Jury Team Launches General Election Advertising Campaign

March 2010 -- The Jury Team is launching its United Kingdom general election campaign this weekend with groundbreaking advertisements inviting the general public to “Become an MP”.

As part of its commitment to opening up democracy, people are invited to go to the Jury Team website, www.juryteam.org, to register their details to become a candidate in any of the 650 constituencies that will be contested in the forthcoming UK general election.

Sir Paul Judge, founder of the Jury Team, said: ‘The British people are fed up with their politicians. Each of the main traditional parties has had ample opportunity to set out what it stands for in the next five years. They have failed to do this. We will now turn the tables and give the British people a real opportunity to influence the laws that are passed. Our Proposals are all supported by an overwhelming percentage of the electorate. We will pass the necessary legislation and then ask the people to confirm the laws in an authorising referendum.’

The Jury Team Proposals include having a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU, setting up an English Parliament, reducing the number of MPs by a third, changing Commons elections to proportional representation, limiting government borrowing to 10% of expenditure, protecting bank customer deposits from casino banking, limiting UK troops in Afghanistan to the NATO average, requiring private medical insurance for non-EU visa holders and limiting benefits to 80% of the after tax minimum wage.

The advertisements show a warped picture of the Houses of Parliament, the Commons Chamber or the famous front door of No. 10 Downing Street to represent how the country's political processes have become perverted by the effect of dominant parties. After listing the Jury Team’s Proposals, the advertisements say:

‘Go to www.juryteam.org to see details of these Proposals and how much the electorate support them. We will give back to people their pride in this country and its institutions. They will become the ultimate jury.

If you like the idea of the people having the right to vote on the Proposals, become a candidate for the Jury Team. Sign up on the website.

We are now inviting principled and independent people to become candidates to be MPs. We will help good candidates to get elected. When elected you will vote for the Jury Team's Proposals but on the basis that these will not become binding until agreed by an authorising referendum. You will otherwise be free to use your best judgment in voting on behalf of the country and your constituents. No party whips.’

The advertisements will appear from this Saturday in The Economist, The Spectator, The New Statesman and five national Sunday newspapers with a circulation of over 5 million.

Sir Paul added: ‘If you are not happy with the current political parties and their politicians, now is the time to stand up and be counted. Step forward and make a difference or stop complaining.’