Public AccountabilityRobert Evans

December 2013

National EuropeanLocal

Level of Political Interest in the United Kingdom

Very interested 9%

Fairly interested 27%

Not very interested 36%

Not at all 28%

35%

25%

24%11%

5% Turn Out25%

May 2013

SurreyCounty Council

1.1 million people340 schoolsLibrariesPoliceFire and RescueSocial Services

Total Budget £1.7 B = $ 2.8 B

House of Commons

650 MPs

5 year term

£700 B spending

Accountability "The Opposition aren't really the opposition.

They are only the Government in exile.

The Civil Service are the opposition in residence. "

can name their own MP

22%

Jim Hacker MP - “yes, Prime Minister”

European Parliament

28 Countries

550 million

766 MEPs

Annual Budget €120 B

Republic of Ireland

91% can’t name their MEP In Dublin.

Survey highlighted a dangerous disconnect between electorate as more than 90% of people could’t name a single MEP in the Dublin region.

Out of 301 people only 9% could name an MEP.

1% could name all three MEPs for the Dublin region.

Winston Churchill

"Democracy is the worst form of government …

… except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

How can we make politics and politiciansmore accountable ?

More frequent elections ? Diferent electoral system ? Recall vote ? Compulsory voting ? More power ? Confidence vote ? Better use of modern media ? Fairer representation … more women

? Lower pay ? Higher pay ?

Public AccountabilityRobert Evans

December 2013