Pickles backs campaign to save election night

Conservative Party Chairman Eric Pickles has given his support to an online campaign to save the traditional election night ballot count.

As news spread that a number of councils are considering postponing the counting of ballots until the day after the General Election, an online campaign was set up yesterday to lobby for the traditional election night.

Led by Jonathan Isaby of ConservativeHome.com, and backed by activists from other parties, the campaign group on Facebook has been gathering momentum today.

Pickles has given the campaign his full support. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, he has called for guidance to be issued to local authorities encouraging them to maintain the traditional practice of counting on election night:

"At a time when interest and trust in politics is at such a low ebb, it would be a retrograde step to suck all the interest out of the most important and vibrant part of our democratic process. One only has to look to June’s European Parliamentary Count to see how the whole process had all the impact of a soggy sparkler on Bonfire Night."

In an attempt to build a cross-party consensuse he has also written to his counterparts in the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, urging them to back the campaign.

Click here to join the "Save General Election Night" Facebook group

SNP SEEK ASSURANCES OVER ELECTION TV DEBATES

The SNP is seeking guarantees that the party will have a place in any UK-wide TV debate between party leaders ahead of the next General Election. The party’s election campaign co-ordinator Stewart Hosie MP today (Sunday) confirmed that he would be writing to broadcasters to make sure that the party would be part of any UK-wide broadcast.

Mr Hosie said:

“Scotland has a long tradition of party leader debates, and it is high time that we had them at UK level for the next General Election.

“Peter Mandelson has raised the issue again, and although it might have made Gordon Brown choke on his cornflakes when he heard it, the political parties and broadcasters should seize the initiative.

“And the broadcasters must meet their obligations to audiences across the UK – and so that would have to include Alex Salmond’s participation in any election debates involving Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

“We are obviously prepared to be flexible about options for the format, but the broadcasters’ public service obligations require them to be fair to their audiences in Scotland, and indeed Wales.

“Both the SNP and Plaid Cymru are now parties of government, the polls indicate we are aiming for substantial success at the General Election, and our voice must be heard. We will certainly be writing to the broadcasters at an early stage about this issue, so that they can be in no doubt about the position.”

Hunt welcomes admission that Lord Sugar's role risks BBC impartiality

The BBC Trust has admitted that Lord Sugar’s role as Government Business Tsar poses a "greater than normal risk of impartiality" - and that the channel could be forced to reschedule The Apprentice if there is a General Election next year.

In response to a complaint about Lord Sugar’s role on the Apprentice, the BBC Trust accepted "there may have been a public perception that the BBC's impartiality…had been undermined."

The Trust also said that "the combination of Sir Alan's roles as star of a BBC entertainment show, Government Adviser and peer with the closeness to the next general election poses a greater than normal risk to the impartiality, integrity and independence of the BBC in relation to the broadcasting of The Apprentice and Junior Apprentice next year."

Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary, welcomed the confession, stressing, “The BBC Trust has admitted what we have known all along: that Alan Sugar's Government appointment risks the impartiality, integrity and independence of the BBC.”

He added, “Whatever restrictions the BBC seeks to put on his political activities Lord Sugar is taking the Labour whip and has an official Government role. It’s amazing that the Trust has therefore not explained why licence fee-payers should fund a programme hosted by someone who will help formulate, promote, and endorse Government policies.”

Count down to the General Election with teh Conservative's new widget

David Cameron has repeatedly called on Gordon Brown to dissolve Parliament and hold a General Election immediately. But even if he doesn’t have the courage to call an election now, Mr. Brown can’t put it off forever.

He has to hold one before June 3^rd next year - and we’ve built a widget that counts down the days until the people of Britain finally get their say.

Click "Get & Share" below to put it on your website, blog or Facebook page and start counting down until the day we can at last get rid of Mr. Brown and his weak, tired and discredited government.

DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL VICTIM OF LABOUR SELF-PRESERVATION

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP has expressed dismay after Labour MPs voted to deny the country a chance to have its say in an immediate election. The SNP and Plaid Cymru dissolution motion was supported by all opposition parties in the Commons, with only Labour voting against calls for an election.

Mr Robertson said:

“Gordon Brown talks about democratic renewal and in the same breath orders Labour MPs to deny the country an immediate opportunity to renew authority and confidence in parliament.

"Labour’s case against an election has nothing to do with the need to pursue reform or to manage the economy, it is pure, naked self-preservation in the wake of their disastrous performance in the European and local elections.

“Instead of submitting to the ballot box Gordon Brown is barricading himself in Downing Street .

“The case for going to the country remains every bit as strong, and these Labour MPs have only won a stay of execution before Gordon Brown runs out of time and the public can finally have their say on Labour’s record.”

Clegg: The torch of progress has passed to us

Labour has run out of steam and of ideas. Its supporters are turning to the Liberal Democrats.

Last week at Prime Minister's Questions I suggested to Gordon Brown that the real choice in British politics is now between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

The Labour front bench howled with joy, merrily dismissing the possibility that their party might be in serious decline as a laughing matter. The next day, the Labour Party's national vote in the local elections stood at 23 per cent and the Liberal Democrat vote rose to 28percent.

We destroyed the Labour vote in exactly the areas that we intend to win at the next general election - in Burnley, for example, a former Labour stronghold, we won five of the six county council seats from them. In a council division that we won in Cumbria the Labour vote collapsed from 1,900 to 185.

I have heard people claim that the local and European elections were a missed opportunity for the Liberal Democrats. I disagree. Background of course, as in all elections, there were losses as well as gains. In a contest when the voters wanted to give the Establishment a kicking, it is hardly surprising that we suffered some losses in the South West, where we have been the governing party for 20 years.

And in a Euro election in which many voters cast protest votes for fringe parties, no mainstream party leapt forward. But the Liberal Democrat and the Conservative vote remained broadly static, with both parties winning one extra MEP.

So I repeat my belief that the Liberal Democrats can replace Labour as the progressive party in British politics.

Political parties are not facts of life, cast in stone for ever. They change, waxing and waning with the times. It may not happen overnight: it took Labour 23 years from its formation in 1906 to become the biggest party in Parliament.

The Lib Dems are now the dominant political party of urban Britain, running the majority of big cities outside London, while the Conservatives remain invisible in northern city politics. And we are present throughout the South and South West just as Labour disappears from these regions altogether. This is the platform from which we can overtake Labour.

If it takes a little time to progress in the battle for numbers, we are already winning the battle of ideas: we were first to identify the dangers of an overleveraged banking system at the heart of the British economy; and the first to advocate radical political reform, changing the rotten system in Westminster for good. We have been consistent in our defence of civil liberties; outspoken about the need to clamp down on tax avoidance, to reduce the tax burden on low and middle-income earners, and so make taxes fairer. We remain radical on the need to make Britain environmentally sustainable; principled in our defence of the international rule of law; brave in standing up to failed populism on law and order; and progressive in pushing for new childcare and education policies, to break the cycle of deprivation that, after 12 years of Labour, is still handed down from one generation to the next.

These are the touchstone issues of progress, of reform, of conscience where Labour has proved such a disappointment. Perhaps it was Iraq. Perhaps it was the tortuous compromise at the heart of new Labour - sticking to hard-nosed Thatcherite economics while promising a gentler Britain, promising progress while out-toughing the Conservatives on crime and civil liberties. Perhaps it is simply the grinding struggle of day-to-day government after 12 exhausting years.

Whatever the reason, Labour has let down the millions of people who looked to it in the hope of a new progressive start in 1997. It has delivered, instead, unreformed politics, overcentralised government, diminished civil liberties, a confused approach to foreign affairs and the environment, and a society still disfigured by profound social injustice.

