...just not on your election campaign.
There is a new Political Parties and Elections Bill tip-toeing it's way through parliament at the moment, and it's trying very hard not to scare the horses.
Bits of it are straightforward and long overdue - like making sure the Electoral Commision has some commissioners with party political experience. The new clause which should be the most contentious - making spending by candidates on their own election more transparent and, at the same time, limiting the arms race - is sliding through without a ripple.
And that is because, in an effort to square the circle of limiting spending whilst retaining all party support, the committee of MPs looking at this have come up with a completely unworkable and complex solution. I won't bore you with the incomprehensible details. Suffice it to say that these rules kick in 5 months before the end of parliament. But only if the parliament runs for a full five years. There are all sorts of pro-rata arrangements for shorter parliaments. Anyhow, you now know enough for my primary point, which is....
This is yet another reason for fixed term parliaments. If the greatest democracy in the world (?) can function by electing a President every four years, the the mother of all parliaments should be able to cope with a regular birthday. There are lots of good reasons for this but in the context of the Political Parties Bill, it would make the control of election spending straightforward for the professional party staff and volunteers to implement and for the regulators to monitor.
So come on Jack Straw.
Wadda we want?
FIXED TERM PARLIAMENTS.
Whenda we want em?
EVERY FOUR YEARS!
