Direct Democracy

Direct Democracy is a movement within the British Conservative Party dedicated to localism and constitutional reform as a means of reviving public confidence in the political system. The group's founding text - "Direct Democracy: An Agenda for a New Model Party" - was published in 2005 and was followed by a series of localist papers on constitutional reform, education, law and order, foreign policy, welfare reform and the environment. Direct Democracy's agenda features heavily in the Daily Telegraph and inspired the paper's ongoing Think Local campaign. In a testament to Direct Democracy's campaigning effectiveness and influence within the Conservative Party, many of their proposals have now become official Party policy - e.g. directly-elected sheriffs, the right of citizens' initiative, and supply-side school reform.

upporters

Its supporters and contributors comprise MPs from the 2005 general election intake, MEPs, councillors, parliamentary candidates and activists. They include: [cite web |url=http://www.direct-democracy.co.uk/display_page.asp?section=about&id=3 |title=About Us |accessdate=2007-09-17 |date= |publisher=Direct Democracy ]

* Douglas Carswell (MP for Harwich)
* Greg Clark (MP for Tunbridge Wells)
* Iain Dale (Prominent political blogger)
* Murdo Fraser (MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife and Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives in the Scottish Parliament)
* David Gauke (MP for Hertfordshire South West)
* Robert Goodwill (MP for Scarborough and Whitby)
* Michael Gove (MP for Surrey Heath and Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families)
* Daniel Hannan (MEP for South East England)
* Nick Herbert (MP for Arundel and South Downs and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice)
* Adam Holloway (MP for Gravesham)
* Jeremy Hunt (MP for Surrey South West and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)
* Syed Kamall (MEP for London
* Brooks Newmark (MP for Braintree)
* Jesse Norman (PPC for Hereford and South Herefordshire and Executive Director of Policy Exchange)
* John Penrose (MP for Weston-super-Mare)
* Theresa Villiers (MP for Chipping Barnet and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.direct-democracy.co.uk/ Direct Democracy official website]
* [http://www.douglascarswell.com/files/pdf_pdf_4.pdf Direct Democracy - an agenda for a new model party]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/thinklocal Daily Telegraph's Think Local campaign]