Jack Straw tries to trump Cameron with ‘people power’ call

Mr Straw said a US-style power of recall — where voters can gather enough signatures to force a re-run of an election — "should be looked at".

He also backed a call by David Cameron for examination of the idea of fixed-term parliaments, thus removing the historic right of prime ministers to dictate the timing of a general election.

Mr Straw's remarks came after the Tory leader made a keynote speech warning that politicians had to respond to the public mood by unveiling radical changes to Parliament.

The Cabinet minister said Mr Cameron was "playing catch-up" to Gordon Brown, but the Tories countered it was the Government which had appeared slow over reform in recent days.

The power of recall was used most dramatically in California when Governor Gray Davis was forced out in 2003 by voters. In the re-run election, he was beaten by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Until now, only the Liberal Democrats' leader Nick Clegg and Tory backbenchers have called for such a reform.

Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme that fixed-term Parliaments should be looked at: "Personally, I think there are advantages in this... subject to circumstances in which the Government lost its majority. It's certainly a consideration."

Mr Straw said Labour had been the most "dramatically radical" government on constitutional reform for more than 200 years. He said the Freedom of Information Act, devolution and the Human Rights Act proved this.

Earlier Mr Cameron moved to outflank Labour with a raft of reforms, including the idea of fixed-term Parliaments.

Saying there was a hunger for a "new politics" which gave more power to voters, Mr Cameron set out proposals to give the public a right to introduce laws, backed by petitions. In his speech to the Open University, he added that a Tory panel would "very soon" have details of all the party's expenses and he would then decide which MPs needed to face re-election.

He also proposed phone text alerts for voters who want to keep track of a Bill, publishing expenses of all public servants earning more than £150,000 and allowing councils to overturn Whitehall decisions to close post offices or railway stations.

Mr Cameron ruled out changing the voting system, warning it would hand more power to party elites, but said the number of MPs should be cut by 64.

He warned that change was needed to give the public more power: "We do need a new politics in this country. Politicians will have to change their attitude."

Health Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday called for a referendum on electoral reform. Downing Street was said to be "relaxed" about the move and by a call from Ed Miliband for an end to the term "honourable member".