The Prime Minister endorsed significant aspects of the Progress Campaign for real reform now and laid down a clear challenge to the Conservatives. A referendum on AV/AV+ (as the question has not been drafted let us keep pushing, a re-commitment to abolish of the hereditary principle (let us make this happen) and a commitment on the recall of MPs. Add this to the changes in the system for MPs expenses and reforms in House of Commons practices and it is now clear which Party has responded to the expenses scandal with an understanding of how much needs to change. It puts the ball in Cameron’s court: what else but words does he have to offer voters who no longer believe in this democracy of ours?
But it also means that the campaign for greater reform is even more urgent, that this constitutional reform agenda needs expanding, radicalising and making central to Labour’s manifesto and its campaign. So there are two tasks for progressives coming out of Gordon Brown's conference speech. Keep the pressure up inside the Labour Party, encourage the government to keep walking the road of radicalism and make it clear to voters that one party in this country has not only “got it” but knows what to do about it - keep the spotlight on the other parties.
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