38 Degrees Open Letter to Parliament Giving Measures to Restore Public Trust

It may be a bit late for this appeal from the internet democracy organisation, as I only got it at just past Six O’clock this evening and only just noticed it a minute ago. But it’s a very good cause, and one that Open Britain is also acutely involved in, though they and this petition offer slightly different solutions to the problem as well as many that are the same.

‘Trust in politics is at an all-time low, David. [1] In recent years we’ve seen far too many scandals, lies, and broken promises that have left many of us feeling let-down by the people we’re supposed to trust to run this country. [2]

Back in July, the Prime Minister stood on the steps of Downing Street and promised to restore trust in politics. But with the ‘freebies’ scandal dominating public discourse over recent weeks, that important work can’t come soon enough. [3]

Today, an independent cross-party group of influential MPs – called the Modernisation Committee – are meeting for the first time. [4] They’ve got the hard job of fixing bad behaviour by some politicians, make sure we can all have faith in Parliament once more. It won’t be easy, but you and I can play a role in helping them. [5]

We recently sent all MPs – including those on this new committee – a report filled with polling, research and recommendations on how they can rebuild public trust in politics. Now we need to make sure they put those recommendations in action.

An open letter to the Committee signed by hundreds of thousands of us will leave them in no doubt about what the public expects from them.

So David, will you add your name to the open letter? We’ll then make sure it’s on their radar, ramping up the pressure their first week in the job?

To: The Modernisation Committee The overwhelming majority of MPs work tirelessly for their constituents and our country, making positive contributions in their communities and advocating for important causes. However, it only takes a few instances of unethical behaviour to taint the reputation of all Parliamentarians and call into question a system that fails to adequately hold them to account. Despite these incidents being relatively small in number, public opinion research shows that wrongdoings in parliament cast a long shadow, often over the good work done by the majority of MPs. That’s why we, the undersigned, urge the Modernisation Committee to be bold and unwavering in its mission to help restore public trust in politics and, as part of that work, make recommendations that already have the backing of the public and the democracy sector, including: Creating a job description for MPs Setting out a minimum attendance requirement Implementing restrictions on specific second jobs Banning betting on political outcomes Outlawing deliberate public deception Tightening restrictions on gifts and donations We look forward to seeing the Modernisation Committee make progress over the next five years and would welcome any opportunities to feed into its important work. Signed, The British Public ADD MY NAME

38 Degrees is a community of more than a million people who – in a moment away from their busy days – take small actions on issues they care about, which all add up to something bigger, a movement for a better Britain for everyone who calls our country home. We live in every part of the UK and vote for all parties and none. But we’re united in the belief that when we come together, we can make those in positions of power sit up, take notice and effect change.

Huge open letters like this are a way of delivering the public’s voice and priorities directly into the corridors of power.

So, David will you add your name to the letter today? Simply click the button below to add your name with one click:

ADD MY NAME

Thanks for all you do,

Amoke, Tom and the rest of the 38 Degrees team

NOTES:
[1] The Guardian: Trust in British politics hits record low, latest BSA survey finds
[2] The Guardian: Thursday briefing: Why public trust in politicians is at rock bottom – and what we can do about it
[3] Sky News: Sir Keir Starmer faces investigation over possible breach of parliamentary rules after Labour donor ‘pays for wife’s clothes’‘
[4] UK Parliament: Modernisation Committee
[5] See Note 4.
[6] 38 Degrees: Rebuilding trust in politics: Views from the British public

New Poll from 38 Degrees – Is This Government Serving You?

This is another poll from the internet democracy organisation canvassing their supporters for their views about whether the current government is serving ordinary people, what tactics they should adopt to bring issues to government and media attention and demand change, and how their members feel about the organisation itself. I’ve taken the poll, and my answer to the first question is a resounding ‘No’. With the exception of the Workers’ Rights bill, Starmer is not serving ordinary people. Like the good little Thatcherite he is, he’s serving the rich and powerful. Although give him credit, the Workers’ Rights bill has got the elite so rattled that the Torygraph published an article last week claiming that the majority of workers like zero hours contracts. Really! I know people who are on them, and they don’t. More lies from one of the mouthpieces of Tory, corporate lying.

‘Dear David,

Yesterday marked 100 days of Keir Starmer’s Government. And it’s been a mixed start. We’ve seen unexpected cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance, rows over freebies and lots of talk about a £22 billion black hole. But there’s also been progress and wins – like scrapping the Rwanda flights, the ban on on-shore wind farms lifted, and new workers’ rights announced. [1]

With another tough winter ahead, the 38 Degrees community is working hard to get the Government to prioritise serving everyday people. Loads of us chipped in to project a huge “Tax the Ultra-Rich” message during Labour’s conference, the 38 Degrees team just sent powerful new research to hundreds of MPs, and next week supporters will deliver our 350,000-strong Winter Fuel Allowance petition to Downing Street. [2]

Now, with just weeks until the Government’s first big Autumn Budget, it’s crunch time. We can’t lose momentum now, but we need your help to decide what we do next.

