DOCSLIB.ORG

Greens Oppose Dangerous Cuts to Care Inspections

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Greens Oppose Dangerous Cuts to Care Inspections Summer 2011 The green newspaper for Norwich Green Party Keep Our NHS Public he Green Party is campaigning against Government plans that Twill break up the NHS and allow private companies to take over NHS services. The Government is planning to get rid of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and put groups of GPs in charge of purchasing care from Switch to private companies and public health care providers. green energy Health care professionals have …at no extra raised many concerns about the Government’s Health and Social Care cost to you! Bill. In response to lobbying, the Above left: Adrian Ramsay, Green Party Deputy Leader, speaking at a recent Government has back-tracked on Norwich rally to protect public services from cuts and privatisation. Ecotricity offers you the chance to some aspects of the plans but the get electricity or gas from green following proposals still remain sources - and guarantees the same in place: left to cover the unprofitable work. Governments have brought in more price as your existing supplier. privatisation to the NHS – such as PFI • Privatisation: Private companies will • Quality of care: There will be The electricity is generated from be allowed to bid for NHS work. competition between private and schemes and internal markets – and clean, renewable sources and the This could result in private public health care providers as they these have resulted in billions of gas from low-carbon bio-gas. companies creaming off the most bid to supply services. This could pounds of extra costs.” If you sign up via the website profitable work, leaving the NHS mean that the cheapest services are Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas www.gpnorwich.co.uk under greater financial strain as it is provided, rather than the best MP said: “I will be scrutinising the Ecotricity will make a donation to quality for patient care. Private amendments to the legislation and Norwich Green Party (£40 for companies are likely to be driven by pushing for changes wherever electricity and £20 for gas). This is Norwich the profit motive, rather than the 18 possible, but my fear is that this Bill at no cost to you and the money City Council need to provide quality of care. is still rotten to the core – and will help fund Norwich Green Number of • Not a national service: This is the riddled with problems that have Party's campaigning activities. 15 councillors by biggest shake-up of the NHS since not been addressed.” party following You can also register its foundation in 1948. The NHS will the May 2011 For more information or to with Ecotricity by phone: become a market of competing election. support the campaign to private and public health care 08000 302 302 keep the NHS public see providers, rather than a single Please quote Norwich Green Party. www.keepournhspublic.com public health service. The Lib Dem Government will no longer have an 4 Cons obligation to ensure that comprehensive healthcare is Greens Oppose Dangerous Green Labour 2 available throughout the country. The Green Party is the Adrian Ramsay, Green Party Deputy Cuts to Care Inspections main opposition to the Leader, said: “The NHS should be reen Party Councillors are Green Councillor Stephen Little ruling Labour Cabinet at based on high quality patient care, not campaigning against said: “Whilst there are many market principles and private profits. Gplanned cuts to inspections excellent care providers working in City Hall. The Green Party Privatisation of NHS services is likely of Norfolk’s care homes. Norfolk Norfolk, the recent BBC Panorama increased its number of to reduce the quality of patient care. County Council is planning cuts of investigation into abuse in care seats to 15 at the local £180,000 to the Quality Assurance homes shows how important it is to “The Government claims these Service, which monitors the quality maintain regular inspections and election in May 2011. changes will save money. However, of social care in Norfolk. safeguard vulnerable residents.” previous Labour and Conservative Printed by Sharman and Company Limited, Newark Road, Peterborough, PE1 5TD. www.norwichgreenparty.org Promoted by Ben Duffy on behalf of Norwich Green Party, both c/o 27 Clarendon Road, Norwich, NR2 2PN. Summed Up Time for Dentistry 65 billion Reforms say Greens Scrap metal ...Amount (in £s) that collections NHS in England What are REASONABLE QUANTITIES OF will pay private your rights? SCRAP METAL WANTED companies for PFI Please call Roy on (01603) 811686 Everyone is entitled to dental A chance to clear out your garage at no hospital buildings treatment on the NHS. cost to you. This is a new initiative to that cost £11 billion Treatment is free for some increase recycling of scrap metal and people including children, the raise money for Norwich Green Party. to build. unemployed and pregnant Limited capacity to collect materials. he Green Party is supporting women. For those who pay Volunteers wanted to help with collecting or storing materials. ...Cost (in £s) to UK calls for NHS dentistry to be for NHS