- A referendum on electoral reform for the House of Commons.
– An elected upper house.
– Spending caps on donations to political parties.
– A widening of the base from which candidates are drawn.

Yes please! Where do I sign/who do I lobby?

Seriously, the Lib Dems should be arguing for electoral reform now. Where are they?

I was sitting in a pub last night when someone brought up the subject of the latest shenanigans (yes really just like politicians’ cliche). I was a bit surprised by the response. Everybody wants electoral reform. Rayyan’s right. The LibDems need to get pushing on this one. We need it and we need it fast enough to be ready for the next election.

Erm, I know I am living up to my rep, but Wiggin was on R4 Today programme this morning, and the money claimed was for his declared second home in London (accompanied by mortgage statement), he had just put the wrong address on the form. No flipping or fraud, just a genuine mistake.

For perhaps the first time in history a duck has made the front page of The Telegraph, courtesy of the mallard-related shenanigans of one Sir Peter Viggers and his expenses quack-ery.
Spotify once again, provides an apposite musical backdrop

http://www.riphertoshreds.co.uk/the-beat-goes-on/spotified/

“Seriously, the Lib Dems should be arguing for electoral reform now. Where are they?”

All over the blogs, in PMQ’s, etc….

I was at a discussion in Portcullis House on all this yesterday – Helena Kennedy and Stormin’ Norman Baker were on the panel, along with Jonathan Isaby from ConservativeHome and Steve Richards from the Independent. Kennedy and Baker were both pushing electoral reform (obviously) and Richards said that the expenses farrago has converted him to the cause. Kennedy and Baker both see this as a moment full of potential for the reform-minded left; Baker called it a ‘Berlin Wall moment’.

Rowan – what event was this?

he had just put the wrong address on the form. No flipping or fraud, just a genuine mistake.

What, you think the Labour MPs who you are so willing to pour scorn over aren’t saying this? Jesus boy, get a grip!

Hadn’t Viggers already announced he was going to stand down at the next election? In that context Cameron directly ordering him not to stand is more of a PR stunt than Hazel Blears being photographed handing a cheque back.

Sunny – it was a panel put together by Editorial Intelligence (Julia Hobsbawm’s company).

(Can write you a post about it if you like! )

Hi Rowan – though I usually like such reported pieces, in this case I’ll have to decline because I doubt any of the panellists said anything new (did they?)

there will be more coming from Helena Kennedy soon, that no doubt this blog will splash with, so don’t worry about covering that base. But happy for other ideas!