Campaign Blog

Dear Gordon…

The politicians are always talking about "change". This week they've been at it again - trying to sort out Parliament in the wake of the expenses scandal. But instead of sorting out the House of Commons, our MPs graciously decided to target the House of Lords - tinkering with their neighbour's bushes while their house is on fire.

Time and again they've proven that they can't be trusted to sort this problem out. They talk a lot and say little. We need to send them a loud and clear message: let the people decide.

I've just written a letter to the PM calling on him to let us have our say in a referendum at the next election. I'll be sending the letter to Number 10 in a few days, but I don't it to come from me alone. I want it to be signed by thousands of people across the country - each united in a call for real and urgent change. You can read and co-sign the letter here:

http://voteforachange.co.uk/deargordon

But instead of trying to sort out these issues the politicians have chosen an 82 day "recess" - packing up their state sponsored luxuries and heading back to their "second" homes in their constituencies.

To all the MPs on holiday we have one simple message: "we wish you were here" - doing your job properly and sorting this out. But you've failed us.

This all just goes to show that politics is too important to be left to the politicians. That's why I've written the letter to Gordon Brown and why we'll demand that the people answer this vital democratic question at the next election. You can read and add your name to the letter here:

http://voteforachange.co.uk/deargordon

Our democracy is precious but fragile - and we do not have any time to waste

November 5th is the last day that the politicians can take the decision to hand back power to the people - and with your help we'll make sure that they do.

Willie Sullivan
Vote for a Change

Getting new faces into politics means a new set of rules

"if people see the Commons as a narrow and self-serving elite ... then the Commons has no legitimacy." Harriet Harman

We couldn't agree more. Our MPs have just reported on just how they can get more women and minorities into politics. And they've unsuprisingly focussed on the handful of colleagues standing down to get some 'new blood' into the Commons.

We can't wait for retirement to interupt these jobs for life. We need a voting system that makes our vote really count every seat every seat could be up for grabs.

Beatrice Barleon, women's officer at the Electoral Reform Society has written this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/17/speakers-conference-proportional-representation-diversity

We're pleased that organisations like the Fawcett Society and the Centre for Women and Democracy have recognised that real change requires a new voting system.

If politicians are serious about giving up their Gentleman's Club they'll leave this decision to voters at a referendum. Get your friends to join the call here.

Getting new faces into politics means a new set of rules

"if people see the Commons as a narrow and self-serving elite ... then the Commons has no legitimacy." Harriet Harman

We couldn't agree more. Our MPs have just reported on just how they can get more women and minorities into politics. And they've unsuprisingly focussed on the handful of colleagues standing down to get some 'new blood' into the Commons.

We can't wait for retirement to interupt these jobs for life. We need a voting system that makes our vote really count every seat every seat could be up for grabs.

Beatrice Barleon, women's officer at the Electoral Reform Society has written this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/17/speakers-conference-proportional-representation-diversity

We're pleased that organisations like the Fawcett Society and the Centre for Women and Democracy have recognised that real change requires a new voting system.

If politicians are serious about giving up their Gentleman's Club they'll leave this decision to voters at a referendum. Get your friends to join the call here.

“I choose change.”

Vote for a Change campaign director Willie Sullivan has just emailed our growing list of supporters with a message about our new campaign video. You can read his message below - but why not sign up to hear straight from us in future?

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From: Willie Sullivan
Date: 13/07/2009
Subject: VIDEO: "I choose change"

"I choose change."

Hundreds of people came together at last Thursday's Vote for a Change rally to send Parliament that message - and it came through loud and clear.

We're through with waiting for our politicians to stop letting us down. We're done hoping for our broken political system to right itself.

We're fighting for change, and a true say in who represents us in Parliament - starting now.

Thanks to everyone who came down to the rally, submitted a question for our panelists, and sent in a photo to star in our campaign kick-off video.

Take a look at the video, which we launched at the rally - then send it to a friend to spread the word about our campaign:

http://bit.ly/17xOON

Because of your activism, we've got a great start out of the gate.

But last Thursday was just the beginning of our fight to fix Parliament - and the clock's ticking for us to make it happen.

We've got an historic opportunity to change our political system to give voters a real voice, but it won't be open long. We've got until November 5th to persuade politicians to hold a referendum on the way we elect our MPs.