So, David, can you share your thoughts on Labour’s first 100 days in this survey? It should only take only take a few minutes and we’ve included the first question to get your started.

Do you think this Government is serving you so far?

Yes

No

I’m not sure

38 Degrees supporters come from all walks of life and we voted for all parties during the election. Whilst we don’t all agree on everything – what unites us is a passion for this country and the things which make it great.

That’s why we want to hear from you today. If everyone reading this takes just three minutes to share their thoughts, we’ll get a clear idea of what this community thinks. With your answers, we can show MPs and ministers what everyday people like us want from the Autumn Budget – and make sure we’re heard on big issues like the Winter Fuel Allowance, our NHS and taxing the ultra-rich.

So, David, as we mark 100 days of our new Government, will you tell us how you are feeling? We’ve included the first question below to get you started.

Do you think this Government is serving you so far?

Yes

No

I’m not sure

Thank you for all that you do,

Kate, Flo, Veronica, Matt, Anna and the 38 Degrees team.

NOTES:
[1] BBC: How will the changes to worker’s rights affect you?
[2] 38 Degrees: Projecting a bold message across Liverpool 
38 Degrees: Don’t scrap winter fuel allowance for millions of struggling pensioners‘

38 Degrees Petition to Starmer to Tighten Regulations on Gifts and Donations

I got this Sunday, and since then 38 Degrees have been sending me messages asking why I haven’t signed it and would I like to. Well, I would, but I was busy with other things. But now I have, and I’m putting it up here for anyone else who wants to do so.

I think nearly everybody in the country has been shocked by the revelations about Starmer and his cabinet getting thousands and millions pounds worth of gifts and other freebies from donors like Lord Ali. And someone has also traced a line going from them to a hedge fund. This is almost par for the course from government now of both colours. They all seem to be on the take since at least the days of John Major, whose government was mired in ‘sleaze’. Blair’s government was also caught taking dodgy donations from a motor racing mogul, if you remember. They ended up having to give it back. The Tory party expressed surprise at the time at the corruption. Not that Labour were doing it, so much as how blatant it was. There are people saying Starmer is the most corrupt PM for a long time. And it isn’t just the gifts and donations, it’s the insult to the people who elected him. He and Reeves have told ordinary British working men and women to tighten their belts and expects further cuts, particularly to the disabled, while wallowing in the largesse showered upon them by the filthy rich, who aren’t going to get any cuts or tax rises at all. The last time I looked, one YouTube channel, which I think may well have been Tory but I can’t swear to it, had said that polling now placed Labour only one point above the Tories. Others have said Starmer is even more hated than Sunak. I can well believe. The Blairites are complete whores for all that corporate dosh.

‘David, MPs have taken more than £6 million in ‘freebies’ since 2010 – with half of those donations accepted in the last two years alone. [1] Recent stories – from Keir Starmer’s £2,800 Taylor Swift tickets, to Robert Jenrick’s £75,000 donation from a company registered in an overseas tax haven – have prompted calls for urgent reform. [2]

Although there’s no suggestion that rules have been broken, it begs two important questions: what do private companies and wealthy individuals with business links hope to get from their gifts and donations? And can we be sure that grand gestures like these don’t impair judgements or influence decision-making of those in positions of power?

Right now, public pressure has already forced the Prime Minister to say he’ll pay back some of the gifts received and commit to make Ministers’ declarations more transparent, and put donor Lord Alli under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog. [3] It’s a step in the right direction – but it doesn’t go far enough.

If the Prime Minister is serious about restoring public trust in politics, then he can start by looking to tighten rules that allow MPs of all stripes to take millions in ‘freebies’ each year.A huge petition that pushes for more rigorous rules on political gifts and donations, while the issue is high in the news, could force him to announce bigger and bolder reforms.

So David, if you’re sick and tired of the ‘freebies’ scandal, will you add your name to the petition today? You can add your name automatically with one-click of the button below:

ADD MY NAME

I’M NOT SIGNING BECAUSE…

Here’s the petition text in full:

TIGHTEN RULES AROUND GIFTS AND DONATIONS To: Prime Minister, Keir Starmer Implement more rigorous rules around political gifts, donations and hospitality and stronger transparency and accountability measures to help restore public trust in our elected representatives and political institutions. ADD MY NAME

Thanks for all you do,

The 38 Degrees Democracy Team

NOTES:
[1] The Guardian: MPs have declared more than £6m in ‘freebies’ since 2010, analysis shows
[2] Sky News: Robert Jenrick defends £75k donation after criticising Labour in freebies row
Sky News: Sir Keir Starmer pays back £6,000 worth of gifts – including Taylor Swift tickets
BBC News: Keir Starmer received more clothes worth £16,000
[3] BBC: Labour to tighten ministerial hospitality rules
BBC: Starmer repays more than £6,000 in gifts after donations row
The Independent: Labour peer Lord Alli under investigation over ‘alleged non-registration of interests’