We must do better than this. And we cannot allow David Cameron to turn the clock back. He may talk a good talk, but the effects of a Conservative government are now becoming clear: they say that they want fairness, but advocate tax cuts for millionaires; they say that they want to protect the environment, but seek out allies in Europe who are climate-change deniers; they say that they want clean politics, but block any change to party funding.

So Britain desperately needs a strong progressive voice. Labour has run out of road, out of ideas, out of steam. Voters looking for a new home will only secure the fairer Britain that they want by uniting around a new centre of conscience and reform.

That is why I now say to anyone who supported Labour in 1997 because they wanted fairness; they wanted to support, not demonise, young people; they wanted political reform, they wanted the environment protected; or because they simply believed in a better future - turn to the Liberal Democrats. We carry the torch of progress now.

Cameron attacks Brown's plans for electoral reform

David Cameron has attacked Gordon Brown’s proposals for electoral reform and stressed that the answer to “discredited politics” is not proportional representation but an immediate General Election.

David warned that proportional representation is “a recipe for weak, coalition governments” and accused Gordon Brown of discussing it only because “he’s worried about losing under the existing rules”.

David stressed "we should not take away from the British people the right to get rid weak, tired and discredited Governments" – and said the reforms proposed by Gordon Brown did not tackle the problem of people feeling excluded from decision-making:

"What these proposals fail to address is the central question that we believe should lie behind any program for constitutional reform: how do we take power away from the political elite and give it to the man and woman in the street?"

David questioned the timing of Gordon Brown’s sudden interest in electoral reform, and said that Labour’s failure in last week’s local and European elections lay behind the new initiative:

“These proposals (are) a pretty sorry attempt to distract attention away from a Prime Minister who has lost his authority, a Cabinet full of second preferences, and a Labour Government that has led this country to the brink of bankruptcy.”

Clegg: PM must cancel Recess to implement political reform

The Prime Minister today outlined a range of urgent measures to clean up Parliament. Nick Clegg described the reforms as a "deathbed conversion to political reform".

Nick Clegg's statement in full.

I welcome this deathbed conversion to political reform from the man who has blocked change at almost every opportunity for the last twelve years.

Everyone knows the Labour party will lose the next General Election. So any reforms must be in place before the election if they are to mean anything at all. Anything else would be a betrayal of the British people, who are angry and demanding we change our rotten political system for good.

Doesn't he see this is no time for more committees, more reviews and more consultation - we've been debating these issues for decades - isn't it now time to get things done?

I strongly welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to moving towards an elected House of Lords.

But will the Prime Minister give us a date by which this reform will be complete? We've already voted on it in this place: there should be no more delay.

I also strongly welcome the move towards a Parliamentary Standards Authority and a MPs Code of Conduct. These changes should be implemented immediately with no more delay.

So will he ask this House to forego its summer recess so that we can push through all the necessary changes to clean up politics?

And will he make sure his immediate proposals include the right for people to sack their MP if it has been shown that they have done something seriously wrong?

I am dismayed that the Prime Minister is completely silent on the issue of party funding. How on earth can he possibly justify it? We cannot allow our politics to go the way of America's, where elections have become a contest of advertising budgets, not ideas.

Why delay when he could just implement the Hayden Phillips recommendations in the Party Funding Bill that's already being debated in another place? The way forward's been agreed - so will he now act?

Turning to electoral reform, I welcome any movement away from our discredited system. A system which gives his government untrammelled power when only one in five people voted for them. A system which gives MPs safe seats for life. As Robin Cook recognised, as his new Home Secretary realises, this can't go on.

So why is he seeking to restart a debate on electoral reform? We've had the debate. Roy Jenkins' report, the independent Power Inquiry. We can't afford to wait for a cross-party consensus because the Conservatives will never want to change this cosy Westminster stitch-up.

We don't need to wait for his Cabinet to make its mind up. It's not up to them to decide how our democracy works. People should now be given a say. So will the Prime Minister now call a referendum, this Autumn, to give people a choice? A choice between the bankrupt system we have now. The timid option of Alternative Vote, a baby step in the right direction. And serious proposals for reform like Roy Jenkins' AV+ or better still the Single Transferable Vote?