We can't waste a moment in building momentum for real reform, and for putting pressure on our leaders to take action.

Help build that momentum now by sharing our campaign video with a friend:

http://bit.ly/17xOON

Thank you again for all your support.

I'm so glad you're with us as we wage this fight for the future of our democracy. Nothing less is at stake.

Willie Sullivan
Vote for a Change

Britain’s great electoral fraud

Dave Rowntree, our MC for the evening at the Rally for a Change, has written about his experience here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/13/british-party-electoral-system-votes

As Dave says, this is a historic opportunity. Let's not waste it. Vote for a Change by clicking here.

The campaign has also unveiled our latest video today - you can watch it here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/VoteForAChangeUK#play/uploads/11/YCG6b9sWCVU

Demo for democracy

Many of the hundreds of people who packed in to the Rally for a Change this week have been writing about the experience, and Guy Aitchison is the latest to feature in the Guardian's New Politics series.

You can read his review of the event here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/10/electoral-reform-parliament-voter

Whether or not you made the rally, we need you to sign up to Vote for a Change if we're going to make our demo for democracy succeed - add your name here. 

Our call to arms

Polly Toynbee writes for the Guardian's New Politics series on this week's Rally for a Change, urging people to come here for news and recruit others too.

You can recruit your friends and colleagues to the campaign by clicking here.

Polly had asked posters on the Guardian's Comment is Free site to send in questions for the rally, and she also summarised some of the best questions and answers. You can read her piece here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/10/vote-for-change-voting-system

Politics is too important to be left to Peter Hain

The Vote for a Change campaign responded today to Peter Hain's suggestion that a change to the voting system could be pulled off without the need for a referendum. Hain had said: "I do not think voters would thank you for troubling them with the question."

Last night the Vote for a Change Campaign held a major rally in Westminster attended by over six hundred people - including Hain's colleague John Denham and departed Cabinet Minister James Purnell - making clear that voters, not politicians, should get to decide.

Musicians KT Tunstall, Billy Bragg and Blur's Dave Rowntree joined with poets and politicians in calling for a genuinely citizen led reform of parliament.

The campaign also started a countdown to 5th November - by which time plans for a referendum should be settled for inclusion in the Queen's Speech.

Willie Sullivan of the Vote for a Change campaign said:

"This campaign was set up in the wake of the expenses crisis on the pretext that politics is just too important to be left to politicians. Well politics is certainly too important to be left to Peter Hain.

"Yesterday hundreds gathered over the road from the Palace of Westminster to press for reform that would make MPs more accountable and more representative of their voters. We welcomed politicians from left and right who were prepared to concede that voters might just have a view on politics.

"The Queen's Speech is drawing ever closer. Come November 5th the chance to fix parliament may be lost. November 5th is a day all politicians would be wise to remember. It's a date voters won't forget if the chance to change parliament is lost."

Let's not lose that chance - sign up here to join the campaign.

The clock is ticking

Politicians have less than 4 months to get the ball rolling on reform of parliament, campaigners told a packed Rally for Change last night.

Willie Sullivan of Vote for a Change said:

"Time is short. If we are really to change politics before the next election throws up yet another unreconstructed, unrepresentative and unaccountable parliament we need action now. There are simple steps inside and outside parliament that the Prime Minister could take today to show that he has faith in voters.

"Come November 5th the chance to fix parliament may be lost for good. November 5th is a day all politicians would be wise to remember. It's a date voters won't forget if the chance to change parliament is lost.

"Politicians should realise that the current crisis is a real opportunity to turn the page on discredited politics. Today we can start drawing a line under all the inertia and unqualified promises we've seen in recent weeks.

"The clock is ticking."

Don't waste a second - sign up to Vote for a Change here.

No anorak required to vote for a change

Fabian Society General Secretary Sunder Katwala has written about last night's Vote for a Change rally and launch at the Next Left blog, describing the campaign as "electoral reform but not as you knew it".

He quotes many of the speakers, especially cabinet minister John Denham's acknowledgement of the deep disconnection between public and politics - and his conclusion that electoral reform is central to change that. You can read the whole post here:

http://www.nextleft.org/2009/07/no-anorak-required-to-vote-for-change.html

He also urges people to sign up.