the petition to move Parliament to Bradford
With Members of Parliament and Government Ministers based in a small corner of England's South East known as London, the distance 
between government decision making and the people on ground is ever more apparent.
So what do we do about it?
Other than historical precedent, there is no reason why Parliament has to be in London. Parliament is not, after all, a building: it is British democracy - and where better to place it than in the heart of the country: 
Bradford.
In addition to being a convenient location for most Members of Parliament, Bradford is a hard-working city with many great attractions, such as The National Media Museum, Bradford Industrial Museum, Cartwright Hall and Lister Park (shown right).
It's a thriving city with a great future, thanks to a regeneration programme that will see the City Centre and the surrounding urban areas transformed, with a new shopping centre, new homes, new offices, and a new canal.
Moving Parliament to Bradford would also help Government decision makers understand some of the issues that affect the city's residents - from the way in which local decisions are overruled or prevented by a target-driven national bureaucracy, and the fact that Bradford residents, along with most of Yorkshire, still have a shorter life expectancy than the south east - with a high incidence of health problems such as heart failure and diabetes. Infant mortality remains almost double the national average - something that Bradford's world-leading Born in Bradford health research programme may help address.
Bradford is a great place to visit - in addition to city attractions such as the National Media Museum, Lister Park (just voted the best park in Britain), and the Bradford Industrial Museum. Bradford District is not really urban, but 60% rural - thanks to the popular valleys of Airedale, Wharfedale and the Worth Valley. Visit Haworth, the home of the Bronte sisters, the much renowned Ilkley Moor, or the model village and World Heritage Site of Saltaire (pictured).
Of course, if Parliament moved north, Members and Civil Servants alike would be pleased to know that Bradford can be an excellent place to live, with many city workers attracted to towns and villages such as Ilkley, Burley, Menston, Baildon and Bingley. Keighley also offers a wide range of accommodation, as does the city itself - from new 'city living' apartments through to social housing, which is improving rapidly thanks to investment by Bradford Community Housing Trust.
And for those gaps between meetings and those days off when Members of Parliament won't be traveling home to their constituencies, they will be able to visit one of the districts 36 parks and over 100 recreation grounds, visit a local library, cinema, or leisure centre - or go out for a meal in a local restaurant, or experience some of the many excellent productions at the Alhambra Theatre.