He has nothing to lose. This is no time for his trademark timidity. Just get on with it. Will he now cancel the recess? Pass the legislation we need? And give people the say they deserve?

BROWN BRANDED ‘THE LATE REFORMER’ OVER PARLIAMENT PLANS

Speaking following the Prime Minister’s statement on democratic reform, SNP Constitutional Affairs spokesperson Pete Wishart MP branded Gordon Brown as the ‘late reformer’ and repeated calls for a General Election as the first step towards restoring trust and confidence in the Westminster parliament.

Mr Wishart said:

“Gordon Brown is not so much the great reformer as he is the late reformer. He has had twelve years to make proposals for reform but has waited until his government is on the ropes and his party is in meltdown before suddenly sparking into action.

“Real electoral reform at Westminster is long overdue, but we first need a General Election so that we have a House of Commons that commands trust.

“This debate comes at a crucial moment for Westminster , and in the rush by the UK parties to bring forward proposals for reform, they would do well to look to the model of the Scottish Parliament. Most ideas being suggested to reform Westminster have been up and running at Holyrood for ten years – fixed terms, PR, a strong committee system, and total disclosure and transparency of expenses.

“Until Scotland secures independence, Holyrood may have fewer powers than Westminster , but it is abundantly clear that the Scottish Parliament provides the gold standard in setting new standards of democracy.”

Plaid MPs: Brown needs democratic vote on electoral reform

Plaid Cymru MPs have commented on the announcement that Gordon Brown is this today set to announce proposals for House of Commons electoral reform.

The Prime Minister will make a statement prior to Plaid Cymru and SNP debate calling for the dissolution of Parliament.

Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Elfyn Llwyd MP said:

“I was very encouraged by Mr Brown’s initial speeches about these matters when he was first in post as Prime Minister but disappointed by the stalling of implementing these changes. I hope that there will be now be a greater impetus to get things moving.

“It is very fitting that Gordon Brown should time his announcement before the Plaid and SNP motion – one that if successful would lead to an immediate General Election.

“Plaid recently called for a ‘democracy day’ to address a wide range of matters. Together with our debate today, and with the Prime Minister’s announcements, we could have a true, meaningful and informed debate – which could then lead to a ‘democracy day’ referendum.

“Such a referendum could be held on the day of the next General Election, and would give the public a say on important democratic issues, such as: the composition of the House of Lords, the present voting system, curtailing the power of the Whips, whether they are satisfied with Royal prerogative, calling for a fixed term parliament, to name a few.

“Such reforms need to be implemented through an inclusive decision-making process and open to wider discussion.

“Even if we lose the vote tonight, we will have sparked a debate about the wider constitutional issues. Real electoral and expenses reform at Westminster is long overdue, but by addressing these measures we can begin to rebuild the public’s trust.”

PLAID DISSOLUTION DEBATE CALLS FOR PRIME MINISTER

Plaid Cymru and SNP MPs have called once more for the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to personally come before the Commons and respond to the debate on the dissolution of the UK parliament this Wednesday.

The motion, if it was successful, will give the public the chance to pass judgment on their politicians and the UK Parliament – and call for an immediate General Election.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd MP said:

“With such an important debate, I would presume that the Prime Minister would be in attendance, especially given the current amount of interest in Parliament and from the media.

“This debate will be a reflection of the extent of concern currently surrounding the state of Parliament as expressed by the public. However, unfortunately the Prime Minister has a record of not being around when the going gets tough - and tomorrow may be no different.”

“Plaid Cymru and the SNP are giving Parliament the chance to give the people back their say – and this can only be the beginning of a shake-up in the political system. We need reform of MPs' expenses, the first-past-the-post system, a fully elected House of Lords, a fixed term Parliament, and in Wales , a referendum on full law-making powers.”

Do Labour think the British people are fools?

On a visit to Cardiff, David Cameron accused Labour of not listening to the British people and, instead, treating them like fools.

