Hansard Society eNewsletter - July 2009
Digital
Papers
MPs on Facebook
The Hansard Society has
launched MPs on Facebook; the first in a new occasional series of short
'Digital Papers' examining how parliamentarians are using social media. MPs
on Facebook describes how MPs are largely using Facebook as a one-way
publishing medium. Andy Williamson, Director of the Hansard Society eDemocracy
Programme, commented that 'this ignores the real benefits of social media.
The key to harnessing this new generation of tools is conversation and
engagement; where citizens can communicate with their MPs and get a response.
Most MPs have a long way to go before they can claim to truly understand the
power of social media.'
Download
the report here
Lords
Committee on fast-track legislation
Hansard
Society recommendations reported
The House of Lords
Constitution Committee has published the report on its inquiry into Fast-track
Legislation (previously termed 'emergency legislation'), to which the Parliament
& Government programme gave evidence earlier this year. The Committee's
report quotes the Hansard Society's written submission and Dr Ruth Fox's oral
evidence extensively, and agrees with a number of our recommendations, read
the recommendations here.
Hansard
Society Briefing Paper
Blueprint
for reform of House of Commons
The Hansard Society has produced
a new briefing paper on reform of the House of Commons to coincide with the
Speaker Hustings.
Dr Ruth Fox, Director of the Parliament
and Government Programme at the Hansard Society, said, 'The election of a
new speaker provides a rare opportunity to fundamentally reform the way that the
House of Commons works in the public interest'
‘What is needed is a
coherent package of reforms that rebalance the relationship between
parliamentarians and the executive, improve the scrutiny process, enhance the
quality and effectiveness of law making, strengthen the relationship between
Parliament and the public and make the House of Commons more
efficient.'
Download
the briefing paper here
Mock
Elections Results
Young people turn away from main
parties
Young people taking part in
the Hansard Society Y
Vote Mock Elections for the European Parliament returned fewer MEPs for the
main political parties than their adult counterparts in the real Euro elections.
All major parties saw a drop in support; the Conservative Party was the
largest party with 17 seats and the Green Party was the only one that performed
better in the mock elections. However, independents and parties created by
pupils themselves were the big winners.
Click
here for full results
Click
here for Y Vote Stories and Photos
Audio Recordings
The Hansard Society puts up an audio recording of all
of our events on our website, including the recent Speaker Hustings.
Click
here to view a full list