regulator for Parliamentary standards, a binding Code of Conduct for all MPs, reform of the system of MPs’ allowances, tougher rules for expenses claims and declaration of any additional income.
Key Achievements
- Devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, an elected Mayor and Assembly for London and directly-elected mayors for those cities that want them.
- Modernised local government, introducing a clearer and more transparent decision making process, allowing local councillors to spend more time leading their community.
- Greater freedom for local authorities through additional resources and local public service agreements.
- Substantial reform of the House of Lords including the removal of the vast majority of hereditary peers, as the precursor to final, lasting reform of the second chamber.
- Increased rights for individual citizens through the Human Rights and Freedom of Information Acts.
- A new Supreme Court creating a highly visible symbol of judicial authority, one which is accessible to the public.
A future fair for all
These have been significant and radical reforms, but we must go further. We want to rebuild trust in politics, strengthen Parliament vis a vis the executive, and put more power in the hands of individual citizens so that they can influence the decisions which affect themselves, their families and local communities. Our plans include:
- Setting out a radical programme of constitutional and parliamentary reform including legislating for a referendum on the Alternative Vote system and measures to complete House of Lords reform
- Introducing a power of Recall so that where an MP is found guilty of gross financial misconduct, but Parliament fails to act, electors will be able to petition for their representative to be recalled and a by-election held.
- Holding a referendum early in the next Parliament on whether to move to the Alternative Vote (AV) for elections to the House of Commons, which retains the direct link between MP and constituency but which also ensures that MPs are elected with broad support.
- Measures to strengthen disciplinary arrangements and increase accountability of members of the House of Lords, as well as broader reform, including completing the process of removing the hereditary principle. We will bring forward proposals for a smaller and democratically constituted second chamber.
- Limiting, or surrendering to Parliament, prerogative powers previously held by the executive, including: the power to send troops to war; the way treaties are ratified; judicial appointments, parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services; the power to dissolve and recall Parliament; and to place the Civil Service on a statutory basis by enshrining its core values in law.
- Ensuring a fair say for all by devolving power away from the centre and to local people; giving councils more power to promote local democracy to increase citizen involvement and improve services by making them more responsive to local needs and ambitions.