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Jack Straw tries to trump Cameron with ‘people power’ call
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor26 May 2009
The public could be allowed to boot out their MP in the wake of the expenses scandal, Justice Secretary Jack Straw signalled today.
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”.
Reader views (26)
Keith Price, you are a gnarled old leftie, with a chip on both shoulders.
- David, Hampshire, 26/05/2009 21:46
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Jack Straw is one of the biggest slime balls in politics. All he as ever done is ride on other peoples coat tails.
All our immigration problems started the moment he walked in to the home office 12 years ago. He's at the mainstream of Loony-Lying-Labour and must be jail for his part in trying to dismantle our democracy.
- Mike, London, 26/05/2009 19:58
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There must be a system where people's concerns are acted upon, the massive immigration and the hordes in France and Greece trying to get here are a symptom of policticians just doing what they want. This immigration thing is scary.
- Robak, Rock Ferry Great Britian, 26/05/2009 19:37
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“should be looked at”
Ummm, yeah. Good thinking.
And just when would it be looked at? By whom?
*****************************************************
Picture the meeting...
"Ok comrades - next on the list, 'voters forcing a re-run of an election' ... No, don't laugh. We promised we'd look at it."
"Show of hands, anyone interested?"
"No?"
"Ok, next on the list we have..."
- Rogan, Irving, 26/05/2009 18:35
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"Tories playing catch-up"
Catching up with who? Does he mean the dynamic, dazzling,
gazelle-like McBean. No, I didn't think so, either.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 26/05/2009 18:14
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The notion of a recall provision requires some thought. Most of the electorate hate politicians for not being straight with them, but equally dislike it when unwelcome messages have to be delivered. Recalls could easily become a wastefully common recurrence. Equally I am not convinced that it addresses any particular problem facing us today other than Jack Straw's need to say something. In my view we badly need to constrain the power of Prime Ministers, strengthen the power of the House of Commons to call the executive to account and complete the so far botched reforms of the House of Lords to a properly elected chamber. Cameron sees the need, but I cannot recollect New Labour articulating these issues - perhaps its uncle jack who is struggling to catch up. The expenses system needs to be reformed and that reform seems to be under way: the other issues are of far greater long term import.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 26/05/2009 18:00
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Straw actively fought to keep the expenses details hidden. He is one of the slimiest of the lot.
Why do these corrupt vermin keep digging? Isn't the hole deep enough yet? Labour will be canvassing for votes in Australia soon.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 26/05/2009 17:22
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Where is Val today? Ah, must be siesta time.
If your beloved Labour Losers are so dear to you Val why on earth did you deflect to Spain?
- Mrs, London UK, 26/05/2009 17:17
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Good work Jack. One step ahead of advertising boy Cameron. After talking down the pound and then turning on his own MPs having been behind the expenses leak in the first place, Cameron is becoming increasingly implausible as a future prime minsiter.
- Steve S, London, 26/05/2009 17:08
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Straw is absolutely right. Labour has been the government of constitutional reform. Devolution, Equalities, HRA, even dismantling the House of Lords and the Lord Chancellor. All of which opposed by the Tories.
- Dhan Raj, basildon, 26/05/2009 17:07
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"Here we go again, Labour "nicking" the Tories policies. Then we have Crash Gordon stating in PMQ's that the Tories are the party of no policies!"
Exaclty, same old worn out Labour bull-droppings - 'More of the Same'. It truly looks like even with all the chaotic happenings going on in and around Parliament and our MPs that Labour still has its collective head jammed up its collective backside still listening to its own lies and propaganda.
Mrs Thatcher and the Torys made the same msitake towards the end of her time in office. So the 'Ides of March' politcalywise are slowly creeping up on Gordo McRuin Pals, and they still don't want to acknowlegde it!
Like a bunch of Alkies, they are all still in denial about what happening to them. Labour will continue to nick the policy ideas from other political parties, and claim that they "Thought of this first!"
Anybody who beleives them, well they need their heads read!!
Roll on a General Election. Pa Broone cannot stay in Number 10 for much longer.
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK, 26/05/2009 17:04
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What these MPs still don't get is no matter what reforms are in place NOTHING can cancel out the rotten government this country has endured for years, turning the UK into a country on the brink of ruin.
