Clive Sneddon welcomes new independent report, boosting LibDem campaign for democratic reform

12.43.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 2nd Mar 2006

Dr Clive Sneddon welcomes new report on democratic reform

Dundee East Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson Dr Clive Sneddon has welcomed the Power Inquiry report, saying, "This major report is great news for those of us campaigning for better, more responsive government.

"Democracy is just a mirage if the Government can't be held to account and people don't have a say in the issues that affect them directly. As a first step, Westminster should adopt the Scottish Parliament's procedures for hearing petitions.

"Liberal Democrats want to make services work better for people. To do this we believe that local communities need to have more power themselves, with less of Whitehall telling them what to do. This independent report, produced after a year of surveys, hearings and more than 1,500 submissions, says that we are right.

"The Liberal Democrats have long said that a fair voting system for the Westminster parliament which gives people more choice over the politicians that represent them, and where everyone's vote counts, would persuade more people to vote. This inquiry, chaired by a Labour member of the House of Lords, endorses that view.

"The level of public disengagement from politics is a real and growing problem. This report sets out a radical agenda for tackling this and bringing government closer to the people and genuinely accountable," concluded Clive.

Related Link:

Power Inquiry - Download the report.