Douglas Carswell slams sham Recall of MPs Bill at Hearing

Today, Douglas Carswell, Zac Goldsmith, Peter Facey (Unlock Democracy) and Dr Alan Renwick of the University of Reading testified at the HoC Political and Constitutional Reform Committee hearing* to make the case for recall of MPs and officials.



All of them agreed (as did the Committee), that the government's recall bill, if implemented, would have the opposite effect on politics to what its proponents purport to want. It would cause further deterioration in confidence in the democratic process.

Dr Alan Renwick, who doesn't seem to value accountability highly, asserted that of all actions that could be taken to improve the democratic process, recall was the least effective.

First, on what facts does he base his assertion? He began his evidence claiming that he believes that policy should be evidence-based. Did he provide any to back up his assertions?

Second, even if facts did support his assertion that recall was the least effective measure to improve our democracy, should that be sufficient reason to not to implement it as one of a range of measures?

As Cameron is so fond of saying, just because we can't do everything, doesn't mean we can't do anything.

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* HoC Political and Constitutional Reform Committee hearing, 19 Jan 2012:

Witnesses

1. Douglas Carswell MP, Zac Goldsmith MP, and Peter Facey, Unlock Democracy
2. Dr Alan Renwick, University of Reading

Visit the Committee's homepage.