- Brian Taylor, Oxford UK, 26/05/2009 17:03
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dont worry jack we know who will be kicked out and you and all your cronies will be history you have destroyed the will of the british people and made them all look like saps fools and embarassed ,labour government have been a shambles for the last decade i dont think you all realise how angry we all are and i think i can speak for most decent right thinking citizen of the uk
- Jim Fennessey, london, 26/05/2009 17:00
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Keith Price
Are your leaders going to do anything usefull apart from remaining in hiding from the public. They then send out the injustice secretary to talk nonsense. Theres a cheap flight leaving for Spain tomorrow morning - you could join Labour runaway Val and live a bankrupt socialist life together ! Go on, catch the flight but don't think living in Spain will let you escape the Labour stench because very soon they will be raiding your pension like they have done to most !
- Wayne, Herts, 26/05/2009 16:47
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Just like the vote on the EU Labour are very good at promising things.Just not very good at keeping their word.
- Dave Smith, Croydon, 26/05/2009 16:41
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Jack Straw tired to block reform of MPs expenses according to former watchdog in 2008.Jack also claimed claimed £600 a year in tuition fees for the part-time BA Hons in social sciences for a staff member.
You have no credability left Jack. Full of sound bites and spin here is my favourite; Jack Straw said after the 2005 election: on the strains of the Home Office: "You're either too soft and you're not doing anything, or you're too hard and you're illiberal." Utterly clueless is another way of saying it. Jack Straw a man who sits on the fence and yet pretends the fence does not exist.
- Gary, Brentwood, 26/05/2009 16:35
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Where has old Gordon gone over the last few days. I want him where I can see him.
- Matt, London, 26/05/2009 16:29
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Careful Jack, you could be first. But then we may never know, judging how MP's fought tooth and nail to hid the expenses info by debunking the, what did you call it, ah yes, New Labour's Freedom of Information Act.
- Alan, carlisle uk, 26/05/2009 16:18
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David Cameron's "gimmick a day" strategy is so transparent and self-serving that it exposes his complete immaturity and inexperience for all to see. Even Hague was more electable
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 26/05/2009 16:13
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Here we go again, Labour "nicking" the Tories policies. Then we have Crash Gordon stating in PMQ's that the Tories are the party of no policies!
I would trust David Cameron to do the reforms, but never on your life would I trust Labour to reform something as vital or dramatic as Government reform.
Everything over the past 12 years that Labour have tinkered with has been a complete car crash.
Jack (in the box) Straw - please go away, we don't want to hear any more of your lies, spin and claptrap!!!
- Mrs, London UK, 26/05/2009 16:00
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Jack Straw would say that wouldn't he? "
"You are old," said the youth, as I mentioned before,
and have grown an unCommon bore"
"Yet you turn a back somersaults on the floor of the House.
Pray what is the reasons for that?"
With apologies to Lewis Carroll.
Whatever a Labour Minister says now will carry no weight.
- Albert Hall, hove england, 26/05/2009 15:54
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The less heard from Mr Straw on this the better I think.
- Peter Haldane, London, 26/05/2009 15:50
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Jack Straw needs to recognise that we, the electorate, are all set to use our people power and boot out the current government. Including Jack Straw.
Just as Ken Livingstone ended his last days preaching to an ever wider audience; fewer and fewer of them were listening.
Does Jack Straw not realise it's too littel and too late from the party who promised root and branch reform thriteen years ago and then sat on their hands - this is such an easy one for Cameron to defeat.
In the name of God, go.
Call an election you cowards.
- Robin, London, 26/05/2009 15:46
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Jack Straw thinks David Cameron is playing catch-up on Gordon Brown? Really? Cameron, Nick Clegg, Alan Johnson and others are all miles ahead of Brown, who has delayed and dithered, sends everything to committess and consultations and has no intention of devolving power away from himself.
But no one with a real chance of government has been as radical as Cameron. Just allowing us, the public, to iniate national and local referenda - I assume on a system similar to the ones in Switzerland or California - would open up our politics dramatically. And that's only one of his revolutionary ideas.
We should all encourage him, whatever our politics, because once the people have power we will not readily give it back.
- Tom Moncrieff, london W6, 26/05/2009 15:30
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Distraction, deflection – but where is the democracy?
Parliament belongs to the People not the Political Class. First give the people the right to select their own candidates for elections, then those in Parliament can speak for the people.
No more Big Brother Mr Straw – why do you need to record and log every journey taken by UK citizens? Why do you need to store this information for 2 years? Why was this not debated in Parliament? Is that what this Political Class means by Democracy?
The Political Class now in a position of power are more worried about control of the citizen than anything else. Is it in case the people wake up to the fact the UK is not a democracy?
- Ian, Reading, England, 26/05/2009 15:29
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Can we recall Gordon Brown please.
- Ian, London, 26/05/2009 15:10
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