The Tory manifesto for 2010 was crystal clear: “Conservatives will empower local people to cast a vote of no confidence in their elected representative and bring an end to the concept of the ‘safe seat’.” As was the LibDem promise to “give people the power to sack corrupt MPs”. And, above all, the power of recall is enshrined in the Coalition Agreement:
“We will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents.”
And still nothing. A point Zac Goldsmith made on Call Clegg this morning:
[gigya src=”http://boos.audioboo.fm/swf/fullsize_player.swf” flashvars=”mp3=http%3A%2F%2Faudioboo.fm%2Fboos%2F1338231-clegg-v-zac.mp3%3Fsource%3Dwordpress&mp3Author=WikiGuido&mp3LinkURL=http%3A%2F%2Faudioboo.fm%2Fboos%2F1338231-clegg-v-zac&mp3Time=09.26am+18+Apr+2013&mp3Title=Clegg+v+Zac” width=”480″ height=”160″ allowFullScreen=”true” wmode=”transparent”]
Clegg feebly “assures” us he will seek assurances that a debate will be had. No time frame, no realistic prospect of the public being given the power of recall any time soon. In the meantime, our MPs know we can’t touch them until 2015…
