The website, called Your Freedom, offers three broad categories restoring civil liberties, repealing unnecessary laws and cutting business and third sector regulations.

This all sounds too good to be true
Has it really got serious legs?
If so, I'll be voting for you
Next time, Messrs Cameron and Cleggs...

I've got a suggestion for Slippery Nick. I doubt he'll take me up on it though.

My suggestion is to pass a law stopping politician making cheap, pointless populist claptrap which they are going to ignore anyway.

There is a difference between being cynical about humanity in general (which may or may not be a valid response to life), and being a preening prat just because one knows nothing else to be. The latter types give cynics a bad (worse?) name. Cynicism is NOT the same as tribal politics.

To wit '' My suggestion is to pass a law stopping politician making cheap, pointless populist claptrap which they are going to ignore anyway."

Why should one not at least give this idea a go and submit a SERIOUS idea if you even have one ? Standing back and mocking does No-one any good at all. Least of all the mockers. It might not get any better no matter , but it SURELY won't get any better by doing nothing at all.

The problem, as you say, is how to weight the submissions. I commented on one because on the surface the idea to repeal the law sounds sensible, but the suggestion was from just one point of view. I explained the situation from another point of view and made a case for keeping the law.

In a lot of cases laws restrict some people (say, the ability of con artists to make a living) while protecting the rights of others. It is getting the balance right that is important. (Are mystics and mediums con artists? What about priests, don't vicars talk to imaginary people too?)

Nick Clegg's new extension of the Daily Mail comments pages are just an invitation for people to bang on about how important their rights are and so far I have not seen much about protecting other people's rights.

Hmmm....... Influence government policy? Since I am now doing my MP's work for him, can you please sack him and give me the job? Ok it bring Tory majority down by one but ............pretty pleeease?

Hmmm!
Another idea that relieves the Government of any responsibility. Stupid laws not done away with - well nobody suggested that one is the defence. Good laws abandoned - well you wanted rid of that.
We just did what you told us to do!

When you have a ballot box you have all got the same vote, but when you have e-democracy the articulate become even more empowered

Yes and if we're honest that's as it should be.

An illusion.

Having your say is just turning people against each other so they can divide and conquer.

And one end effect will be to turn all the workers savagely against the unemployed allowing the government to slash benefits as they turn millions more out of employment.

A cynical and ugly ploy straight from politics for beginners.

Even more disgusted with the Lib-Dems for allowing themselves to be the patsy.

It has already become clear that it was all tory newspeak from people who have never had a mortgage that takes up a significant chunk of their income.

Blutto,

Our Nick doen't have much of a track record though, does he? He magically converts to a spending slasher after being offered a cabinet post and suddenly believes that VAT increase doesn't hurt the poor more than the rich.

Every government of every colour tells you that they do what you tell them to do. In reallity, they have their own agenda. We each vote for a government whose agenda matches your social aspiration more closely. Obviously, not for some of those who voted LibDem, sadly.

Has any journalist asked how much this website is costing ?

It would have been condemned by the Lib Dems and Tories when New Labour were in government as a huge waste of public money.

This government will make New Labour's excesses and stupidity look like chicken feed by the time they are finished.

I suspect Clegg and Cameron already have a pretty good idea which laws they intend to can and which ones they won't touch.

All the same, if some proposal that they weren't considering proves really popular it might force itself onto the agenda. So it's worth responding if you feel strongly about something.

This government will make New Labour's excesses and stupidity look like chicken feed by the time they are finished.

I think the idea is to reduce the effect of New Labour's excesses and stupidity, particularly on the small businessman. The crowdsourcing element should ensure costs are kept lower than an investigation to uncover the same problems.

I think they should close all the UK's overseas embassies, consulates, missions etc. and instead send Status Quo on a world tour.

It is clear which suggestions they will pick and which laws and regulations they will abolish.

I confidently predict that Dave and Nick will, through sheer co-incidence, get rid of lots of laws that mean small businesses have to treat people like human beings and things councils had to do. Oddly these were things they probably may have done anyway.

While I do agree that people can scorn these ideas when they could work, I think part of what is wrong with politics is that they no longer want to secure votes by telling us what they believe, just by creating a false sense of inclusion. It is nothing more than a sham consultation so that teh Daily Mail and Ministers have a drip-drip of stories about "bonkers" rules they can abolish without giving them any context.

