MP calls on Hull people to unleash 'petition power'

Local people will be able to petition for action on issues such as graffiti, moving dumped cars or cleaning up fly-tipping under new rights proposed by the Labour Government.

As the Government launched its charter for boosting grassroots democracy, Hull North MP Diana Johnson has challenged local people in Hull to take up the new powers and force action from Hull City Council.

Labour's Communities in Control White Paper proposes that local people should be able to decide how the council spends tax-payers' money, how criminals should be punished as part of their 'community payback', how more young people should be involved, and how local groups should own and run assets such as parks and community centres.

There are also proposals on councils acting as community advocates on local NHS issues, direct elections to local police authorities, holding local officials to account in public meetings, introducing more elected mayors where there is local demand and encouraging more people to get involved in local democracy.

Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "Most people in Hull have signed a petition at one time or another. Soon these petitions will have real bite. Hull City Council will have to sit up and take notice of local concerns.

"I want people to tell me what they want fixing locally, and if the council refuse to act, we will work together to launch a petition to demand action. The new petition powers will give our communities real clout."

Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: "In many parts of the country local democracy needs a boost, with low turn out at local elections and people feeling they cannot influence the way some issues are decided in their area. This needs to change.

"That's why the White Paper provides real and practical ways to put communities in control, so that they have a real say, can find out first hand what is being done to improve their local services, and push any issue that they think is of importance up the priority list of their local council.

"The public must not only have the right to ask difficult questions. They should also have the right to demand answers."

Diana Johnson MP will be giving out a new pocket-sized card called What Can I Do? within Hull North in coming weeks. The card sets out how people can have their say, get involved, and demand changes locally.