Subj: UK: Deposit rise to end 'fun' at elections



Source: Daily Telegraph, UK



Date: Saturday, November 13 1999



Author: Andrew Sparrow, Political Correspondent



Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance: http://www.lca-uk.org

	Colin Paisley  http://www.paston.co.uk/users/webbooks/colinp.html





DEPOSIT RISE TO END FUN AT ELECTIONS



LABOUR has found a new enemy to fight at the polls.  Under plans being

considered by Jack Straw, frivolity could be banished from British elections.



The Home Secretary is concerned that too many joke candidates are standing

for Parliament and he wants to deter them by substantially increasing the

deposit that they have to pay.



The issue has been highlighted by the forthcoming Kensington and Chelsea

by-election where 17 people, including a topless model, are fighting

Michael Portillo for the seat.



Mr Straw said he wanted to act because "there are occasions, particularly

at parliamentary by-elections, where some candidates may not take the

election process seriously."



But his suggestion has angered those who could be excluded by the new policy.



For the last 14 years, candidates standing for Parliament have had to pay a

500 pounds deposit that is returnable if they win more than 5 per cent of

the vote.  Mr Straw is thinking of raising that to 700 pounds and indexing

the figure so that it rises automatically with inflation.



"This is a diabolical idea.  Democracy would really go out of the window if

this were to happen." said Colin Paisley, who is standing in Kensington and

Chelsea as the Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidate.



"We find that the only way to get any sort of debate on an issue is to

stand in elections.  The main parties have got lots of money, but we have

to rely on a pound here and a pound there from our supporters and it would

make it very difficult if the deposit went up."



The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, which is probably Mr Straw's main

target, also hit back.



Alan Hope, who succeeded the late Screaming Lord Sutch as leader this year

and who is another Kensington and Chelsea hopeful, said: "It is unfair to

pick on us for being frivolous.  At the last by-election in Eddisbury, we

beat the Pro-European Conservatives."



Mr Straw's plans were disclosed this week in a response to a report from

the Commons home affairs committee recommending an increase in the deposit.



The MPs said: "We do not believe the political process is enhanced or

democracy well served by a proliferation of candidates who are standing

purely for the sake of personal publicity..."