2. Vibrant Democracy
Vibrant democracy is the engine that drives Liberating Yorkshire forwards. People have become disinterested in politics. There needs to be a closer connection between the decision-makers and the people. Moving to a vibrant democracy will bridge that gap. A vibrant democracy is a bottom-up approach to politics. Ordinary people and their communities are the instigators of change. It combines direct deliberative and participative approaches to democracy with genuine elected representation.
Under our proposals, decision-making will begin at the neighbourhood level, encouraging people to let their imagination run wild and explore new horizons to generate creative solutions to their local issues.
Experience tells us that these new ideas will grow and develop as different neighbourhoods collaborate to build upon each other’s contributions. The process becomes a team effort, fostering a sense of shared ownership and gradually culminating in a mandate from the people that reaches out to and strengthens the whole region.
Genuine Elected Representation
Genuine elected representation starts with the voting system we use to elect them. In Britain today there are several voting systems used at different levels of government, and each one has radically different implications for voters, for parties, for Parliament and for the government.
According to the Electoral Reform Society some electoral systems are good at making the numbers of MPs be in proportion to the votes cast, some at linking representatives to constituencies and some give voters more choice over who is elected. As far as we are concerned it is too early to settle the discussion until we have decided exactly what we want our representatives to do.
The Bell Principles
Just how genuine a representation we receive from the successful candidates also depends upon their behaviour and the system they are expected to operate under following their election. For this part we fully endorse the ten still quite revolutionary principles set out by Martin Bell back in 2009.
1. Abide wholeheartedly by the spirit and letter of the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by Lord Nolan in 1995: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
2. Be guided by considered evidence, our real-world experience and expertise, our constituencies and our consciences
3. Be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip.
4. Be non-discriminatory, ethical and committed to pluralism.
5. Make decisions transparently and openly at every stage and level of the political process, enabling people to see how decisions are made and the evidence on which they are based.
6. Listen, consulting our communities constantly and innovatively.
7. Treat political opponents with courtesy and respect, challenging them when we believe they are wrong and agreeing with them when we think they are right.
8. Resist abuses of power and patronage and promote democracy at every level.
9. Work with other elected independents as a Group with a chosen spokesperson.
10. Claim expenses, salaries and compensation openly so the public can judge the value for money of our activities.