dentistry, there are taxpayers of bailing reformed to protect patients’ three fixed payment levels Materials wanted include: brass, T copper, lead, stainless steel, aluminium, rights. Under the current system depending on the treatment: electric cable, car batteries, car parts, out RBS and Lloyds some dentists are misleading patients cutlery, white goods. banking groups. about their rights to NHS treatments • Band 1 - £17: includes an Proceeds will go towards Norwich and are charging for expensive private examination, diagnosis and Green Party's campaigning activities ...Total amount treatments instead. For example, advice, plus X-ray and scale (in £s) spent by UK some dentists are charging £600 for and polish if needed. complex treatments that should cost • Band 2 - £47: includes all BOOKSALE households on £200 for NHS patients. household energy treatments in Band 1, plus Every Friday & Saturday The problem has arisen since the fillings, root canal 10 – 4.30pm and transport Labour Government introduced a new treatment and extractions. 42-46 Bethel Street in 2010. pricing structure in 2006, which changed the way dentists are paid for • Band 3 - £204: includes all treatment in Bands 1 and ...Combined annual NHS work. Dentists working under NHS contracts can provide both 2, plus complex treatments GDP (in US dollars) private and NHS treatments, but are like crowns, dentures of the world’s ten supposed to treat NHS patients at and bridges. poorest countries. fixed NHS prices, not private rates. DONATE BOOKS Adrian Ramsay, Green Party Deputy salary. Dentistry ought to be free at the and support the Leader, said: “The great majority of point of delivery but at the very least environmental work of honest dentists are finding it hard to the Government must protect NHS The Greenhouse Trust cover costs under this system due to patients from being charged the full CHARITY NO 1037992 insufficient Government funding, while market rate. The problems in dentistry www.GreenhouseTrust.co.uk 4.8 billion less honest dentists are over-charging illustrate why the Government should patients. The Government needs to not go ahead with plans to mix ...Amount of tax (in scrap the current system and employ together NHS and private services Greens Oppose £s) that Vodafone is dedicated NHS dentists on a fixed within the rest of the health service.” Waste Incineration alleged to have Green Party Councillor Andrew dodged paying. Boswell has challenged plans for a waste incinerator near Kings Lynn. ...Level (in £s) of Have Your Say on Councillor Boswell has written to the council’s Chief Executive after Government cuts to it emerged that a detailed briefing public services in was given to ruling Conservative Council Services Councillors but not shared with 2010. opposition councillors during the rom net budget and many ‘behind the decision-making process. ...Amount (in £s) that 20th July to scenes’ savings have already been made. 12th October Andrew Boswell said: “Incineration volunteers F Claire Stephenson, Leader of the is not the way to deal with Norfolk’s Norwich City Green Party City Councillors (pictured), contribute to UK Council is running waste. The council’s focus should be said: “The ruling Labour cabinet on enhancing recycling and re-use a public economy every year. delayed putting together a budget facilities. The rest of the waste could consultation on until after the recent local election. then be dealt with using anaerobic how it should deal with national ...Annual cost (in £s) Now that spending cuts are being digestion, which reduces landfill Government cuts to its budget. to NHS of considered it is vital that residents and without burning materials.” Residents are being asked for views interest groups have a say on the obesity-related on different services run by the City impact of cuts to services that they The County Council is running a health problems. Council and what they think are the use. The decisions that the council consultation on the planned priority areas. eventually makes must reflect the incinerator. To have your say please write to the Cabinet member for The Government has cut the City needs and views of local residents.” ...Number of people Environment and Waste, Council budget by £2.9 million. The worldwide living on For more information about the Bill Borrett, at bill.borrett@ ruling Labour administration says this consultation please go to norfolk.gov.uk or County Hall, less than $10 a day. is bound to affect delivery of frontline www.norwich.gov.uk or phone Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH. services as it is over 10% of the council’s the City Council on 0344 980 3333. ...spotlight on green business...spotlight on green business..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Unfinished Business the Quest for a Living Wage
