Letter: Petition power

THE ban on bullfighting by the Catalan Parliament highlights the strength of people power in having important issues debated and voted on by parliament.

In Spain the Initial Legislative Popular requires at least 50,000 signatures on a petition to have an issue debated. In the end 180,000 signatures were collected to ban bullfighting.

In the UK, the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition agreement gives residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue and that any petition with 100,000 signatures will be eligible for formal debate in Parliament, with the petition with the most signatures enabling members of the public to table a bill to be voted on in Parliament.

The power of recall is to be introduced, allowing for a by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition signed by 10 per cent of his or her constituents.

While much of this is relevant on a UK level, we should be looking at similar powers to be introduced as a minimum for the Scottish Parliament, engaging the public more effectively in the political process.

ALEX ORR

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh