I. Operation black vote: how to achieve better Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) political representation. 41 p. II. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women Councillors Taskforce: Terms of reference. 2 p.

I. Operation black vote: how to achieve better Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) political representation. 41 p. II. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women Councillors Taskforce: Terms of reference. 2 p.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on impementation of proposals in the Governance of Britain.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on impementation of proposals in the Governance of Britain.

My hon. Friend has put his finger on an important challenge for all of us. It is obviously my job, the Government’s job and the Prime Minister’s job to persuade the media not to be cynical about the process, and to understand that it is fundamentally about things that genuinely...

My hon. Friend has put his finger on an important challenge for all of us. It is obviously my job, the Government’s job and the Prime Minister’s job to persuade the media not to be cynical about the process, and to understand that it is fundamentally about things that genuinely...

In the one minute remaining, will the Minister address the question of how to excite the media and the public to become involved in our democratic renewal?

In the one minute remaining, will the Minister address the question of how to excite the media and the public to become involved in our democratic renewal?

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this important debate. I pay tribute to his many years of hard and creative work on building an increasingly democratic society. I also thank my hon. Friends the Members for Wigan (Mr. Turner) and for Leicester,...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this important debate. I pay tribute to his many years of hard and creative work on building an increasingly democratic society. I also thank my hon. Friends the Members for Wigan (Mr. Turner) and for Leicester,...

Sadly, this goes back to 1993, when I was the shadow home affairs spokesman in the future Prime Minister’s home affairs team. We wrote and agreed, and had endorsed by our party conference, not only that we should incorporate the European convention on human rights, but that the second stage...

Sadly, this goes back to 1993, when I was the shadow home affairs spokesman in the future Prime Minister’s home affairs team. We wrote and agreed, and had endorsed by our party conference, not only that we should incorporate the European convention on human rights, but that the second stage...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important and timely debate on issues that he feels powerfully about and on which he is speaking again today persuasively, as he has spoken and written in the past. I encourage him to say some more about the need in Britain for...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important and timely debate on issues that he feels powerfully about and on which he is speaking again today persuasively, as he has spoken and written in the past. I encourage him to say some more about the need in Britain for...

My hon. Friend makes sound sense, as always. I believe that we all welcome the fact that regional Ministers have been appointed, but that has to be just the first step. There must be proper parliamentary scrutiny of regional Ministers and power structures. Equally, regional Ministers themselves could form the...

My hon. Friend makes sound sense, as always. I believe that we all welcome the fact that regional Ministers have been appointed, but that has to be just the first step. There must be proper parliamentary scrutiny of regional Ministers and power structures. Equally, regional Ministers themselves could form the...

I am happy to give way to my hon. Friend, who has great experience in local government, before I come to the end of my remarks. The Prime Minister must revisit the policy area of democratic reform, give the democratic plate a vigorous spin and restate his vision for our...

I am happy to give way to my hon. Friend, who has great experience in local government, before I come to the end of my remarks. The Prime Minister must revisit the policy area of democratic reform, give the democratic plate a vigorous spin and restate his vision for our...

Will my hon. Friend give way?

Will my hon. Friend give way?

I should like the Gordon Brown Government to be remembered as one who revitalised our democracy and returned power to our people, individually, locally and regionally; who finally ended the privilege of the unelected to vote in our legislature; who allowed people locally to run their own local affairs; and,...

I should like the Gordon Brown Government to be remembered as one who revitalised our democracy and returned power to our people, individually, locally and regionally; who finally ended the privilege of the unelected to vote in our legislature; who allowed people locally to run their own local affairs; and,...

I apologise for the fact that I shall have to leave before the end of the debate, Mr. Benton. Unfortunately, in this place, we all have to be in two places at once. Would my hon. Friend agree that the elephantine gestation period between the idea and the concept, let...

I apologise for the fact that I shall have to leave before the end of the debate, Mr. Benton. Unfortunately, in this place, we all have to be in two places at once. Would my hon. Friend agree that the elephantine gestation period between the idea and the concept, let...

I gladly give way to my hon. Friend, who has a long and honourable record in local government and in democratising local government.

I gladly give way to my hon. Friend, who has a long and honourable record in local government and in democratising local government.