Hang ‘Em High – The campaign for a hung parliament
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Throw out the big two parties, Vote for change
London – 21 April 2010
“A hung parliament is our best chance for serious democratic political
reform, including a fair voting system that ensures all shades of voter
opinion are represented in parliament. It is the most likely way to
secure a government that has majority public support,” said Peter
Tatchell, human rights campaigner.
“A representative parliament and government is a human rights issue.
Democracy is about a fair voting system and the right of people elect a
government that commands majority support.
That’s why I am supporting the Hang ‘Em campaign for a hung parliament:
http://hang-em.com/
“A big vote for the Greens, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the SNP
is vital to break the poisonous stranglehold of the big two parties
that have ruled Britain for 50 years without ever winning a majority of
the popular vote.
“The last thing we need is more one-party rule by a government with
minority support. For over half a century, we’ve had governments with a
majority of seats based on a minority of votes. The rot has got to
stop.
“A hung parliament would prevent one party ramming through unpopular
policies against the will of the majority. It would add to the pressure
for serious political democratisation to renew our body politic. It is
our best hope for progressive social change.
“A fair voting system would empower the liberal, left and green
majority. It probably would have prevented the poll tax and British
involvement in the Iraq war:
http://www.petertatchell.net/democracy/reformthevotetoempowertheleft.html
“The first-past-the-post voting system is political corruption on a
monumental scale. It frustrates the will of the majority. Millions of
votes don’t count. In 1983, 1997 and 2005, it produced big majorities
in parliament, based on only 36% to 43% of the popular vote. This is
not democracy. This is why we need democratic renewal. A hung
parliament is the outcome that is most likely to produce this renewal,”
said Mr Tatchell.
Join the Hang ‘Em Facebook group here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hang-em/109329709098600
See the Hang ‘Em website here: http://hang-em.com/
The Hang 'Em campaign aims to bring about a hung parliament – a
parliament that is balanced, where no party has overall control.
It is the first campaign of its kind in the world. The internet has
been previously used to support party campaigns but it has never been
used to challenge the choice on offer and produce a balanced
parliament. It comes as politicians (1), economists (2) and opinion
polls (3) suggest a groundswell of support for a 'hung' Parliament.
The aim of this non-partisan campaign is to bring about a hung
parliament with as many smaller parties and independents as possible,
from the Greens and the SNP to Plaid and the Lib Dems.
It’s call is “to frustrate the bosses of the Labour and Tory parties”
and open up British politics to “a wider range of MPs and opinions.”
The message is this: "We have got to renew democracy in Britain. They
won't, so hang 'em until they do".
The method: Hang 'Em supported candidates will be chosen by asking four questions:
1. Realistically, could they win?
2. Are they neither Labour nor Tory loyalists?
3. Do they have a record of independence, rebellion and integrity?
4. Are they from a smaller party or independent (the smaller the better)?
The candidates will be listed on the Hang 'Em website.
Hang 'Em has been started by an informal (and growing) ad hoc network of grassroots volunteers. (4)
Anthony Barnett, former director of Charter 88, said: "The aim of Hang
'Em is not ideological. It is not about voting for a candidate whose
views you agree with (and is likely to lose). It's about voting for
people with integrity and character - the more independent the better -
including Tories and Labour candidates with a record of rebellion. It's
about joining up with people across Britain, from right and left and
centre, who feel the same way. It's about starting to turn anger into
something positive.”
Jonathan Bartley from the progressive Christian thinktank Ekklesia
said: "Many are furious with a political class who they feel have waged
war without consent, spent taxes to line their pockets, invaded privacy
with cameras and lied about nearly all of it. And nor will they let
people decide the issues central to democracy. We have got to renew the
political system in Britain. A hung parliament would be a more
representative Parliament, and there is now a clear political and
economic case for it."
Helen Lambert web-designer from PoliceStateUK said: "The two parties
have become ever more complacent while reducing MPs to their
playthings, we need to break politics open and the quickest way is to
hang parliament."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Clare Short and Alex Salmond are amongst retiring MPs who have said
that because of the state of the decline of the House of Commons a hung
parliament is needed to bring about much needed political reform.
2. Barclays Capital analyst Simon Hayes has said that a hung Parliament might be a blessing for the UK economy:
http://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/politics/analysis/would-a-hung-parliament-be-best-for-the-uk-economy?/1009829.article
The Economist magazine notes this week that of the ten largest fiscal
retrenchments carried out by OECD countries since the 1970s, seven were
pushed through by coalition or minority governments:
3. A ComRes poll for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror at the
weekend revealed 46% of voters would choose a hung parliament:
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11784
4. Hang'Em was started by a network of people including: Anthony
Barnett, former director Charter 88; Helen Lambert co-founder of
PoliceStateUK; Simon Barrow and Jonathan Bartley, founders and
directors of Ekklesia the progressive Christian thinktank; Stuart Weir,
Founder of Democratic Audit; Rosemary Bechler, openDemocracy editor;
Tony Curzon Price, Editor-in- Chief openDemocracy; Guy Aitchison,
Deputy Director of the Convention on Modern Liberty; Adam Price former
Plaid Cymru MP; Felix Cohen, web consultant; Peter Johnson, financial
analyst. Others supporting it include human rights campaigner Peter
Tatchell.
They were inspired by the response to Suzanne Moore's call for a hung parliament in The Mail on Sunday (20 February 2010):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/arti cle- 1252574/SUZANNE-MOORE-If-let-tick-box-polling-day- said-Hung-Parliament.html
and by Anthony Barnett's cover article in the New Statesman on 22 March:
http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/03/labour-brown-british-britain
5. Website: http://hang-em.com
Facebook page: Hang 'em
Twitter hashtag: #hangem
Contact:
Jonathan Bartley
office@ekklesia.co.uk