And this sort of thing is definately Nick Clegg all over. "Tell me what you think as I don't have enough backbone to say what I think, I'll just pretend I believe in what you said." It works for him in Government!

So when everyone votes for a law to be removed that they do not wish to remove, they won't and all the laws they want changed will be? Sounds same old really, though at least they are trying .... ish

@Sweeting

I think the idea is to reduce the effect of New Labour's excesses and stupidity, particularly on the small businessman. The crowdsourcing element should ensure costs are kept lower than an investigation to uncover the same problems.

Huh? That horrible word "crowdsourcing" is just used to legitimise the nasties that they intend to do, but on the other hand ignore the things that they don't want.

The ludicrous calls from employers to get rid of 'elf and safety laws (never, you note, calls from employees, even though it is them that will be affected) will be used to justify their plans to make cut red tape that protect employees.

At the moment the most popular suggestion is to legalise cannabis. If that remains at number 1 and Cleggy fails to scrap the law criminalising cannabis possession then this exercise will have no legitimacy. (And please do log on and rate that suggestion 5 stars so that we can see how serious Cleggy is.)

I'd like to give Nick the benefit of the doubt, but has anyone tried to submit/vote/comment on 'Your Feedom'? The site keeps crashing.
Incompetence, or convenience for politicians who aren't into listening?!

Perhaps the biggest threat to our civil liberty is the vast inequalitities in this society. These inequalities will grow when the Coalition policies start to eat into society.

For those who may not beaware a cleg is a wee creepy Scottish insect which bites. Nick Clegg is aptly named!

Libdem voters listened to him and liking what they heard, they voted for him.
How can we now believe that anything that the public puts forward will be listened to by Nick Clegg.

Calminstorm speaks wisely. Well said too Phos4.

Plenty of support for amending the smoking ban for pubs I see. I'm allowing for some - very - cautious optimism.

Sweeting

When you have a ballot box you have all got the same vote, but when you have e-democracy the articulate become even more empowered

Yes and if we're honest that's as it should be.

That's not the most articulate sentence, Sweeting - you might want to try using a comma or two next time.

This is typical Cameron/Clegg froth... completely meaningless PR. The "most" I have seen this amount to today is the predictable frenzy of the fox hunters who want to see their favourite hobby reinstated... not exactly "progressive", Mr Clegg!

I would actually like to see the laws regarding 'Short Money' tightened to ensure that opposition parties who take seats in government aren't able to exploit loopholes to hang onto taxpayers' money they shouldn't have.

Nice idea, but does anyone else find the site runs really slow?
I mean, really REALLY slow.
Typical of Government I s'pose...

Nice idea, but the site is so slow. I almost gave up. Maybe that's the idea...

"Cutting business and 3rd sector regulation"

This notion that we have too much regulation is utter crap and serves only the interests of big business against the interests of the electorate. Some examples:

a) the banking crisis, for crissakes, was caused by the lack of proper regulation of banking transactions
b) BP oil spill - lack of regulation, plus laissez faire attitude towards enforcing the regulation still in place
c) Outrageous cost of electricity and gas - refusal to regulate on price
d) astronomical increase in train fares, whilst standard of service and safety record drastically reduces - lack of proper regulation
e) constant cold calling and automated calling to my house trying to sell me crap - due to removal of regulation preventing this
f) too much freight on the road and increase in accidents associated with freight - removal of regulation

I could go on and on and on. Its not regulation thats blighting our lives, its deregulation. Politicians, of course, wouldnt admit to this in a million years.

Calminstorm and ABCanythingbutcameron are spot on. Those who complain about cynicism from the voters should look at turnface politicians to understand why we can not take this seriously.

Can he repeal the law that says local goverment can spy on their residents!

Classic - poodle Clegg gets the 'government to cut red tape' role!

Ok - here's my suggestions

1. The people of Sheffield Hallam were lied to throughout the election by the Libdem candidate. Can we recall our elected MP and re-run the election. Otherwise I, along with thousands of others, have had our democractic rights trampled all over.

2. Make all taxation based on earnings. No indirect/stealth taxes. Plain and simple open and honest transparent taxation...with a progressive increase in the marginal rate and the definition of earnings to include all forms of accumulation of wealth.

3. A removal of the legal requirement for children to be indoctrinated with religious claptrap in state funded schools.

I'm not holding my breath.

Can he also repeal the legislation that leaves decisions about abuse cases in the hands of Social Services.
The Police should be the primary invesigators in such cases.
They're trained to investigate such things and to spot signs of guilt.