    Unfinished Business The Quest for a Living Wage FAIR PLAY – FAIR PAY “We have to accept that inequality is a way of achieving greater opportunity and prosperity” Lord Griffiths – Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs “Let’s finally make the minimum wage a living wage. Let’s tie it to the cost of living so we don't have to wait another 10 years to see it rise.” President Barack Obama “Fair pay means motivated staff who stay working at Barclays longer. Improving people’s standard of living makes business sense.” Karen Pleva – Barclays Chief of Staff (Global Operations) Suite 11 Tulip House, 70 Borough High Street, London SE1 1XF FAIR PLAY – FAIR PAY www.fairpaynetwork.org Produced and written by Deborah Littman, Mark Donne and Barney Wakefield, with the kind support of Unfinished Business: The Quest for a Living Wage. page 3 Fair Pay Network Director Mark Donne Patrons Sian Berry Lord Best Jon Cruddas MP Baroness Helena Kennedy Guy Stallard, Director of International Services, KPMG Europe Polly Toynbee National Steering Committee Chair – Karen Buck MP Treasurer – Alison Garnham (Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group) Ben Whittaker (Vice-President Welfare, NUS) Moussa Haddad (Policy and Communications Manager, UK Poverty Programme, Oxfam) Kate Bell (Director of Policy, Gingerbread) Matthew Bolton (London Citizens) Stephen Burke (Chief Executive, Counsel and Care) Don Flynn (Director, Migrants Rights Network) Julie Gibson (UK Coalition against Poverty) Catherine Howarth (Director, Fair Pensions) Dr. Peter Kenway (Director, New Policy Institute) Clare Moody (Political Officer, Unite the Union) Deborah Littman (National Officer, UNISON) Jen McClelland (Appletree Trust) Dr. Catherine Rake (Director, Fawcett Society) Paul Sellers (Policy Officer, TUC) Lisa Johnson (UCU) Beth Lamont (Head of National & Equal Pay Unit, PCS) Steve Bell (Head of Policy, CWU) Alistair Gittins (National Policy Officer, RMT) page 4 Unfinished Business: The Quest for a Living Wage.
    [Show full text]
  • Greenview2007final:Layout 1
    News in Brief Chapelfield Gardens Tree Unthank Road *UHHQ3DUW\ This autumn sees the 20th If you look at the trunk of the tree Traffic Update Climate Change Action Plan anniversary of the 1987 gale. We you can still see the scar down the At the recent Green Party conference will be hearing many stories of how middle where it split. The tree has now A petition of 900 signatures was Green MEP Caroline Lucas outlined the the gale affected Norfolk, but how grown over the bolts that run through recently submitted to the Norwich party’s plan for comprehensive policies many people know of the effect on the trunk. However, if you stand at the Highways Agency Committee to tackle climate change. The policies WKH PDJQLÀFHQW ODUJH SODQH WUHH LQ bottom of the trunk and look up into the opposing plans to replace a push- include: WKHPLGGOHRI&KDSHOÀHOG*DUGHQV" branches you can still see some ropes button crossing on Unthank Road • Ruling out nuclear power and Anyone familiar with the gardens higher up helping to hold it together E\ *ORXFHVWHU 6WUHHW ZLWK D ]HEUD investing the money in renewable energy will know which tree this is – the large, where it split during the gale. crossing. The councillors on the DQGHQHUJ\HIÀFLHQF\PHDVXUHVLQVWHDG healthy one near the committee listened to the residents • /RFDOLVLQJ WKH HFRQRP\ to kiosk with huge branches and decided to keep the push-button massively reduce the distance goods are that almost reach the crossing. They also heard from several transported, so that wherever possible ground. Who would residents who were concerned about we use goods that are produced locally.
    [Show full text]
  • Greenviewspring09:Layout 1
    Spring 2009 The green newspaper for the Norwich South constituency Green Party Green Jobs to Tackle Recession alf a million jobs could be “As well as investing directly in public created under Green Party transport, renewable energy and other Hproposals to tackle the areas where jobs could be created, we recession and save households money. need more Government attention on The proposals would help thousands of skills training for these areas. We also people back into work while tackling need measures to support local food climate change and reducing our production. This would include a dependency on oil imports. change in the law to make it easier for councils, hospitals and other public The ‘Green New Deal’ report, organisations to insist on using local authored by Green Party Leader products whenever they are available.” Caroline Lucas and several other green economists and campaigners, calls for One of the Green Party’s proposals governments across Europe to invest in is a free insulation scheme for homes across the country paid for by a tax on measures that will help the Green Party European Election Candidate Rupert Read (left) and Deputy Leader energy companies that continue to environment and create jobs. Adrian Ramsay are pressing for Government investment to create green jobs make huge profits. In England alone Adrian Ramsay, Green Party Deputy there are more than nine million Leader and Parliamentary Candidate for As well as creating jobs the Green “Here in Norwich we have one of the homes without insulation. Insulating Norwich South, said: “Many thousands proposals would: highest levels of unemployment in East these homes would reduce people’s more jobs could be created by insulating • slash people’s bills Anglia and we are feeling the effects of bills and bring huge cuts in homes, installing solar panels, recycling • cut carbon emissions the Government’s inaction.
