Robert Brown - Election needed to restore faith in democracy

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 19th Jun 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has joined calls for an early General Election. Mr. Brown said there was an urgent need for radical changes to national politics to revitalise democracy including the introduction of a proportional election system for Westminster, fixed terms for elections and giving votes to young people at 16.

Robert Brown said:

"Britain has been having an unprecedented financial and economic crisis but at the same time the expenses scandal has meant a loss of trust in the democratic system. People have also lost trust entirely in Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Government.

The only way to change that is a general election where the votes of the people can give a renewed mandate to Government and Parliament.

"We need a Parliament that engages with and reflects the will of the people.

The only way we can truly deliver that is by introducing a proportional representation election system, with members truly accountable to the country in a new open democratic, honest and answerable way.

"People would be a lot happier too if the date of each General Election was predictable and fixed rather than in the hands of a Prime Minister whose authority has vanished and who is hanging on by his fingertips.

"It's clear that we need a radical change and if faith is to be restored in democracy, we need a General Election now."

Ends.