The national Liberal Party has accused the coalition Government, supported by Labour, of ‘rigging’ the London Mayoral and Assembly elections – less than two months away – by only allowing very rich people or organisations to stand; ordinary Londoners will be excluded.
The deposit for Mayoral candidates has gone up from £500 to a colossal £10,000 whilst the combined deposit for putting up 25 candidates for the London Assembly is now an eye-wateringly massive £69,000
Liberal Party National Executive Secretary, Sir Henry Boyle, said:
“This huge combined total of £79,000 effectively means that only big Parties can buy their way in to the election, whilst smaller groups and ordinary London citizens are barred. So much for Democracy. It stinks.
The big Parties are constantly bleating that they want to encourage more people to get involved in local democracy and join in the ‘democratic process’. But only if you’re a Party hack or have a fat bank balance, it seems!
I say candidates should have to collect more nomination signatures from voters to qualify to stand, not simply be rich enough to buy their way on to the ballot paper.”
