I am writing this article on the day that new MPs, following the May 2010 election, will take their oaths to the Queen.
In the UK only avowed monarchists can sit in the Houses of Parliament. Before taking their seats in the commons those we elect as MPs have to take an oath of allegiance [...]
Tag Archives: Democracy
Republican Julian Huppert to Ditch Principles and Take Oath to Queen - Click for Full Article
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Democracy Club - Bringing Openness and Accountability to Elections - Click for Full Article
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A meet-up of those interested in reinvigorating democracy and making the next election the most open and transparent ever is being held on Thursday the 25th of February from 19.30 in B-Bar, Market Passage, Cambridge. The Cambridge event, which is for those living in the surrounding region as well as city residents, is one of [...]
MP Condemns Hyperlocal Websites as Purveyors of Tittle Tattle and Opinion - Click for Full Article
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Adrian Sanders MP dismissed websites as ‘Tittle Tattle’ during a session of the House of Commons’ Culture Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday 8 December 2009.
In a shocking exchange at the House of Commons’ Culture Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday the 8th of December 2009 Adrian Sanders MP (Liberal Democrat, Torbay) dismissed [...]
Performance of NHS Cambridgeshire’s Exceptional Cases Panel - Click for Full Article
Sunday, November 22, 2009
I have been looking into the performance of Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust’s “Exceptional Cases Panel”.
The panel is tasked with deciding if public money ought be spent on a treatment which is not covered by existing NHS contracts and policies. The kind of requests which the panel deals with include high cost treatments [...]
Cambridge City Council Parks and Open Spaces Strategy Omits Trees - Click for Full Article
Monday, March 16, 2009
Cambridge City Council held a Community Services Scrutiny Committee on the 12th of March 2009. I used the opportunity for members of the public to speak at council meetings to ask why the draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy being put to the committee didn’t mention the trees on the parks and open spaces.
I [...]
Opposing the Database State - Clause 152 of the Coroners and Justice Bill - Click for Full Article
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
On Saturday the 28th of February NO2ID organised a “Convention on Modern Liberty” held in various locations “across the UK”.
A satellite meeting , which I attended, was held in the Cambridge Union.
This article focuses on just one of many important items which were discussed during the day. Clause 152 of [...]
Questions to the Cambridge City Council Executive - February 2009 - Click for Full Article
Friday, February 27, 2009
At full Cambridge City Council meetings councillors are able to ask questions to executive councillors; these have to be submitted in writing the day before the meeting. A ballot is held to determine the order of questions and as many as can be dealt with in thirty minutes are answered. Any questions remaining beyond [...]
The Santa Hat of State - Click for Full Article
Thursday, December 25, 2008
During the State Opening of Parliament a military officer is given the role of parading in front of the monarch with what looks like a santa hat on a stick. It is a symbol of the monarchy which is kept with the crown jewels in the Tower of London. It is properly known as [...]
Influencing North Area Policing - Click for Full Article
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I spoke on the setting of local policing priorities at Cambridge City Council’s North Area Committee on the 6th of March 2008.
I said that I had attended these meetings a number of times, particularly when the police were present to make suggestions on improving policing in the area. I believed that I was participating [...]
Accessibility of Cambridge City’s Planning Process - Click for Full Article
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I believe:
There should be clear, timely notification of the speaking rules at planning meetings given to applicants and interested parties.
Site notices should used in a greater proportion of applications, and should contain more details of how to have your say.
Site notices should be placed in prominent places*.
It should not be necessary to make these [...]