Ideas: Independents quota

Power2010 Blog

// All Entries »

Ideas: Independents quota

15.11.2009 // by Guest

This idea comes from Julian in Sheffield:

What's the big idea?:

Have a quota of independents on every local authority. Herbert Morrison is famously quoted as saying he would ‘build the Tories out of London'; Shirley Porter tried to privatise Labour out of her patch, and her counterparts in Wandsworth succeeded. None of them, arguably, had the interests of their constituents at heart. Here's a suggestion: every local authority ward must elect at least one ‘people's councillor' - someone already active in their community who promises
not to join any party but vote on the merits of the issue. Some who currently align themselves with particular parties might welcome the chance to dump their allegiance if there was a realistic chance of getting elected without being beholden to someone else's agenda.

Why is this change important to you?:

There are dozens of people who are involved and active in their communities who don't get involved in local government because they can't stand party politics. This is a way of enabling them to make a contribution.