Politics and Trust

In September, we mailed out a letter from David Cameron seeking local residents’ views on the MPs’ expenses scandal and politics in general. This was an important survey and about 500 people responded in the Wyre Forest area.

It was important because we know that people are rightly furious about the expenses scandal and we know that people need to regain trust in politicians – not just of all parties but also including those not affiliated to any party - before people will feel comfortable with the political process. But it is also important that people feel that their views are being considered when the process is underway to sort out the expenses mess. That is why we asked people’s views, and that is why we are very grateful for the responses.

The questions, with the responses, follow here.

Expenses

How important is the need to reform MPs expenses and restore trust in politics compared with issues like the economy, crime and the NHS?

45% said ‘more important, with 41% saying ‘about the same’. This clearly shows that reformation of MPs’ expenses is a considered very important indeed.

Which Party Leader has responded best to the MPs expenses scandal?

We asked this because it gives us an idea as to which approach is best. Although we were pleased that 66% said David Cameron was the best, 27% still said that no leader responded well. Meanwhile Nick Clegg scored 6% and Gordon Brown scored just 1%.

MPs currently receive a 'Communications Allowance' of £10K a year to communicate with their constituents via leaflets, websites, etc. DC thinks that this activity shouldn't be funded by the taxpayer. Do you agree?

81% agree with David Cameron that the communications allowance should be scrapped, with just 16% saying it should be kept.

MPs are currently given an allowance to employ their own staff. Some people have suggested that MPs staff should be employed by the House of Commons Authorities to provide an independent check that they are doing the work they are contracted to do. Do you agree?

An overwhelming 92% agreed that the House of Commons should be responsible for employing staff. After the next Election, there will be 650 MPs each representing about 70,000 electors. DC has argued that we don’t need that many MPs, and that we should cut the size of the House of Commons. Do you agree?

84% agree with David Cameron that there are too many MPs, with 8% disagreeing and 8% undecided.

A new politics

David Cameron has argued that the abuse of MPs expenses is part of a wider problem of people in positions of power looking after their own interests, rather than the people they are meant to serve.

What do you think of the following proposals he has made to shift power to individuals or their elected representatives?

A: Requiring the House of Commons to debate an issue or proposal if enough signatures are collected asking it to do so: 89% felt that this was a good idea

B: Involving members of the public, not just party members, in the selection of each party's candidates for a General Election: 71% felt this was a good idea, with 17% saying ‘bad’.

C: Supporting the return of social and employment laws from European Union to our national control, requiring a referendum to approve any further transfers of power to the EU and having far more detailed scrutiny in Parliament of EU legislation and spending: 89% agreed that this is good idea.

D: Replacing the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights that spells out the extent and limit of rights more clearly and ensures that any new rights are agreed by elected politicians, not unaccountable judges: 88% are in favour

E: Requiring Parliament to approve any plans to commit British troops to combat: 86 % agreed Do you think there should be a 'recall' power to allow local people to force a by-election if enough of them are unhappy with their current MP, rather than having to wait until the next General Election when they are choosing a government as well as their local MP? 87% said ‘yes’

Honesty

Who do you think is most likely to tell the truth about the state of the economy and the public finances?

Although 53% said ‘David Cameron’, 39% said ‘none of them’. 8% felt Nick Clegg was most trustworthy and just 1% said ‘Gordon Brown’.

Mark’s Comments

Do the commitments Mark Garnier has made give you confidence that he would behave properly if he is elected as the next MP for Wyre Forest?

59% said a ‘lot more’ and a ‘Little more’

27% said ‘no change’

12% said ‘don’t know’

3% said ‘a lot less’ or ‘a little less’.