Get Involved in the People’s Politician

THIS SITE IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED


Politics is in crisis. Members of Parliament can rarely have been held in lower public esteem than now. Many think MPs don’t listen and are out of touch. Just over 17 million citizens who could have voted at the last general election chose not to.

This website is part of an experiment facilitated by the BBC to see if politicians and the public can re-connect. For the next three weeks I am road testing a form of direct democracy. Richard Caborn Labour MP in Sheffield Central will be doing so in January.

I want to hear the views of my constituents and others about local and national issues and the way politics is conducted. I will consider acting on what I hear. Where I take a different view – due to my conscience or my political judgment - I will explain why.

Both Richard Caborn and I are standing down at the next general election and have nothing to gain politically or financially by taking part in the People’s Politician. The experiment is being filmed by the BBC for a documentary to be shown next year. This is an exciting opportunity. Please get involved.

Ann Widdecombe 25 November 2009

I want…

Do you want to change the world or change politics? Submit your idea here and start a petition. The sponsor of the most popular petition will win the chance to make a one minute film which will be broadcast on BBC 2 promoting their idea, subject to the BBC's editorial guidelines.

Will your MP support you? The sponsors of the 5 most popular petitions registered here by the deadline of midnight on Friday 11 December will be invited to pitch their idea for change to Ann culminating in a special public meeting at Sessions House in Maidstone on Monday 14 December at 7pm.

Petitions must be registered here, but can be signed online or on paper. Those signing must be constituents and give their name and address. Petitions must conform to our House Rules..

What Do You Think?

Ann's Blog

MONDAY, 15TH DECEMBER 2009
From the BBC - the end of the experiment

Ann has finished the experiment and has decided not to use her blog any further. She would like to thank all those who read the blog and got involved with the website.

More information on the experiment can be found on the BBC blog -
Read Post (comments 1)

What Should Be Done?

When should British troops be withdrawn from Afghanistan?






Do you support giving the public the power to sack their MP between General Elections if they are dissatisfied with their performance?





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Widdecam

Video Diary

Widdecam 24/11/09
Ann Widdecombe, as part of the People's Politician experiment for the BBC, gives her first diary entry, the afternoon before the launch of the project
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