NEWS

20 January 2012 by Zac Goldsmith

Zac slams Government's Recall Proposals in evidence to Parliament

On the eve of the Second Reading of his Recall of Elected Representatives Bill, Zac Goldsmith condemned Government proposals for the recall of MPs during oral evidence to the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee.

Zac told the Committee that he had long supported the idea of recall as, if it was framed properly, it could "electrify politics" but said the Government’s Bill was so bad it needs to be opposed by the very supporters of parliamentary recall it supposedly set out to assure.

The Government proposals give a committee of MPs rather than constituents the power to trigger a petition for recall. He said, “Pure recall has become something which isn't recall at all.”

He added, "When you are fighting an election campaign, it is an attractive thing to offer decentralisation, localism and democracy. But when it comes to the crunch most governments - and ours unfortunately falls into this category - reach a point where they fear the impact of democracy."

Commenting, Zac said; “Proper recall breaks the stranglehold of safe seats completely, and ensures that all MPs remember, at all times, that the only 3-line whip that really matters is their constituents. MPs would be more independent, more likely to hold Government to account, and more responsive. Genuine recall would electrify politics.”

“I believe the proposals are regressive and I will oppose them as they currently stand. Recall is about handing power to voters, not to obscure parliamentary committees. I can see this version of recall disempowering rather than empowering voters, because there is so much scope for abuse by the powers that be.”

“The threshold to trigger a Recall should be high, and the decision should be left with voters alone.  Parliament should have no involvement at all. I understand that some MPs fear vexatious campaigns by the ‘mob’, but that is really a fear of democracy itself; where recall happens, there is no evidence that it leads to perverse results.”

Notes:

• A recording of Zac’s appearance before the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee is available here. http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9906
• The full transcript of Zac's appearance before the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee is available here
• As part of his campaign for Direct Democracy, Zac has published a Private Members’ Bill that would permit voters to recall their elected representative if a majority has lost confidence in them. He has also tabled a parliamentary motion, which has the support of 53 MPs, urging the Government to incorporate the provisions of his Bill into its recall proposals.
• Zac’s Recall of Elected Representatives Bill 2010-11 http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/recallofelectedrepresentatives.html
• Early Day motion 1253 RECALL OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/1253
• The Government’s proposals - Voters to have power to remove MPs for serious wrongdoing  http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/voters-have-power-remove-mps-serious-wrongdoing

Ends