We support the system of constitutional monarchy and believe that the person who succeeds by law to be our monarch should occupy the position of Head of State of the United Kingdom. The monarch must, of course, be capable of resisting attempts by party politicians to use the monarchy for its own purposes.
We believe in Parliamentary Democracy and in Cabinet Government responsible to the United Kingdom Parliament. The Head of Government would, of course, continue to be the Prime Minister. However, we believe in the use of a referendum to consider every question of major national importance.
Democracy is too delicate a flower to be left to the free market. Parties must not be capable of being bought and sold to the highest or most powerful bidder. Indeed, they must be free from those who support financially all parties but the unfavoured ones.
Corporate donations from companies, trade unions and pressure groups must be prohibited. Individual donations must be limited in size and frequency.
Unlike the other parties, we believe in freedom of expression for all, for our opponents as well as our friends. This freedom of expression must be guaranteed by law. The only exceptions in the political sphere should be advocacy of violence, breach of official secrets legislation and civil remedies for defamation.
We believe in freedom of the press and broadcasting media. However, that freedom must not be a freedom to lie, defame and support the media’s friends. There must be prohibitions on the press acting as an election sponsor that is exempt from limits on electoral expenditure. There must be affordable and effective means of challenging untruths, especially during an election campaign. There must be a statutory right of reply.
Freedom of the press and broadcasting media is not enough. There must be freedom of access to the press and broadcasting media for all parties – particularly at election time. In particular, there must be a statutory right of reply to allegations and slurs in the press and broadcasting media.
Local government boundaries must reflect local identifications and loyalties.