Post by isa on Aug 7, 2011 18:12:13 GMT -5
Parliament 'could be forced to debate the restoration of capital punishment'
From today, the public will be allowed to set up internet petitions on a Government website on any subject. Petitions which attract more than 100,000 supporters must be debated in the House of Commons.
However, the scheme is likely to backfire immediately because right wing internet bloggers have been collecting signatures for several days calling for the reintroduction of the death penalty.
Sir George Young, leader of the House of Commons, said MPs cannot ignore the issues raised by the system, which could pave the way for the first vote on capital punishment since 1998.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Sir George – who is overseeing the e-petitions scheme – said: “What else is Parliament for? People have strong opinions and it does not serve democracy well if we ignore them or pretend their views do not exist.”
The concept, conceived in the Coalition agreement, is designed to give ordinary people a bigger say in government and reconnect voters with Parliament amid concerns of waning trust in the political system following scandals such as disclosures over MPs' expenses.
From today, the public will be allowed to set up internet petitions on a Government website on any subject. Petitions which attract more than 100,000 supporters must be debated in the House of Commons.
However, the scheme is likely to backfire immediately because right wing internet bloggers have been collecting signatures for several days calling for the reintroduction of the death penalty.
Sir George Young, leader of the House of Commons, said MPs cannot ignore the issues raised by the system, which could pave the way for the first vote on capital punishment since 1998.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Sir George – who is overseeing the e-petitions scheme – said: “What else is Parliament for? People have strong opinions and it does not serve democracy well if we ignore them or pretend their views do not exist.”
The concept, conceived in the Coalition agreement, is designed to give ordinary people a bigger say in government and reconnect voters with Parliament amid concerns of waning trust in the political system following scandals such as disclosures over MPs' expenses.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8680584/Parliament-could-be-forced-to-debate-the-restoration-of-capital-punishment.html
2 issues I guess then:
1) Capital Punishment: Yay or Nay?
2) Internet petitions?
© 2011 -- 
Crap, the Name Escapes Me 
