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Clegg asks British people: “What is freedom to you?”

CAB 116-10 
1 July 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will today issue a call to arms against pointless regulation and unnecessary bureaucracy, asking the public how they want the Government to redress the balance between the citizen and the state.

The Your Freedom website at www.hmg.gov.uk/yourfreedom [External website] is an opportunity for anyone to suggest ideas on restoring liberties that have been lost, repealing unnecessary laws and stripping away excessive regulation on businesses.

Speaking at the launch of Your Freedom in east London, Mr Clegg will say:

“What I find especially exciting about this project is that, now we have got the ball rolling, the debate is totally out of government’s control. Real democracy is unspun -it is the raucous, unscripted debates that always throw up the best ideas. 

“So be demanding about your liberty, be insistent about your rights. This is about your freedom, and this is your chance to have your say.”

Your Freedom asks the public to consider three questions:

• Restoring civil liberties: which current laws would you like to remove or change because they restrict your civil liberties?
• Cutting business and charity regulations: which regulations do you think should be removed or changed to make running your business or organisation as simple as possible?
• Repealing unnecessary laws: which offences do you think we should remove or change and why?

Once ideas have been submitted, users of the site will be able to comment and rate their favourite ideas. Relevant departments will respond to the most popular workable ideas, and the Deputy Prime Minister will give regular updates.

The aim is that the Government will roll back the unnecessary regulation that really matters to people. There will be a Freedom Bill in the autumn that will take into account the views expressed on Your Freedom, and departments will consider every suggestion.

Notes to Editors

1. Anyone who doesn’t know how to use the internet but would like to be involved in the consultation, call 0800 77 1234 to find your nearest UK online centre. UK online centres are a network of free computer centres across England that offer people help and support to access and use computers and the internet.
2. After the launch, Nick Clegg’s speech will be available on the DPM YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/deputyprimeminister
3. Contribute to online conversations on Twitter and elsewhere about the website using the hashtag #yourfreedom

ENDS

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