Mary Southcott 077125 11931 (texts) marysouthcott@hotmail.

com
I have enjoyed being part of the work of Unlock Democracy in the last two years and believe that its work is vital as we move into the 2015 General lection and beyond! It is for that reason I wo"ld like to be involved for this ne#t term only! $e need better politics which addresses decentralisation% pl"ralism% working to ens"re that decision&making is more acco"ntable and that assemblies are more representative of the people they are said to represent! I have learned the significance of reg"lating lobbying% the implications of individ"al electoral registration and bo"ndary changes% as well as the vital iss"es of electoral and 'ords( reform! I like the way that Unlock Democracy goes on being a voice for change% informing its members and enco"raging participation! )he joint UD* +, activists day in -irmingham led to the res"scitation of -ristol . Democracy which was planned after the fail"re of the /0 +eferend"m! 1ne of the good things abo"t that referend"m was the links with the so"th west region as a whole% somewhere I learned m"ch abo"t while convenor of the ,o"th $est 2onstit"tional 2onvention! 2ornwall is lobbying for their "nitary a"thority to be renamed an assembly! $e have m"ch to learn too from $ales where people are calling for a written constit"tion and like ngland there is a great case for following ,cotland down the path to ,ingle )ransferable 0ote in local government! $orking with $est 3idland members of the 2ampaign for nglish +egions% I have s"pported the work Unlock Democracy is doing on devol"tion% c"lminating in a pamphlet!

I feel strongly that votes at 14% which is being tried o"t in the +eferend"m on ,cottish Independence% is an important part of learning to be a citi5en and that school st"dents co"ld be registered at school so no one is lost from the system! $orking in inner city -ristol% d"ring the 3ayoral and the local elections% I realised how important it is to challenge the drift to non participation in elections b"t more that the vital act of registration% as enco"raged by -ite the -allot% needs to be e#plained in 2iti5enship ed"cation in schools or easily accessible to ad"lts! )he 'abo"r decision to enco"rage individ"al affiliation to the party by trade "nionists o"ght to be the prel"de to dealing with political finance and capping the amo"nt that can be spent nationally as well as locally! I contin"e to work with the 'abo"r 2ampaign for lectoral +eform for constit"tional reform% specifically moving away from first past the post% b"t also with 'abo"r . Democracy for a change of political c"lt"re which makes it possible to work with parties and people from different traditions on individ"al projects aimed at solving problems which can often only be achieved working together! I am s"pporting s"bmissions to the -etter 6olitics 'abo"r policy doc"ment so that 'abo"r(s manifesto enables legislation on the "ncompleted demands of 2harter 77 and worked with others to evolve specific policies 'abo"r sho"ld be disc"ssing especially to work with and inform ,tephen )wigg in his pivotal role in the lead "p to and in the aftermath of the general election! In trying to discover the electoral reformers in the 2lass of (15 'abo"r candidates% we add to the chances of forming a 'abo"r or 'abo"r&led government committed to improving o"r Democracy!