    [Show full text]
  • The Norwich Green
    The Norwich Green The newsletter of the Norwich Green Party M anc r o f t Ward Working for the local community January 2010 Edition www.adrianramsay.org.uk www.greenparty.org.uk Your Green Councillors for MORE GRIT BINS PLEASE! Mancroft Ward are: Green Party Councillors are calling for a thorough review of the system for gritting roads and pavements in Norwich. During the recent spells of snow and ice, residents from around the city have highlighted the need for more and better maintained grit Cllr Adrian boxes to make it easier for people Holmes to grit pavements in their area. (01603 ) 613307 Adrian Ramsay, Green Party MP Photo: MORE GRITTING PLEASE! Candidate for Norwich South, MP Candidate Adrian Ramsay with other Green said: “Gritting of pavements Party campaigners. They brought grit to clear a needs to be taken much more section of pavement and illustrate the lack of full grit bins in many parts of the city. seriously by the County Council. Lots of residents have contacted Claire Becomes Leader me about dangerous pavements – including one person who Claire Stephenson has Cllr Tom Dylan (01603) 631096 slipped and broke her leg. Much been elected as the better planning is needed in new Leader of the future, with more grit bins and a opposition Green Party better system for keeping them City Councillors. Claire, full of grit for residents to use. I’ve 35, is a teacher and has passed on a number of requests been a councillor for for new grit bins to the Council.” four years. Previous leader Adrian Ramsay stood down from Cllr Howard Norwich South Vote 2009 the role to focus on his Jago Votes cast across your General Election campaign to become the (01603) 623589 constituency in the 2009 local elections.
    [Show full text]
  • Zero Carbon Britain: Making It Happen © Centre for Alternative Technology, 2017
    Making it Happen ii Zero Carbon Britain: Making it Happen © Centre for Alternative Technology, 2017 Machynlleth, Powys SY20 9AZ, UK Tel. 01654 705950 [email protected] www.cat.org.uk The right of the Centre for Alternative Technology to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Publisher: Allan Shepherd Editors: Catriona Toms, Alice Hooker-Stroud, Allan Shepherd Proof-reading: Hele Oakley Typesetting and design: Annika Faircloth Illustrations: John Urry Published by CAT Publications, CAT Charity Ltd. Registered charity no. 265239. Zero Carbon Britain: Making it Happen iii How to use this interactive PDF At the top of each page in this PDF you will see two icons (as shown above). These provide direct links to the table of contents and the reference pages. If you have Acrobat Reader installed on your device, you can choose to see the table of contents whenever you want by clicking on Bookmarks. If you don’t currently have this installed, please go to this link to download it to your computer (free) or, if you are using a reading device such as a tablet or android, then download the Adobe Acrobat Reader app for that device. What do the icons mean? Links to the table of contents. From here you can click on any of the headings to jump to the area you want to go to.
    [Show full text]
  • Greenviewoctober08:Layout 1
    Autumn 2008 The green newspaper for the Norwich South constituency Green Party Green New Deal to Tackle Credit Crunch he global economy is facing role of dealing prudently with a ‘triple crunch’ – the people’s savings and providing for Tcombination of a credit-fuelled sustainable investments. financial crisis, accelerating climate • Minimise corporate tax evasion by change and insecure energy supplies. clamping down on tax havens and The Green Party has joined the UK’s corporate reporting. This would leading green economists to propose provide a much needed source of a bold new vision – a ‘Green New Deal’ public finance. Finance, and the – to help tackle the root causes of the economy as a whole, would work triple crisis. The proposals would for people rather than distant create jobs, boost local economies and corporations. dramatically cut carbon emissions. • Levy a ‘windfall tax’ on the energy The Green New Deal report was companies making huge profits co-authored by a group of nine from rising fuel costs. The tax leaders in green economics, including would contribute to a raft of The Green New Deal offers positive solutions to the current crisis current and former directors of the measures to maximise energy New Economics Foundation, Friends efficiency in households across the Adrian Ramsay, Green Party Deputy You can read the of the Earth, Finance for the Future, country. Just three companies – BP, Leader, said: “With the huge challenges Green New Deal Report at SolarCentury and the Jubilee Debt Centrica and Shell – together made that face us, it’s clear we need some www.norwichgreenparty.org Campaign, as well as the Guardian’s £1000 profit every second over the fundamental action to put things right.
