MK CALLS FOR RADICAL REFORM OF POLITICAL SYSTEM
The Party for Cornwall is continuing to demand devolution of political powers.
Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall is calling on the three main political parties to ‘come together’ to promote reform of the way that the United Kingdom and Cornwall are governed.
Speaking at a meeting of MK’s National Executive Committee, Party Leader Cllr Dick Cole said: “The MPs’ expenses scandal has done great damage to politics in the United Kingdom, but one positive outcome of this terrible episode has been the re-emergence of discussions about constitutional reform.
“Sadly, there has been a great deal of talk, much grandstanding and political point-scoring, but there appears little appetite for significant or radical change.
“Proposals from Labour are a sadly timid series of measures which would only tweak the fringes of the present system, concentrating on issues such as the position of the Attorney General, aspects of parliamentary procedure and protocol, as well as limited changes to the unelected House of Lords.
“If political parties are serious about protecting the democratic system in the United Kingdom, it needs to prioritise fundamental reforms as a matter of urgency. And all parties need to unite on this issue for the common good.”
From a Cornish perspective, MK is demanding:
• Devolution of considerable powers to a National Assembly for Cornwall, that is distinct from and independent of local government in Cornwall, through an appropriate Cornish National Assembly Act.
• An end to the power and influence of unelected and unaccountable quangos based outside of Cornwall in the wider South West.
Other demand from MK include:
• Fixed term Westminster Parliaments to give certainty to the electoral process.
• Introduction of proportional representation through STV (Single Transferable Vote).
• An end to the unelected second chamber.
• The relocation of various government bodies and institutions around the nations and regions of the UK.
• The strengthening of local government and an end to the dictatorial top-down control of Whitehall.
Cllr Dick Cole added: “Acting on these reforms would at least give us a fighting chance of building a democracy fit for the 21st century.”
