A campaigner has called the new proposals by the Coalition Government to allow the general public to petition the Government in a way that has an effect, a success for democracy. The Conservative-Lib Dem coalition has proposals to allow the general public to petition for debates to take place in the House of Commons. In order for the debate to take place the petition would need 10,000 signatures.
Irfan Ahmed who is a political campaigner of many years believes this is one of the only points of the Conservative manifesto he agrees with. Commenting on the announcement of the petition proposals, Irfan Ahmed said:
"The Conservative manifesto didn't have anything really useful in it apart from this proposal.
"I ask the people who don't believe this is a good idea to go back to the drawing board and to think these proposals through. The taxpayer pays the wages for MPs, they should also be allowed to petition what is debated by MPs and that's why I agree this is an excellent idea."