    [Show full text]
  • Fringes and Workshops at Conference
    Green Party Spring Conference 2016 Draft Timetable Abbreviations explained - Abbreviation What does it stand for DVP Draft Voting Paper F Conference fringe session H Hustings for committee elections T Training session VP Voting Paper W Workshop session on Conference motion DRC Disputes Resolution Committee EGP European Green Party GPEX Green Party Executive GPRC Green Party Regional Council GWEB Green World Editorial Board SOC Standing Orders Committee For workshops on the motions in the agenda, the motions are referred to by the numbering in the final agenda. Agenda Sections What’s in them A Reports from Party bodies (there’s a full set of reports submitted to Autumn Conference) B Voting Papers (A voting paper usually equates to a chapter of the Policies for a Sustainable Society) C Policy motions D Organisational motions, and motions that don’t fit into the other categories There are 19 motions in Section C and 8 in Section D; there are two Voting Papers to be discussed at this conference. Motions C01, C05, C09, C11, C16 and D04 have been recommended for fast-tracking; if this is agreed in the debate on the SOC report they will be voted on without discussion at the end of that debate. (See the SOC report in the Final Agenda for more info on fast-tracking of motions.) Where there is more than one workshop scheduled in a single slot, the start time for each is shown, thus: 1245-1345 “Workshop session a 1245 - A2 Policy committee report” “Workshop session b 1315 - A3 DRC report” This means that there are workshops on two conference motions in the same time slot and the first one starts at 1245 and needs to finish in time for the next to start at 1315.
    [Show full text]
  • Greening Newcastle
    Greening Newcastle Welcome to issue 3 of the Newsletter of Newcastle Green Party Green Deputy Leader visit Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, will be speak- ing at a meeting organised by neighbouring Sunderland Green Party (see below). In the 2010 General Election he secured the second highest Green vote in the country in the Norwich South constituency, doubling the party’s vote share to 15%. Adrian is part of the largest group of Green Party Council- lors in the country on Norwich City Council. The Green Party is the second largest party at Norwich City Hall, holding 14 seats, just two behind Labour. Born and brought up in Norwich, Adrian went on to gain a First Class Degree in Politics and Sociology from the University Greenest city? of East Anglia in 2002, where he received an award for his Poli- he Council now trots out on a regular basis as a justifi- tics essays. He later gained a Masters’ Degree. Tcation of its works the accolade it received from Forum Adrian joined the Green Party in 1998 at the age of 16 be- for the Future which described Newcastle as Britain’s greenest cause he felt the other parties were overlooking environmental city. (See http://www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/sustaina- issues and were not tackling poverty and animal cruelty. He still ble-cities09). Certainly the good work that is being done does feels strongly that the Green Party is the only party with strong deserve recognition yet, in reality, only small progress is being and coherent policies on these issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Constituency Polling – Norwich South Topline Results
    10-001422/HEC/CRP/TRM Constituency Polling – Norwich South Topline Results Ipsos MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 801 adults in the Norwich South constituency aged 18 and over. Interviews were conducted by telephone between 3rd and 9th March 2010. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population by gender, age, working status, housing tenure, and area. Where results do not sum to 100, this is due to computer rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don’t knows or non-responses. An asterisk (*) indicates a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero. Unless otherwise stated figures are based on all respondents. Voting intentions: those “absolutely certain to vote” We regard the voting intentions of those “absolutely certain to vote” as the most useful indicator, since it includes only those voters whose frame of mind is nearest to those who actually vote at elections. Please also note that the ‘margin of error’ on these figures is c.+4% for each figure; this means that a party share figure of 30% could actually fall anywhere between 26% and 34%, though it is far more likely to fall at 30% than at the extreme ends of this range. This is especially important to keep in mind when calculating party lead figures. Q1 In the general election, RANDOMISE ORDER OF CANDIDATES Charles Clarke is standing as the Labour Party candidate. Antony Little is standing for the Conservatives, Simon Wright is standing for the Liberal Democrats, Adrian Ramsay is standing for the Green Party Vandra Ahlstrom is standing for UKIP and there will be other candidates too.
