By Heather McLean, 7 March 2002 17:10
NEWS The Liberal Democrats are putting proposed policies online to get feedback from voters before adopting them as the formal party line. The Lib Dems are publishing a draft (green) paper for supporters and members of the public which will be online for two months before a formal consultation takes place this summer. After the two month period, Lib Dem MPs will meet and use the feedback from http://www.makeITpolicy.org.uk to shape the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) green paper into a final white paper. Visitors to the site can read proposals and then email their views to the site. Richard Allen MP, spokesman for Lib Dem ICT, said: "Putting this paper up on the net has changed the usual formal consultation on green papers before they are drawn up as white papers from three hours at a conference to two months on the internet." Allen continued: "If you're serious about engaging people in politics and you're a serious political party, you've got to use mediums that people can participate in. The internet means being a lot more open and inclusive." If the pilot consultation is successful, the Lib Dems will propose that the party use the internet to consult with the public on all future policy. Labour has a website but no consultation function for its policies, although a spokesman for the party said: "We will consider all new technological developments."
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