Shaking up British Democracy is message from Nick Clegg

8.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th May 2010

Today I have given my first set-piece speech as Deputy Prime Minister - you can read the full speech here. I'm proud that this speech was on a topic which I know is close to every Liberal Democrat heart, political reform.

What I have announced today is the biggest shake up of British democracy since the Great Reform Act of 1832. It is a fundamental resettlement of the relationship between state and citizen that puts people, not Whitehall, in charge.

Step one - we will repeal all of the intrusive and unnecessary laws that inhibit people's freedom. This means scrapping ID cards, halting the second generation of biometric passports, radically reforming the DNA database, ending the ContactPoint children's database and stopping the fingerprinting of children without parent's permission.

Step two - we will reform our politics so it is open, transparent and decent. We will introduce an elected House of Lords, fixed termed parliaments and strengthening parliament so it can hold the executive to account. Under our plans voters will have the power to recall corrupt MPs, there will be a register of lobbyists and a cap on donations. And most importantly we will give people a chance to vote in a referendum on our outdated and undemocratic electoral system.

Step three - we will radically redistribute power away from the centre, into your communities, your homes and your hands. We will strengthen local democracy and empower local people whilst scrapping layers of unnecessary top-down Whitehall bureaucracy. And we will implement further devolution to the nations of Britain.

Liberal Democrats in government are already delivering our manifesto commitments and opening up our political system and empowering citizens. That is what we have fought for over many years, and that is what we are now able to do.

Related Link:

Full Speech of Nick Clegg.