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Written by Austin Mitchell
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05 September 2007 |
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Citizens` Juries. Bring `em on. Gordon is quite right to go for this idea. Let’s have the first on the EU`s “Reform Constitution”. Do we want it or not? The next on interest rates. Up or down. The third on Proportional Representation.
Ontario had a jury of 100 on electoral reform. After six months of discussions and presentations they came out in favour of AMS, like Germany and New Zealand. That’s now going to a referendum in October.
Juries are easier to persuade to sense than MPs. Provided they’re properly educated i.e. by me and Gordon.
The Government is to benefit from the advice of Bercow (Con) and Taylor (Lib). I’m standing ready to offer mine. Can paid up members of the Labour Party participate?
If Amy Winehouse (pop star) were Bert Beerbarrel (Politician) would we get this excited? No. Ten percent of pop stars die young (in some cases as a good career move). Politicians live longer. I’ve only known four who died of drink, three of Aids, one of shagging. The rest live forever; grumbling at the pension scheme, or die of boredom.
We should change the name of North East Lincs: (a) no-one knows where it is (b) it sounds rural (c) it’s regularly confused with North Lincs. A change would be an economic boost.
But what to? Greater Grimsby is best. But Cleethorpes would object. So why not Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes? Give us your views by email but no invented names please. Except possibly Paradise on Sea. |
