Campaigning for a British "House of Representatives"

CAMPAIGNING FOR A BRITISH “HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES”

Open Parliament to Britain’s representative and campaigning groups

Campaigns in Parliament today announced a drive for a British “House of Representatives” – a third Chamber in Parliament, open to Britain’s representative and campaigning organisations.

People tend to be interested in political issues rather than in political parties. Many feel better represented by representative organisations or campaign groups than they do by their Members of Parliament.

Not only do these organisations enjoy democratic legitimacy (albeit to varying degrees), they also have practical suggestions to make. We should give these organisations a new Parliamentary Chamber in which they could make their own direct contributions to policy making. This Chamber would have no permanent membership but would be open to the spokespeople of bona fide representative groups.

We could hear from:

• business groups on how to stimulate economic growth,
• regional campaigns on what could help “left behind” parts of the country,
• the British-Ukrainian community on how the United Kingdom can best assist Ukraine and
• various different sides of the “Culture Wars” on what they actually think and want.

Many proposed Parliamentary reforms fail because they seek to change what already exists. This reform is do-able because it leaves what already exists – but adds to it.

Status quo thinking will not be enough to cope with the challenges of the next few years. Our representative and campaigning groups can provide some of the fresh ideas we will need.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Campaigns in Parliament promotes the idea of a new Chamber in Parliament for Britain’s representative and campaigning organisations. It has no party political affiliation. It is seeking support from a range of representative groups and from journalists.

For further information please contact Richard Ellis (richard.ellis@campaigns-in-parliament.org.uk or 07789 344 340) or visit www.campaigns-in-parliament.org.uk.