@Blutto -

Why should one not at least give this idea a go and submit a SERIOUS idea if you even have one ? Standing back and mocking does No-one any good at all. Least of all the mockers. It might not get any better no matter , but it SURELY won't get any better by doing nothing at all.

I love a bit of naive, optimistic belief myself from time to time. The last time was when I voted for the LibDems and look how that turned out for me.

I think it is fair to both be cynical and mocking - the weight of history is on our side that politicians just CANNOT be trusted.

Can he make Gordon Brown iIlegal! Plllllleeeeaaaase? !!!

Is this the cones hotline in a new guise? Splendid!

Oh dear, I think Nick must be trying to host the site from a PC in his spare room - it's really struggling to load any pages at the moment. "We are currently experiencing some inconsistency with the stability of the site due to continuing high load". Bum, and I so wanted to repeal the Act of Settlement.

@ richardblogger

At the moment the most popular suggestion is to legalise cannabis. If that remains at number 1 and Cleggy fails to scrap the law criminalising cannabis possession then this exercise will have no legitimacy. (And please do log on and rate that suggestion 5 stars so that we can see how serious Cleggy is.)

This is an issue close to far more people's hearts than the Norman overlords probably suspect!

So many people, that a concerted campaign could almost certainly keep it near the top, the reasons why are blatently apparent:
- stop criminalising people who aren't doing anyone any harm
- thus saving a fortune in wasted police time, and pointless custodial sentences

In fact, for the first time since cannabis became illegal, the reversal of this law may well come about for reasons entirely separate from civil-liberties.
Look how much revenue the exchequer collects from tobacco and alcohol. Considering the financial pit they are now in, they might recognise a gold mine when they see one!

Hello Nick.
Under The last conservative government I was a young man in his early twenties.At that time I decided to travell england and Scotland.If I needed an appartment or flat to stay in it was a simple task.All I had to do was buy a local newspaper and telephone appartments I was intrested in from the to let pages.
However under blair and prescott you know the two property tycoons it became evermore difficult.I will give you some landlords predujices born under the last labour government.
1.No Smokers
It seems rediculus to myself as a smoker why I would be predujiced against in such a way especially when it to do with renting properties.
2.No pets
Can,t take the budgie if you want that property
3Can you give references.I said references not reference
Time to get the old school reports out again.
4.No DHSS.
I am disabled and have been for almost twenty years.That puts myself on the No DHSS also.On the Dhss I am of better nature than most workers,Though I am predujiced against because of that fact.
Please relax these and I am sore there are more renting restrictions.Are They really needed?The two property tycoons thought so.
Yours.
Sincerley.
Marc Cawood.

@mkb86

Sweeting

When you have a ballot box you have all got the same vote, but when you have e-democracy the articulate become even more empowered

That's not the most articulate sentence, Sweeting - you might want to try using a comma or two next time.

Really? it's a perfectly good sentence except that he has one comma too many i.e. it reads perfectly well with no comma at all.

nattybumpo

1 Jul 2010, 5:30PM

Can he make Gordon Brown iIlegal! Plllllleeeeaaaase? !!!

Hidden crime?

The most obvious piece of needless bureaucracy that I've noticed in the past year was the requirement for footballer Benni McCarthy and football club manager Avram Grant to complete work permit formalities purely in order to change employer, even though the nature of their work for those employers did not change at all.

Public administration is supposed to treat employers impartially, so there can be no grounds for government to intervene and prevent a duly licensed third-country national who is already in the UK labour market from changing to another employer. The only important point from the perspective of public administration is the kind of work that the person does. After securing admission and leave to remain as a specialist worker, it should be possible to ensure that the person concerned continues to perform this kind of work.

The system applied in Finland is much more intelligent in this respect. Migrant workers such as IT specialists from places like India and China are free to change employer provided that they continue on the same career path. This policy has eliminated a great deal of needless form filing, administrative processing and general delay. It also discourages abusive practices by certain employers who can no longer claim the support of public administration in their efforts to prevent foreign employees from seeking work with better employers.

This would be a very practical and beneficial technical improvement that could be cited in defence of the view that the government has reformed immigration policy. After all, we know in advance that all of the pre-election tough talk in this area will amount to nothing at all concrete in this area of public policy.

Apparently the site has crashed...

