Huppert backs move to solve democratic crisis

10.35.25am GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

Julian Huppert

Julian Huppert, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge is backing a move to give city residents a say on how to solve the country's democratic crisis

He will be attending the introductory meeting of Power2010 which aims to work with people to help re-invigorate democracy.

The non-partisan organisation is committed to working with groups of people from across the social and political spectrum.

In a national poll in which over 100,000 votes were cast, the five most popular ideas for reforming politics which form the basis for the group's Power Pledge, were:

• Introduce a proportional voting system.

• Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state.

• Replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber.

• Allow only English MPs to vote on English laws.

• Draw up a written constitution.

Julian said: "Confidence in our democratic system is at an all-time low. It has been severely damaged by the MPs expenses' scandal and the crisis in the banking system.

"We need a healthy democracy for all of us and not just the powerful few. We need fairer voting and more accountability. I am delighted to be able to give my support to the Power Pledge."

Andrew Watson, joint Cambridge co-ordinator of NO2ID said: "I am delighted

that scrapping ID cards and rolling back the Database State has been chosen

as one of the five policies in the Power Pledge.

"Over 100,000 votes were cast in Power 2010's national poll to choose these polices from a list of 29, demonstrating once again the widespread support for abolishing the

intrusive and dangerous ID cards scheme."

The event will be held tomorrow (Wednesday, March 10) at the Friends Meeting House, 12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge from 8pm to 9.30pm.