On 5 November the Vote for a Change campaign floated a model of a duck house down the River Thames to Westminster. For those inside Parliament, the message was simple: 'you can't duck change'. There is no possibility of effective self regulation at Westminster. The fundamental questions - like how we hire and fire our MPs - can't be left to politicians. But it can be left to the voters on Election Day with a referendum on the voting system.
This action is one of a series of campaign activities piling up the pressure on MPs in the run up to the Queen's Speech on 18 November. Our activities range right the way from a meeting next week with Gordon Brown and one-to-one lobbying of Labour MPs; to supporter emails to a "rogue's gallery" of high profile electoral reform opponents; taking the Gravy Train to MPs of all parties who are roadblocks to reform; and getting 60 young people together outside Parliament dressed as zombie politicians for a Halloween stunt.
Adding another notch to our lobbying of Labour MPs and decision-makers, this coming week's edition of the New Statesman magazine contains a 32-page pullout section on electoral reform. You can pick up a copy of the New Statesman from your local news stand.
We've also set an ambitious goal: 10,000 letters to those MPs who are resisting reform and propping up our rotten political system for their own benefit. Can you help us reach 10,000 today by sending a letter now?
We want voters to be in the driving seat of shaping a new politics. We are excited that a new campaign - POWER2010 - is offering people exactly that chance.
POWER2010 are seeking your ideas for changing the way we run our country. Those ideas with most support will become the POWER2010 Pledge - and form the basis of major campaign activity both immediately before and during the General Election.
To add your ideas - for instance on electoral reform - go onto the POWER2010 site:
Like I've just done, you can also sign this letter from Power2010 to the three main Party leaders telling them that the Kelly review (on expenses) was not enough ... it's now time for the people to be given a genuine say in how our democracy is run.
Now that MPs are back at Westminster, they think it's possible to resume life as it was before - as if the expense scandal never happened. It's up to us to remind them that we've not forgotten - and that we'll be holding them accountable any way we can until we have a real voice in Parliament.
Since the middle of September, we've been visiting some of the worst offending MPs, and those with the power to change things at Westminster, with a primary-coloured carnival caravan we've dubbed the Gravy Train. Take a moment to watch a short video we put together chronicling the first day's route targeting MPs Ann Keen, Tony McNulty, and Claire Ward.
We have subsequently taken the Gravy Train to the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences, and to Hazel Blears' Salford constituency. Last week the Gravy Train was back in town to greet MPs upon their return to Westminster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVFG4HxlPXg
Our aim is to use a more light-hearted and visual approach as a way in to (i) discussing the impact of the voting system and why we need a change with a broader section of people (ii) lobbying specific MPs that are roadblocks to reform to try getting them to concede that a referendum is a necessary step to restoring public trust and engagement.
It's been quite a ride so far, and it's not over yet. Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking the Gravy Train to Yorkshire and Lancashire; visiting Yvette Cooper, Ed Balls, Jack Straw, Shahid Malik and David Blunkett.
We've got electoral reform on the agenda. And we're going to keep it there - by calling out MPs who stand in the way of reform, and by pressing our case for legislation that will put forward the timetable for a referendum.
3) Think of some creative way of showing your support for the campaign on 5 November and Bonfire Weekend. We have some suggestions for you to act on at your own bonfire / fireworks party or at communal event, and we'll be emailing them round next week. But in the meantime get your thinking caps on ... and even
your ideas so we can share them with everyone else.
