Nick Clegg sets our radical plans for political reform

9.01.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th May 2010

Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announces the biggest shake up of British democracy since the Great Reform Act of 1832. Speaking at a college in north London Nick said, "I have spent my whole political life fighting to open up politics. So let me make one thing very clear: this government is going to be unlike any other.

"This government is going to break up concentrations of power and hand power back to people, because that is how we build a society that is fair"

The plan - based around one of the four key planks of the Liberal Democrat Manifesto at the recent general election involves a fundamental resettlement of the relationship between state and citizen that puts people, not Whitehall, in charge.

Step one - repeal all of the intrusive and unnecessary laws that inhibit people's freedom. Scrapping ID cards, halt the second generation of biometric passports, radically reform the DNA database, end the ContactPoint children's database and stop the fingerprinting of children without parent's permission.

Step two - reform our politics so it is open, transparent and decent. Introduce an elected House of Lords, fixed termed parliaments and strengthening parliament so it can hold the executive to account. We will give voters the power to recall corrupt MPs, introduce a register of lobbyists and a cap on donations to political parties. And most importantly we will give people a chance to vote in a referendum on our outdated and undemocratic electoral system.

Step three - we will radically move power away from the centre, strengthen local democracy and empower local people. We will implement the Calman Commission proposals for more powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Local Liberal Democrat spokesperson Fred Mackintosh said, "Liberal Democrats in government are already delivering our manifesto commitments and opening up our political system and empowering citizens. That is what we have fought for over many years, and that is what we are now able to do."