A response to our question, What next?
Ivor Cornish: Whilst agreeing that there needs to be debate on a constitution I feel that defending civil liberties is now more urgent.
As to ‘what next’ what thoughts are there for a convention before the next election? Pressure on present politicians and future candidates is vital. We all need to write to our M.P.’s as individuals, but perhaps a short list of questions should be drawn up and circulated to all M.P.’s, by Mod.Lib. to see where they stand on civil liberties, on the understanding that this would be noted on the site. Those that do not reply will also be noted. The next stage could be a survey of the candidates for the next parliamentary election. A convention before the election would then become a vehicle to emphasise the need for the electorate to take note where candidates stand on civil liberties when they vote, and to help promote those who have committed themselves to defend these liberties, irrespective of party.
Ivor yours is one of the best proposals here.
I am SO frustrated that we can’t all connect and network with each other – yes I’ve joined the Crowdvine but it’s designed for social networking, not focused poloiticakl networking.
PLEASE can we have a proper FORUM like Vbulletin or else it’s impossible to organise and act on excellent proposals like Ivor’s.
Ivor I think your idea links well with the kind of monitoring the Convention did do on MPs performance around liberty issues.
I’d like to see this developed together with your list of Articles to confront MPs and judge them accordingly. MPs get 4 stars 2 3 or 1 or a ‘failure’ star if they do not act constructively on any of the core issues.
Convention groups and other organisations can then target the weaker MPs to push them to do their job. Good ones to be congratulated natch.
This would feed easily into tracking Parry promises – Cameron’s already made a bundle! We know these disappear like mist in the sun after electoraL success.
If these promises (lead quote, link to full text) were listed on one page they can be used as quotes in letters/ emails as issues come up to press so they cannot be ignored later.
Sian
Many thanks for your comment. I stumbled across it whilst looking for something else.
It’s one of the problems of having a ‘comment’ in 2 places at once.
I agree that we should be ‘monitoring M.P.s performance around liberty issues.’
This is my follow up comment on the original ‘What Now’ discussion page:-
‘I do not feel that exposing the ‘civil liberty’ voting patterns of M.P.’s would be all that useful…. they should be given a chance, given the publicity before and since the convention, and possibly after receiving a Co.M.L. questionnaire to redeem themselves. Their previous sins should only be exposed given no redemption. I feel that many M.P.’s had little concept of the Garton Ash cuts ( Liberty in Britain is facing death by a thousand cuts. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/feb/19/civil-liberties-terrorism ) they were helping to administer at any one time.’
I also agree we should be tracking the policies of the various parties, and how they nuance, or row away from earlier statements.
I have not joined crowdvine, and am not sure I will. If we are not careful there will be debates in too many places at once.
Take for example this present case where my original comment is in two places at once.
The fight against these new laws should be broadened. This is my comment on ‘What Now’ :-
‘A list of the laws which are most likely to affect the ability of groups, of all persuasions, to campaign should be circulated, and these groups/organisations ( there are hundreds of campaign groups around the country )should be encouraged to defend their rights via a Co.M.L. suggestions list. The broader the attack on this nonsense the harder it is for NuLab. to dismiss. The strength of the Convention on the 28th was it’s broad-base support. ‘
This should be done along with your idea:-
‘Convention groups and other organisations can then target the weaker MPs to push them to do their job. Good ones to be congratulated’
Best Wishes………………… Ivor