Update: Open Up in the news
We are now two weeks into the campaign and media coverage is increasing nicely. The highlight of our week was appearing on Sky news last Thursday, with John Lloyd speaking about his involvement in the project, and underlining the need for political change. Our videos were also highlighted on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Show (you can watch it here).
In print, we hit the London Evening Standard, Times Online, Portsmouth News, Liverpool Daily Post and Wirral News. Author, former MP and political journalist Martin Bell showed his support for our campaign in an article in the Telegraph backing our pursuit of open primaries. On top of this, Sky news online posted up our duck films. The total number of viewings of the duck films has now reached a massive 33,000!
Twitter-wise, we have near-on 600 followers, with tweets about the campaign continuing to grow day by day.
Within the world of blogging, Open Up continues to be a subject of great debate, appearing on the Canvey Beat blog, as well as on openDemocracy’s network. From discussions by political commentator Iain Dale and Birkenhead MP Frank Field, it is clear to see our profile is rising and reaching the right ears and eyes. In fact, Frank Field has openly challenged the Open Up campaign to put their money where their mouth is and aid in the calling for an open primary in Birkenhead. Though we can’t fund a primary in Birkenhead, we have agreed to do all we can to help. We’re hoping this will lead to more and more constituencies announcing their desire to reselect MPs through open primaries.
Hitting such a diverse set of media only goes to demonstrate how relevant our campaign is for everybody. So if you haven’t already, please join the call for change.
1Edward Devoy
wrote on 19 November 2009 at 16:41
Edward and Tony Devoy
It’s Democracy Jim but not as we know it.
Changing politics for the better for we the people:
How about having true Democracy at the next election, and have our politicians act on behalf of we the people.
Our elected representatives MP’s and Local Authorities actually working for the benefit and at the behest of we the people. As Democracy intended, For the people by the people.
Through a web presence individual citizens could put forward ideas to improve life for all citizens at local and national level.
For instance, on a local level, if someone was to suggest that Council tax should be halved to bring it to a reasonable level, we the people would vote and if the vote was unanimous, As representatives of we the people Our elected MP’s would canvass the local authority to act on the will of the people and would name and shame any elected councillor or civil servant acting against the will of we the people. The people working in opposition to we the people would by consensus of the people be removed from their positions.
After all he who pays the piper should call the tune.
Unlike at present where the Council dictate often in an oppressive manner to we the people.
We will put the power where it should be, in the hands of we the people.
We would now have an actual civil service instead of the uncivil dictators we now have.
On a National level, if someone was to put forward abolition of the TV licence fee. If the vote was unanimous. Our elected MP’s would canvas Parliament to carry out the wishes of we the people, if Parliament was to refuse, our elected MP’s would then start a nationwide campaign if enough votes were cast and Parliament made the decision not to act, Our MP’s would then call for civil disobedience on the basis that the Government of the day was acting against the will of we the people.
In a true Democracy Government is by the people for the people.
At all times people would be able to vote for or against changes of these sorts and would be able to put forward their own ideas, we the people would have what we have never had in this Country, Democracy.
This would I am sure cause many problems in the political arena in the short term, but nothing that could not be sorted.
It would empower we the people.
Those who now feel disaffected and those who suffer from political apathy would now have a voice, they would not feel their vote was a wasted vote.
It would breathe new life into the political strata of life and politics would no longer be the preserve of the elite for their own benefit to the detriment of we the people.
It is time to take away the power of politics from the politicians and give it to the people to whom it belongs.
Re Council Tax: Our personal thought is that the council tax should be much lower than half.
Re The Licence Fee, we believe it should be abolished but are not averse to providing money from general taxation, while working towards self sufficiency.