    [Show full text]
  • The Norwich Green
    The Norwich Green The newsletter of the Norwich Green Party Bowthorpe Ward Working for the local community Winter Edition www.adrianramsay.org.uk www.greenparty.org.uk GREENS CALL FOR BETTER BUS SERVICE In a recent Green Party survey of residents in Bowthorpe and Earlham, many people raised concerns about the high cost and poor quality of bus services in Norwich. Councillor Adrian Ramsay (pictured right), who is standing to become your Green MP for Norwich South at the General Election, asked residents what issues they would like him to tackle if elected as their MP. Many Bowthorpe and Earlham residents said they would like more affordable, reliable and frequent buses. Adrian Ramsay said: “I agree that bus travel needs to be made cheaper and easier. Green Party Councillors have been calling for the County Council to set up a Quality Bus Contract, which would give the Council some control over bus prices and routes. If elected as your MP I will fight for local and national action to make our bus services more frequent, affordable and reliable.” Votes cast Greens on Track to Norwich South across your 34% Vote 2009 General Election Win in Bowthorpe constituency in the 2009 local At the General Election, Bowthorpe ward is 25% elections part of the Norwich South voting area. In 21% each of the last three local elections, the 18% Green Party has finished in first place across Norwich South. A similar voting pattern at the General Election would see Adrian Ramsay elected as your MP. Green LibDem Labour Con As the table on the left shows, much has changed in Norwich politics since the last Number of city and district councillors across General Election, when Labour’s Charles Norwich South Clarke was re-elected.
    [Show full text]
  • June 2019 ...You Are an Agent of Change
    April – June 2019 ...You are an agent of change. A better world is possible. By taking the time to share, listen and understand each other, we can change the things that matter to each of us, together. Difference doesn’t have to mean division and success doesn’t rely on the failure of others. Welcome to the Festival of Debate 2019. Coordinated by Opus, the festival is a Within our reach we have the ideas and the means to tackle non-partisan city-wide programme of events that asks us to explore the most important social, economic, environmental and political issues of the day. the problems we all face. Many possible solutions already exist, but we need to act together. We need to learn how to CONTENTS make change. We need to be ambitious, loving and clever. We need to talk. 4. STRANDS 6. FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS What you think and do matters. Now more 10. APRIL EVENTS than ever, we need to carry hope in our fists 12. OUR DEMOCRACY HUB DAY and remember that nothing about us, without 14. APRIL EVENTS 15. MAY EVENTS us, is for us. 18. OUR PLANET HUB DAY 20. MAY EVENTS 32. LIVING TOGETHER HUB DAY 34. PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE 37. VENUES & ACCESS 40. PARTNERS & FUNDERS www.weareopus.org www.festivalofdebate.com 43. BECOME A ‘FRIEND OF OPUS’ STRANDS WHO WE ARE Contemplating who we are, what we do and what defines us. Strand sponsored by Abbeydale Brewery OUR DEMOCRACY Questioning where power lies, the systems that exist and the status quo. Strand sponsored by The Sheffield College OUR PLANET From climate crisis to alternative food production, discovering the natural world, the forces at work and our impact on them.
    [Show full text]
  • Penny for Your Vote? Counting the Cost of an Unfair Electoral System
    Penny for your vote? Counting the cost of an unfair electoral system Report & Chris Terry Analysis Contents 3 Introduction 4 Background 5 Most valued 7 Least valued 9 Hitting the target 10 Paper candidates 13 Turnout and spending 15 Conclusion 17 Appendix 1 18 Appendix 2 Penny for your vote? Chris Terry Counting the cost of an unfair electoral system 3 Introduction It is a basic principle of democracy that all both of these factors need to be addressed. votes should hold equal value. But in Britain, We need properly and sustainably funded the cash value of an individual’s vote varies political parties incentivised to campaign across wildly depending simply on where they live. the country, not just in a few fiercely contested This report demonstrates for the first time the seats. We need a party funding system that huge differences in the amounts that parties recognises the crucial role that parties play in spend on attracting votes. Through an analysis mobilising voters. And we need an electoral of spending at the 2010 general election, system that values each voter equally no matter we show that British politics has become where they live. the ultimate postcode lottery: in cash terms, voters living in safe seats are hugely undervalued in comparison with those living in marginal seats. OUR KEY FINDINGS: • The amount of money spent on winning a single vote varies between £3.07 and 14p. In other words, some voters are valued 22 times more than others • The amount of money spent by candidates has a direct impact on the likelihood that people will turn out to vote • In 195 seats (30% of the total), no money was spent by any candidate on public meetings • 348 candidates (8.6% of the total) spent no money at all on their campaigns.
    [Show full text]