Vote for Policies, NOT Personalities

The televised debates may well have got people talking more about politics, which can only be a good thing. However, not if people get blinkered by the performance and don't scrutinise the policies.
This very useful independent website lets you compare the policies of 6 parties, without telling you which is which until the end.
It is worth noting how far in the lead the Greens are.
Very interesting and highly recommended before making a decision!

I am looking forward to attending a hustings in Letchworth at St Francis' College in Letchworth. The school is hosting it on Tuesday 27th April and members of the public are very welcome.

Time: 7.30
Address: The Broadway, Letchworth SG6 3PJ
Priority will be given to those aged between 18 and 25 but there will undoubtedly be space for others too.

www.hustingsneh.com - you will find a booking facility there too.

'Question Time' Event in Braughing

On 8th April I attended the Braughing annual parish meeting along with the Conservative, Labour, UKIP and Liberal Democrat candidates.

This was my first hustings and a very interesting experience. There was a good range of questions, including subjects like social care for the elderly, unemployment and devolvement of power to local communities. Many people feel that we need greater change than the three main parties are offering. The Green Party recognises this and this is why we have clear policies on job creation, protection of public services and the NHS and replacing the basic state pension with a Citizen's Pension of £170 a week.

I would like to thank Braughing parish council for inviting us all as events like this are of great value to both candidates and voters.

3 Chancellors Televised Debate

See below a letter to the Guardian from Caroline Lucas, in response to criticism of the 3 chancellors televised debate, an exerpt of which I paste here:

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 30 March 2010
Simon Jenkins
[….] On Monday evening the parties' three economic spokesmen went head to head and stroked each other to a draw. They nattered away like cleaning ladies over how to clear up after the great bankers' ball. There were smashed derivatives, defaulted swaps and toxic turds strewn everywhere – and who, they said, was going to pick up the £170bn bill?

None of them discussed whether the party should have been allowed in the first place. I suddenly craved some good old Labour blood and guts, an Arthur Scargill, a Tony Benn, a Michael Foot, a Nye Bevan, someone to shout in their faces: "You blew it! When those petrified, knock-kneed smoothies from the City came pleading for help, you caved in and gave them the people's money. You panicked, you bunch of creeps."
[……]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/30/three-chancellors-banks-the-city


Letters editor, The Guardian

Sir,
I sympathise with Simon Jenkins’ desire for what he calls “a real Labour voice to slam this City-fearing trio” (Guardian 31). Of course we’re not going to get a Labour voice saying that – but there is a Green voice already saying it. And while there won’t be a Green government after this election, pollsters YouGov and ICM have nevertheless predicted a Green Party breakthrough. Even one or two Greens elected would provide that voice, right there in the House of Commons. Could this not become a rallying point for serious change?

Of course there’s a long tradition of having the odd back-bencher speaking out against the government’s latest madness (whether it’s Iraq or Royal Mail privatisation or the banking debacle that Mr Jenkins eloquently summarises), until election time when they urge you to vote for that government anyway. Surely the arrival of a new party would go much further to hold the old parties to account. And surely this new party has earned its place at the table.

The Greens have been right about climate change, about rail privatisation, about the deterioration of the NHS under PFI, and about the need for government intervention to create jobs. And the Greens are right about the banking debacle. So there is surely a strong case for a Green vote in this election – to send a powerful message about the direction the next government should take, but also to get the first Greens into the House of Commons, where their voice will be amplified as a rallying cry for real change.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Lucas MEP
Leader, the Green Party

I welcomed this questionnaire on Electoral reform. These changes are long overdue and are needed to combat voter disillusionment - to make their votes actually count.
DEMREF 2010 asks candidates for their views on fixed-term parliaments, free voting, the electoral system, open primaries, voting age, recalling MPs and House of Lords reform.
I urge voters to quiz the other candidates on this crucial subject.

My responses are in italics:
Q. FIXED-TERM PARLIAMENTS. Do you agree with fixed-term parliaments or do you oppose them?
I support fixed-terms

Q. FREE VOTES. Do you think that there should be fewer, more or roughly the same number of free votes (votes not subject to party whip) in Parliament?
I would like considerably more free votes

Q. VOTING SYSTEM. Do you think that the present voting system for Westminster elections should maintained or should the voting system be reformed?
I support reform of the voting system and favour the　Additional member system.

Q. VOTING AGE. Do you think that the voting age should remain at 18 or should it be lowered to 16?
I believe the voting age should be lowered to 16.

Q. RECALLING MPS. Are you open to the idea of having a mechanism whereby constituents can vote on the recall of their MP in instances of "serious wrongdoing" or do you oppose having such a mechanism to recall MPs?
I am open to the idea of having a mechanism to recall MPs.

Q. HOUSE OF LORDS. What is your view on the composition of the House of Lords/second chamber?
I support a fully elected House of Lords/second chamber.

Q. OTHER REFORMS: State funding of political parties and far more powers for local government.