Manifesto.

After reading the comical manifesto over at Devil's Kitchen it made me wonder for the guy's sanity. Saying that, it is a good idea for blogs to set out their main beliefs, if only so we know where they are coming from. So here are my main principles;

Ideally(and most importantly), we would first do something about the severe inequality between the developed and developing world by working hard for fairer trade rules and eventually free movement of people. But in the meantime with the UK as one of the richest countries in the world, I think the following is reasonable within our borders.

No-one in the UK should be without basic food, housing and energy resources. I believe a universal Citizen's Income of around £150 a week is the most efficient and dignified way of providing this. My logic is that we already end up paying more than this amount through increased crime and through an expensive overcomplicated means-tested benefits system that also acts as a disincentive to work.

It's also clear to me that we need a constitution that clearly defines and protects basic human rights and responsibilities, the principle of subsidiarity (devolving power to the lowest possible level) and protects democratic accountability through a proportional electoral system.

We also need a proper legal framework to protect the freedom of the press. I believe the present laws that govern the broadcast media should be extended to the print media and would reduce the most overt press bias.

And thats about it, once we put these safeguards in to protect democracy, I believe the rest will take care of itself.