100 days to save democracy

11.04.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 31st May 2009

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP has proposed a 7 step programme for radical reform of the way Britain is governed and also restore public confidence in parliament and democracy in the UK.

Nick Clegg commented:

"I'm setting out a plan of action to get all the changes we need delivered in just 100 days - making it possible for MPs to be sacked by constituents, abolishing the House of Lords, getting corrupt money out of politics and changing the electoral system to give everyone a voice. People will say it isn't possible - parliament can't act that quickly. I say the innate conservatism that marks out our political establishment is part of the problem. Let's stop all this self-congratulatory hype about the mother of parliaments and get on with improving it.

"Real political change is about taking power from those who have hoarded it for themselves, and distributing it to others. So change will only be possible if the vested interests that have benefited from the way things are accept that they can no longer preside over an institutional stitch-up. For generations the Labour and Conservative parties have colluded to keep out competition. They are like a corporate duopoly, setting the rules of the game to maintain dominance. And just like in economics, it's ordinary people who suffer: taken for granted, and deprived of the ability to make different choices to those imposed upon them.

"So instead of long-term consideration of the possibility of tinkering, let us have 100 days of real action: swift, decisive and confident. It really is possible."

The key points of Nick Clegg's proposals are:

1. Commitment to accept Kelly expenses reform in full

2. Recall power for MPs suspended for misconduct

3. House of Lords reform

4. Party funding reform

5. Fixed term Parliaments

6. Enabling legislation for a referendum on AV+

7. Change to House of Commons procedure to reduce executive power

You can find more details of the proposals at www.TakeBackPower.org