He attacked the Government for being “desperately weak and divided” and stressed we are seeing a “slow dance of political death” where Gordon Brown isn’t able to reshuffle his Cabinet, but they don’t seem able to get rid off him.

David said “the heart of Labour’s failure” was the fact they “spend all their time treating the British people like fools” - and he slammed Gordon Brown for claiming that the public don’t want a General Election:

“He’s not listening to what the people want: they want a General Election now.”

In the European Elections, the Conservatives topped the poll in Wales for the first time since 1931 - and David stressed we are now a “Party for the whole country”:

"We are a one nation party. Whether you are black or white, rich or poor, from the north or south, straight or gay, you are part of our country and we are proud of you."

David promised that the Conservatives would “redouble our efforts” to prove we’re a modern, compassionate Party that can replace "this tired, discredited, divided and hopeless Government” and create a better Britain.

Sign the Conservatives' petition for a General Election

Time for Brown to go, Nigel tells Mail

UKIP's sensational Euro elections result means one thing for the Government: Gordon Brown must go.

UKIP Leader Nigel Farage told the Daily Mail: "He has always derided us and said the things we stand for are nonsensical.

"It is time Gordon Brown went and I am confident that now there will be many Labour backbenchers signing that petition to get rid of him."

BROWN MUST RESPOND TO DISSOLUTION DEBATE

Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces calls to come before the Commons and respond to the debate on dissolution of Parliament to be held next Wednesday (10 June) after the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru confirmed they would use time allotted to them to force a dissolution vote.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said:

“We have had resignations and a panic reshuffle but what people really want is a General Election so they can have their say.

“Gordon Brown needs to come to parliament and respond to this debate. Both the prime minister and parliament have lost authority to govern, and people must have the chance to vote for a new House of Commons.

“The UK government is crumbling, its authority has drained away, parliament is out of step with public opinion, and an election is now essential to restore trust and confidence in the whole Westminster system.

“It is in Gordon Brown’s gift to request the dissolution of parliament, and so he must come to parliament and respond to this debate from the despatch box.

“There can be no argument against the entire House of Commons submitting itself to a vote of the people who elected them.

“This political crisis was created by politicians, and the SNP and Plaid Cymru are giving Parliament the chance to give the people their say. The time has come to allow people to have their say, and what better way to have a debate than hold a general election. There are a raft of issues from more responsibility for the Scottish Parliament, to reforming the House of Lords and the MPs' expenses issue that need to be debated by the public.”

If Brown can't run a reshuffle, how can he run the country?

David Cameron accused Gordon Brown of lacking the authority necessary to run the country after his reshuffle plans were disrupted by a series of resignations by Cabinet members.

David stressed the reshuffle was an "emergency" measure to "cling on to office" - and accused the Mr. Brown of "taking people for fools" by claiming the recession was ordered and calm when in fact it was driven by damaging Ministerial resignations.

“The Prime Minister isn’t reshuffling his cabinet; they’re reshuffling themselves…A Prime Minister with that little authority can’t take the tough decisions this country needs”.

David said that Britain "deserves better" than needs a "weak and divided" Government - and stressed, "Today’s results show that in the Conservative Party there is a strong, united, positive alternative."

He called on Gordon Brown to dissolve Parliament and call a General Election immediately for the sake of the country:

"If you can't run a reshuffle, if you can't run a Cabinet, how on earth can you run a country?"

‘Rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic’ – says Plaid MP

Plaid Cymru’s leader in Westminster Elfyn Llwyd MP has responded to the announcement that Peter Hain is to step back into his former role as the Secretary of State for Wales following the Cabinet reshuffle.

Commenting on the news, Elfyn Llwyd MP said:

“Peter Hain is a familiar face in Welsh politics and he played an important role in the constitutional development of Wales ; but today’s frantic Cabinet reshuffle is not going to solve the crisis currently engulfing Westminster . This is just re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic.

