david cameron stole my policy idea
it looks like david cameron has “stolen” my democratisation/localisation policy idea. now unfortunately i don’t have the time to fastidiously examine the 32 page policy doc (including references). however, i have taken a quick flick through and see some promise - despite some eye brow raising omissions…
one thing i like - a series of referenda to establish city mayors in 12 of the UK’s largest cities. to quote the doc an elected mayor “can provide the city with strong leadership. Individual leadership of these councils can benefit local citizens by improving the clarity of municipal decision-making and enhancing the prestige of their city.” (my own bolding). though, lets hope these mayors get decent powers.
one thing i dislike - this is more an omission - there is no commitment to pay local councillors a decent salary. if i remember correctly the average age of a councillor is in the 60s. few people can afford the time to do the job because it takes 1 full day a week plus evenings (on 5k a year). what full time working person can really afford to do that? the only councillors i’ve met or heard of are those who are retired, university students or working part time. It would be good if councillors were paid something around 15,000 for 3 days work a week. Then they could work elsewhere part time if they wished. The current system excludes countless people from taking the job as a serious primary earner and its hurting our democracy.
* brownie points for the policy doc - it had a decent amount of data backing up its assertions.
