January 8, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 23, 1422

LONDON: Britain will become the first country in the world to use the internet for voting, as part of radical changes to the political system, Robin Cook, the leader of the Commons, has disclosed. In an interview Guardian, Cook is scathing about the culture of parliament, describing its procedures as antique, ludicrous, Dickensian and as ritualised as 18th century duelling.

Cook intends to “enfranchise” those who want to vote online as a way of drawing back under-40s to the democratic process. Pilot schemes for local elections begin in the spring, with a chance that voting by internet could be in place for the next general election, which will be not later than 2006, although Cook admits that.

Among his other plans is the use of the web for instant, daily feedback to parliament on policy choices before MPs. He also confirms his determination to press ahead with increased powers and greater independence for select committees, despite the worries of Whitehall officials, the speaker, Michael Martin, and some fellow cabinet ministers.

Although Cook has spoken before of his disquiet about parliamentary culture in the modern age, leading to a package of reform proposals unveiled in December, neither he nor any other serving cabinet minister has gone as far in public before. He will not have calmed uneasy MPs by warning them that they “often appear long-winded” and must consider shorter, more relevant debates and shorter speeches.

“The way we treat the public is deplorable. Anybody watching the public being herded around the House of Commons would not come to the conclusion that these are the people who pay for us, that these are the people who elected us,” he says. Some Labour dissidents look to Cook as a supporter since his removal as foreign secretary last June —Dawn/The Guardian News Service.