Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament

The Take Back Parliament protest in London today demanded “Fair Votes Now” as around 1,000 people marched from Parliament Square to the scene of the Liberal Democrat federal executive committee meeting in Smith Square.

Over 30,000 people have now signed the online petition which says:

“This Parliament does not represent us. We demand fair votes now. There must never again be an election under this broken system.”

Last night, 38 Degrees, the people pwered campaigning movement, coordinated 150,000 emails to Lib Dem MPs and grandees in four hours demanding “no PR, no deal”.

Watch my video of the protest (I’m no film editor so apologies for the very rough cut):

http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/13623155117 House Of Twits

RT @leftfootfwd VIDEO: Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament http://bit.ly/9739Of #takeitback
http://twitter.com/veganpanda/status/13623507585 Vegan Panda

RT @leftfootfwd: VIDEO: Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament http://bit.ly/9739Of #takeitback
http://twitter.com/maximmanchester/status/13624297415 Max

RT @HouseOfTwitsLab: RT @leftfootfwd VIDEO: Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament http://bit.ly/9739Of #takeitback
http://twitter.com/exegesisworks/status/13624794521 Malcolm Parker

RT @leftfootfwd: Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament http://bit.ly/9739Of
http://twitter.com/houseoftwitslab/status/13623154518 HouseOfTwitsLab

RT @leftfootfwd VIDEO: Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament http://bit.ly/9739Of #takeitback
veganpanda

Nick Clegg actually came out & spoke to us, I know he’ll do what’s right & fair for the voters of this country
http://G_D_Graphics01 Labour Forever

Good Luck Gordon Brown! I hope everyone sees sense… I haven’t forgotten Margret Thatcher..especially the job cuts and the poll tax
http://www.takebackparliament.com Andy

Thanks for coming and thanks for promoting the rally Will. Lets keep up the pressure!

Andy, Power2010
Mister Jabberwock

The problem is that Brown can’t offer a referendum on PR and Cameron won’t (Brown can offer a bill on it but doesn’t have the votes to get it onto the statute book)
http://twitter.com/davidward81/status/13634648298 David Ward

RT @leftfootfwd: VIDEO: Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament http://bit.ly/9739Of #takeitback
http://bestblogs.labourhome.org/2010/05/08/fair-votes-now-protest-in-parliament/ Fair Votes Now protest in Parliament « The best Labour blogs

[...] More… [...]
MariaE

While I believe in voting reform and more proportionality, I think the one clear message from these results is that to keep strong democratic accountability, any reform needs to keep a strong constituency link.
Mike

The Liberals will be slaughted at the next election

The tories will want a honeymoon period then election in October or spring next year

and the Liberals cannot stop them calling it

worst one night stand ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEssa_EdWaM Jim Killock

Here’s our effort … incl interview with Billy Bragg and full Nick Clegg speech … had to sideline Sky to get to the right spot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEssa_EdWaM
http://www.amin.org.uk right foot

It’s embarassing to think that we went out to Iraq and Afganistan to give the democracy yet we can’t afford our own a decent democracy in our own country! Shame on all politicians of all parties!
http://twitter.com/new_turn/status/13694389893 New Turn

Electoral reform protest is covered by @leftfootfwd – protest outside Parliament: http://bit.ly/9739Of
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/05/pressure-mounts-on-clegg-not-to-sell-out-over-electoral-reform/ Pressure mounts on Clegg not to “sell out” over electoral reform | Left Foot Forward

[...] days telling them not to give up on getting a proportional system. Several hundred took part in demonstrations over the weekend with the same [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/05/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-14-05-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

[...] The “fair votes now” protesters in parliament at the weekend, who descended on Liberal Democrat talks in Westminster, with a 30,000-signature petition which said: “This Parliament does not represent us. We demand fair votes now. There must never again be an election under this broken system.” Up to 150,000 emailed the Lib Dems demanding “no PR, no deal”. Left Foot Forward was there to cover the action. [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/07/the-referendum-battle-starts-now/ The referendum battle starts now | Left Foot Forward

[...] is a lot to do. Take Back Parliament, the coalition which organised the purple protests is now mobilising. Winning this referendum could finally open the door to a fairer and more open [...]