Make My Vote Count

The Push for Fair Votes

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:08:53 +0100

As we campaign for a move away from the antiquated way we currently elect our MPs, Make Votes Count is throwing its weight behind our allies in the reform movement. If you want to find out more about how you can help campaign for a 'yes' vote in the forthcoming referendum then please visit these sites:

The Electoral Reform Society

http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/

Vote for a Change

http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/

Take Back Parliament

http://www.takebackparliament.com/

Unlock Democracy

http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/

MPs cannot duck change

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:10 +0000

Remember, Remember the 5th of November ... duckhouses, POWER and pullouts.

http://VoteForAChange.co.uk/10000

On 5 November the Vote for a Change campaign floated a model of a duck house down the River Thames to Westminster. For those inside Parliament, the message was simple: 'you can't duck change'. There is no possibility of effective self regulation at Westminster. The fundamental questions - like how we hire and fire our MPs - can't be left to politicians. But it can be left to the voters on Election Day with a referendum on the voting system.

This action is one of a series of campaign activities piling up the pressure on MPs in the run up to the Queen's Speech on 18 November. Our activities range right the way from a meeting next week with Gordon Brown and one-to-one lobbying of Labour MPs; to supporter emails to a "rogue's gallery" of high profile electoral reform opponents; taking the Gravy Train to MPs of all parties who are roadblocks to reform; and getting 60 young people together outside Parliament dressed as zombie politicians for a Halloween stunt.

http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/blog

Adding another notch to our lobbying of Labour MPs and decision-makers, this coming week's edition of the New Statesman magazine contains a 32-page pullout section on electoral reform. You can pick up a copy of the New Statesman from your local news stand.

We've also set an ambitious goal: 10,000 letters to those MPs who are resisting reform and propping up our rotten political system for their own benefit. Can you help us reach 10,000 today by sending a letter now?

http://VoteForAChange.co.uk/10000

We want voters to be in the driving seat of shaping a new politics. We are excited that a new campaign - POWER2010 - is offering people exactly that chance.

POWER2010 are seeking your ideas for changing the way we run our country. Those ideas with most support will become the POWER2010 Pledge - and form the basis of major campaign activity both immediately before and during the General Election.

To add your ideas - for instance on electoral reform - go onto the POWER2010 site:

http://www.power2010.org.uk/page/s/yourideas

Like I've just done, you can also sign this letter from Power2010 to the three main Party leaders telling them that the Kelly review (on expenses) was not enough ... it's now time for the people to be given a genuine say in how our democracy is run.

http://www.power2010.org.uk/notenough

Together we will change politics. For good.

We must not let MPs resume normal service

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:09:02 +0100

Now that MPs are back at Westminster, they think it's possible to resume life as it was before - as if the expense scandal never happened. It's up to us to remind them that we've not forgotten - and that we'll be holding them accountable any way we can until we have a real voice in Parliament.

And yes, that includes donning masks of leading politicians and riding around the country on a 'Gravy Train': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bZ7aOaUDas

Since the middle of September, we've been visiting some of the worst offending MPs, and those with the power to change things at Westminster, with a primary-coloured carnival caravan we've dubbed the Gravy Train. Take a moment to watch a short video we put together chronicling the first day's route targeting MPs Ann Keen, Tony McNulty, and Claire Ward.

We have subsequently taken the Gravy Train to the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences, and to Hazel Blears' Salford constituency. Last week the Gravy Train was back in town to greet MPs upon their return to Westminster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVFG4HxlPXg

Our aim is to use a more light-hearted and visual approach as a way in to (i) discussing the impact of the voting system and why we need a change with a broader section of people (ii) lobbying specific MPs that are roadblocks to reform to try getting them to concede that a referendum is a necessary step to restoring public trust and engagement.

It's been quite a ride so far, and it's not over yet. Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking the Gravy Train to Yorkshire and Lancashire; visiting Yvette Cooper, Ed Balls, Jack Straw, Shahid Malik and David Blunkett.