“It is more important than ever that we hold a General Election now and I would urge all MPs to support the Plaid and SNP motion next week, to call for the dissolution of Parliament. We desperately need to give the final say back to the people.

“In the meantime, I hope that in his new role, Mr Hain will endeavour to support the Plaid and Labour coalition in the Welsh Assembly Government.”

PANIC RESHUFFLE DICTATED BY RESIGNATIONS – “LAST THROW OF DICE” FOR BROWN

CASE FOR GENERAL ELECTION CONFIRMED

Commenting on Gordon Brown’s crisis Cabinet reshuffle today (Friday) in the wake of a series of senior resignations from the UK government SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP repeated calls for a General Election.

Mr Robertson said:

“This panic reshuffle has been dictated by the resignation of senior Ministers and the refusal of others to go. Gordon Brown may still just be in office – but he is not in power.

“The fact that the Prime Minister has been forced into rushing the reshuffle before the election results are even declared exposes the depth of his desperation. If Gordon Brown was in charge of events to any degree, he would have used the reshuffle to respond to the results of a likely election meltdown – in reality, it is a last throw of the dice by Gordon Brown to hold onto office.

“The Prime Minister has lost control of his party and lost the confidence of the country. We must now have a general election and allow the people to cast their verdict over the shambles that this Prime Minister is presiding over.

“In the wake of Cabinet resignations and a crisis reshuffle, as well as the ongoing expenses scandal, there can be no argument against the entire House of Commons submitting itself to a vote of the people.

“People want a General Election – not a reshuffle.

“Next Wednesday the SNP and Plaid Cymru will give Parliament the chance to give the people their say. All the opposition parties are backing the SNP and Plaid dissolution motion, and it is now for Labour MPs to get behind this and let the people have their say.”

AS LABOUR CABINET CRUMBLES SNP MOVES AHEAD OF LABOUR IN YOUGOV POLL

MESSAGE OF PROTECTING JOBS RESONATES

As Gordon Brown's Cabinet disintegrates with the resignation of James Purnell the latest YouGov opinion poll from the Daily Telegraph has shown the SNP moving further ahead in voting preferences for the Westminster Parliament with a 8% lead over Labour.

The poll – which has a Scottish sample of 410 people – puts the SNP on 33% to 22% for Labour compared to 29% to 24% in their previous poll. The SNP is also ahead in European voting intentions.

Commenting on the figures SNP MSP and Minister for Parliament Bruce Crawford said;

“These results are a very positive indication for the SNP with a lead in Westminster voting intentions. With the possibility of a General Election increasing as Gordon Brown's government disintegrates this puts the SNP in a strong position.

"The people of Scotland want a Government which puts jobs and communities at the top of its agenda - not one which slashes Scottish investment in the teeth of a recession.

“These results make it clear – it is only the SNP that can give Scotland a strong voice and send a message to Downing Street that it’s time for a General Election.”

News Rage UK Predicts Wednesday, Next Week.

News Rage UK predicts that the PM will forced to resign or call a general election by Wednesday next week. His cabinet is diminishing before his very eyes. Friends are turning to enemies and his party is about to be humiliated by the results of the local and European elections tody.

We're so close I can almost smell the change in the air. October here we come...

That's it James, stick it to the man!!!

Another wild stab in the dark is what the PM has just received from yet another cabinet minister today at 10:00pm as the polling stations closed. There was no warning and absolutely no respect or gratitude for the cabinet position that was given to him ahead of his time.

James Purnell plunged the knife in and looks to have twisted it around a bit in the process by giving his resignation this evening. He wants a leadership contest. He must know that what he has done will result in a general election and the defeat of his party. I think he has thought this through very carefully.

He is young. If Labour go into opposition now then by the time they get back into power, he will be a little bit older and a little bit wiser. He will also have cabinet experience so there is a very good chance if he backs the right horses (and I don't mean Mr Ed!) that he will end up in a very cushy place.

I would not recommend a game of cards with this man and I'm not sure I would lend him a fiver either.