The things people clearly want and won't get: Sensible and scientifically based drugs policy, especially with regard to cannabis. A repeal of a blanket smoking ban in all public areas, and the tearing up of the digital economy bill.

We will, however, see: A cutting of all that irritating red tape that force businesses to treat their employees decently. And probably a repeal of the hunting act, and some non existent law about conkers.

It's soon going to be time to break out the prozac and good booze, people.

It's going to be a long five years.

If the site were really good, one could complain at misuse of resources. Clearly they haven't spent loads getting this going. That's a good thing. If you're serious about what you want to say, you shouldn't mind a bit of queueing.

Has any journalist asked how much this website is costing ?

It's an 'out of the box' app built by a company called Delib. The prices are listed on their website - I think this one is £400 per month. If Labour had commissioned it, it would have cost the taxpayer 7 figures, this government aren't Labour, so quit your moaning.

Tee hee hee hee! Trending policy today! And all that.

It DOES seem that proper consultations, with proper bite to them, are urgently needed to shore up our little democracy. Now, there have been attempts to work out formal standards for a proper consultation (or "stakeholder engagement"), whose application could then be certified by an independent third party (because THOSE are so thick on the ground).

For example, AccountAbility is developing such a standard. But if you look at how they develop their standard, the consultation phase is terribly ineffectual. Their "collaborative wiki" (really more like a forum where you can post comments) is hard to find, neglected, counterintuitive and swamped with spam.

How funny!

@01463marc - none of the things you mention are laws. They are driven purely by landlord's prejudice. The "No DSS" thing has been around for a very long time. Landlords don't like smokers because a) they leave a smell behind b) they're likely to leave burn holes behind c) higher probability of fire. (& I say this as a smoker of 30+ years)
The "No Pets" rules has been common ever since properties were rented.
Landlords ask for references because they're trying to minimise the chance of letting to a person who is going to do stuff they don't want. I have rented privately my whole adult life, so I know what I'm writing about.
The worst thing to happen for tenants was the repeal of the Rent Act, which guaranteed many rights for the tenant, including Fair rents, being a "sitting tenant" etc. The growth of the new-style 6-month licence agreements are the worst thing for tenants since the days of Rachman & "key money" etc. If there was a proper amount of social housing in this country, renting wouldn't be a problem, would it?Selling council houses has done more to damage communities than anything else in the last 30 years - the opposite of what the simple-minded advocates of the policy expected. Because they could be resold for a huge profit, the original tenants, who all knew each other, moved on & the houses ended up in the hands of landlords & property companies. The houses were split into bedsits & flats, and rented to all & sundry. Bang goes the community! A great deal of that housing stock was top quality, both of build & location. Now its gone, it won't be rebuilt in the same place, because the land is now far too costly.
If only the government after WW2 had been given another term, they could have built a socialist foundation so solid, it would have survived Thatch & Blair & all the other scum......

VoxAC30

I think they should close all the UK's overseas embassies, consulates, missions etc. and instead send Status Quo on a world tour.

Well, okay as long as they wash their bluejeans first.

When Clegg says he isn't interested in legalizing cannabis, maybe he could at least clarify why not. Why does he think an alcohol abuser deserves such infinitely better legal status than a responsible cannabis user? Or to be more direct about it, why can he use alcohol when other good people can't use cannabis? Answer the damn question, Nick. That's what leadership is for.

markgeneva

Plenty of support for amending the smoking ban for pubs I see. I'm allowing for some - very - cautious optimism.

Fine with me, so long as they don't allow booze in the cannabis cafes.

ILiveinHope

Nice idea, but does anyone else find the site runs really slow?
I mean, really REALLY slow.

Large number of cannabis users on the site.

MakeLabourHistory

If Labour had commissioned it, it would have cost the taxpayer 7 figures

True, but to be fair, it never would have worked.

Fcking drug puns. END THIS PLEASE. You're all as bad as eachother. It's all a big Ho Ho Ho, meanwhile, millions of people are stigmatised. GROW UP GUARDIAN. Jeeez.

Couldn't find the 'triple the maintenance grant for mature students with features reminiscent of Mr Potatohead' suggestion.....oh well :(

A lot of commentators here missing the big story that a lot of people out there think its time to end this mad drug prohibition and the hypocrisy and stupidity synonymous with it.
But hey, we're British! Lets whinge and be cynical and never do anything constructive thus doing exactly what the politicians we so hate want us to do.
No wonder so many of us want to get high to escape this brown sludge of fail.