We've got electoral reform on the agenda. And we're going to keep it there - by calling out MPs who stand in the way of reform, and by pressing our case for legislation that will put forward the timetable for a referendum.

Can you help us keep the campaign's momentum up?

1) SIGN this letter to Gordon Brown calling for decisive action now on a referendum, not more empty promises.

2) SHARE the Gravy Train Video with your friends and contacts - via email, Facebook, Twitter etc

3) Think of some creative way of showing your support for the campaign on 5 November and Bonfire Weekend. We have some suggestions for you to act on at your own bonfire / fireworks party or at communal event, and we'll be emailing them round next week. But in the meantime get your thinking caps on ... and even email us your ideas so we can share them with everyone else.

Response to Brown's AV referendum commitment

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:02:49 +0100

"We've changed the Government's position and we'll do it again"

That is our rallying cry in response to Gordon Brown's announcement this afternoon that the Labour Party will commit to holding a referendum on the Alternative Vote early in the next Parliament.

Tweet, update your Facebook status, text or email people getting the message out that Brown has recognised the strength of our arguments but appears to have fluffed his big moment. We need a democratising and empowering referendum on electoralreform before - or on the same day as - the next general election, and not after.

Six months ago I never would have believed that the Prime Minister would stand up at Labour Conference and effectively announce that First-Past-the-Post was unjustifiable in today's political world. Electoral reform is now seen as a pressing priority that received not just paragraphs in Brown's speech but a proposed timetable for delivery too.

That is the power of your actions. That is the pressure for change that you and everyone involved in Make Votes Count and the Vote for a Change campaign has created this year.

We've won the basic arguments. Thanks to your efforts the Prime Minister has conceded that if politics is to be "more open, more plural, more local, more democratic then big changes need to be made" - including changing the voting system.

BUT - and this is a huge but - the Government has failed to find the right policy. What Brown has announced satisfies no-one and delivers nothing. Cynically, it could be seen as an attempt to close down the debate on electoral reform this side of the General Election. We cannot allow that to happen.

That is why I am asking you straight away to write to Gordon Brown, and to your MP (or Labour parliamentary candidate if you know
them), strongly putting the case for real electoral reform, and for an election day referendum.

(i) The Government has the chance and the power to act now, this side of the General Election.
(ii) Labour promised in its 1997 manifesto a referendum on PR. The Alternative Vote is not proportional - so this is a step-back from that 1997 commitment.
(iii) Give voters a real choice over the system: it should not be the Government dictating the system that is on offer.

Send your letter to: The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA

Email or write to your MP via http://www.writetothem.com

We ramped up the pressure in the days before the Conference (from targeting MPs in their constituencies with our Gravy Train, to a hillside message to Gordon, to parking the Gravy Train outside the Conference centre http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/blog). And - with your help - we shall be doing so again in the coming days and weeks.

We have moved mountains already and we shall move them again.

Gordon Brown's voting reform pledge will satisfy no-one

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:13:29 +0100

Article posted by Unlock Democracy

Commenting on Gordon Brown’s announcement today that Labour’s election manifesto will pledge to hold a referendum on whether to change the system for electing the House of Commons to the Alternative Vote early in the next Parliament, Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:

“Gordon Brown has managed the unique achievement of coming up with a programme of electoral reform that will satisfy no-one.

“The Alternative Vote system, whilst offering the voter greater choice, is not proportional and a mere baby step in the face of the widening chasm between voter and politician. Parliament will remain as unrepresentative – and subsequently unresponsive – as ever. There is no demand amongst the wider public for this change and it is hard to see how a referendum on the subject will actually motivate people to come out and vote.

“Brown can still make a difference this side of a general election by legislating for a Citizens’ Convention to decide which the electoral system should be put to the public in a referendum, if at all. The choices should not be restricted by the very politicians who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

“The Conservatives remain wedded to the broken first-past-the-post system. If Brown can show courage over the next few months and set out a clear dividing line between him and Cameron when it comes to trusting the people, he could expect to reap an electoral dividend. Now is not a time for yet more dithering and half-measures.”