15^th May 2001

Responding to press reports about the content of Labour’s manifesto, to be published tomorrow, Pam Giddy, Director of Charter88, said:

"Without tackling the foundations upon which institutional politics in the UK is based, Labour have little chance of redressing the tide of cynicism sweeping the county. They have an opportunity to ensure their record on constitutional reform does not leave Britain with a set of institutions that lack public confidence. The people are ready for real democratic reform – Labour should not let them down.

If Labour fail to set a concrete deadline for a referendum on electoral reform, promising instead only "a review", they will have retreated from their manifesto commitment made in 1997. Their continuing support for a majority appointed second chamber flies in the face of popular opinion, which has consistently expressed preference for a fully or majority elected second chamber.

To date, Labour’s programme of constitutional reform has been tarnished by its preference for appointment over election. It has opened up the government to damaging allegations of cronyism and patronage. This is reform gone wrong. It is little wonder that people are ‘turned-off’ by a type of politics which retains the power of the old-boys' network whilst merely changing its external form.