Tag Archives: direct democracy

Opinion: Overplaying the power of the “people’s petitions”

The e-petition mechanism to allow a new public petition service has gone live and media coverage about its merit and importance has gone mad. Let’s not over-emphasise the significance of this move and let’s not downplay the power of solid, rational argument.

I disagree with Sir George Young: this won’t give the public a megaphone as such and to say that it will is an exaggeration. What it may do is potentially provoke debate on contentious topics for which Parliament at present has neither the political will, nor the time, to dedicate to matters such as capital punishment, abortion, civil liberties …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , and | 5 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Jana
    I understand why some people believe we need to prevent Reform from getting donations that would allow it to match or even exceed the spending of the main parti...
  • Mohammed Amin
    I agree with David Vigar. While parts of the media have always had poor editorial standards. Conversely the BBC used to be quite good, but has declined signi...
  • James Lloyd
    The current set up of counties isn't going to work for large scale devolution of power. The 1974 compromises have left places like here in Greater Manchester cu...
  • Peter Martin
    "......England’s new territorial governments should have powers comparable in seriousness to Scotland and Wales. " Has anyone asked the elector...
  • Tim
    300 MPs is not enough if ministers will mainly be MPs as now...