TIME TO STOP PUTTING DEMOCRACY UP FOR SALE - GIDLEY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jul 2008

Local MP, Sandra Gidley has welcomed the report by the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, recommending that the practice of selling names and personal details from the electoral register be stopped as soon as possible.

Speaking today from Westminster, Sandra said:

"This is a Government which has seemed to specialise in fairly dodgy relationships with big business. So Labour's decision in 2002 to legislate for the sale of electoral registers - presumably as a favour to their friends in the direct marketing industry - simply alienated people from politics even more.

"I know that voters can tick a box to say that they do not give permission for their details to be sold in that way - but not everyone sees the box and the whole approach just devalues democracy by putting a price tag on voter registration.

"What message does it send that you register to vote in return for the right to receive double-glazing circulars?" Sandra asked.

"The Government will have to pass new legislation admitting it was wrong - and typically it has so far ducked a full response to the Information Commissioner. This is a grubby approach to democracy which does nothing to encourage people to register to vote, or to exercise their democratic rights."

ENDS