Referendums within Localism Bill should be binding

Goldsmith supports handing more power to communites

14 November 2011

During a debate in the House of Commons on the Localism Bill, Zac Goldsmith, Conservative MP for Richmond Park, aired his disagreement with the localism bill's provisions for Local Referendums. Mr Goldsmith noted that the bill does not go far engough, believing instead that results of referendums should be binding so that councils would not be able to ignore the result. During the debate Mr Goldsmith noted the example of two Councils how are in the process of building waste facilities, despite local opposition. The MP made the point: '...a large percentage of the population turned out to vote and the vast majority of those made their opinion known and were ignored. Whether we agree with that decision is academic. The fact is that people had their say and were ignored.'

Groups:

Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group

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