Electoral reform – this is our one chance

This is our one chance to be counted! For years we have had to put up with an unfair, unrepresentative voting system.  It is a system that disproportionately benefits those who hold power.  There has never been such incentive for the political classes to reform this.  Now is maybe the one time in your entire lifetime that we have a chance to change this voting system.  WE MUST SIEZE IT!!!

Let me reiterate that most MP’s do not want proportional representation.  We will only get this because we want it, not because they will give it to us.  Not only must we urge Nick Clegg to send the Tories packing with their laughable offer of a referendum on AV (FPTP with a few extra bits), but we must demand that any government (what ever its composition) give us nothing less than a direct say on proportional representation. Nothing less will do. 

There have already been rallies across the country, in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and London.  NGO’s and pressure groups have come together under the banner of “Take Back Parliament“.  This group is calling for a complete change to our voting system, stating that the current parliament one does not represent us. We must take the initiative. In 1997, New Labour promised us PR.  We stood back, feeling rather pleased with ourselves as we watched the London Assembly, the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament the European elections all transform to various forms of PR.  And then we waited…and waited…and then silence.  The self-serving MP’s managed to bring about electoral reform to almost every institution apart from their own.  Well, I say not this time.  We must not let them get away with this injustice again.

In the past millions have taken to the streets to try to influence governmental decisions from trying to stop the illegal invasion of Iraq through to preventing the Fox Hunting Bill.  This can revolutionise the way we do politics in this country.  This is our time, for all people, from all political backgrounds, to demand that we have a say and that our votes count! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to demand change, to be counted! Do not waste it.

Protests are happening at the following locations.  More information can be found at the Take back Parliament web-site.

15 May – York
15 May – Edinburgh
15 May – Leicester
16 May – Glasgow
22 May – Southampton
22 May – Paisley, Renfrewshire
22 May – Bradley Stoke, Bristol
19 June – Cardiff