Firstly, what a fine (but uncredited) illustration heads the article.
Secondly, you've made some important historic points, Cathy, I just hope that the detestable Trump's influence does not become even more pervasive and so extinguish the Burnham glimmer that we are currently experiencing.
I have long felt that the U.K. is a truly broken country where all the energy of successive governments is spent or misspent in fire-fighting the fallout from its many failing public services or resolving the endless scandals around internal party politics. The sheer lunacy of UK’s decision to withdraw its membership of the EU is now all too plain to see as the country struggles to give impetus to its economy and unemployment starts to rise. Where are the individuals in politics who not only have a long term vision for the country but also have the ability to articulate said vision to a public that desperately needs at least some level of certainty for the country’s long term future?! Its real problems however are not just confined to the discussion on the calibre of the politicians but in my view are to be found in the very fabric of its shaky democracy.
A rigged electoral system, vainglorious parliamentary practices and procedures, a second house that progressively loses relevance as it fills up with political appointees of dubious repute, a convoluted constitution muddied in the mists of centuries past and a head of state who leads a family mired in scandal most of whom continue to exist in a bubble of obscene wealth and privilege - all mean that the U.K. is a democracy in name only.
I actively support the growing cross-party lobby in parliament that is pushing currently for electoral reform as I truly believe that this is where a much needed radical shift in British politics and overall governance begins. Coalition government is not a magic bullet to heal a deeply wounded society but at the very least it is intrinsically more democratic than the farcical two party model the country operates today. I would like to see a future government extend the reform to embrace the idea of a written constitution which the man in the street can understand and perhaps even swear allegiance to, an abolition of the monarchy in favour of an elected head of state and an elected second house. My wish list for the country would also include an examination of parliamentary practice and infrastructure with a view to mothballing the Houses of Parliament and replacing it (using the 60 billion quoted for reparations to said relic) with the construction of debating chambers fit for the 21st century - not necessarily based in London!
Hear hear to your last sentence especially! Keep the current HoP
as a world heritage site with its rituals for the tourists, but build a new place (how about a competition for architects to xraw up a beautiful new design, family- friendly, with electronic voting, etc ) in our second city, Brum!
Yes why not in Brum - but if the final decision was that the HoP should remain in London then I would recommend it’s construction on the site of the architectural monstrosity that is Buckingham Palace given that Mr Windsor Snr (he is no king of mine) has decided he has no further use for it 🤨
As a U.S. citizen I really hope that our mistakes can at least serve as a warning to others. Our worst mistake was remaining complacent by believing it couldn't happen to us.
Aided by this belief in the political establishment that the post of President is sacrosanct. To remove a President from office for corruption or ill health would be to admit that the President - the role over the man - can be fallible. After Watergate, Nixon resigned and faced charges - Ford pardoned him. Not for just altruistic reasons I'm sure - but to preserve the Presidential image. Trump (and his allies) blatantly abuse the office of President and he behaves more like an absolute monarch than a democratically elected head of state. Which is ironic considering 250 years ago American declared itself independent from Britain due to the "tyrant" King George III. Even in the UK our monarch has no real power, we have a constitutional monarchy. But no wonder the likes of Nigel Farage look at what Trump is doing and seek total power for themselves.
Thank you for pointing out the risks. I add the one that politicians cannot be trusted to deal with them without pursuing their own party's advantage, and probably looking at the short term not the long.
So we must commission a band of non-politicians to draft a constitution, of course first dealing with the problem of who appoints those unimpeachables on what criteria.
Getting consensus on that - forcing today's politicians to reach real agreement, not to 'score a victory' on the other side - is the first task.
Well, he's said that's what he's doing and other party leaders (not Farage because Reform weren't asked) have confirmed it. You have to take it on trust.
Ensuring safeguards to our democracy are in place is indeed an urgent issue as 2029 is but a short time away. Perhaps the priority for this parliament should be introducing proportional representation to minimise the chance of a government being elected of whatever hue with a small proportion of the total vote. Under a PR system, parties will be forced to work together and a constitution which works for the majority is more likely to be achieved rather than a focus on short term party interests. I believe our current PM is a supporter of PR.
Your very sound warnings should indeed be heeded. A constitution is needed and it must be written before the probability of its authors being corrupt gets any closer.
a footnote:
Before giving your blessing to devolved governance, take a good, close look at persistently bankrupt Croydon and the performance of its spendthrift council under its twice elected, overpaid, part-time mayor; it's not a pretty sight.
Forgive me but I cannot understand if the writer thinks a written constitution is good, bad or indifferent. Surely written or unwritten is irrelevant as it’s the robustness that matters?
After WW2, a whole generation in Germany grew up asking their parents "How could you let it happen?" One of the main answers then was indeed "We didn't believe it could happen here." Other observations were "By the time we realised, it was too late. The thugs had the guns." "Patriotism. We were told - and believed - we were under attack. We had to do our duty." "I either fought or my family would be ostracised, attacked, imprisoned or worse." We see the beginnings of all these features in Britain today - and alas in many other places. When Trump pardoned the Jan 6th rioters he crossed an important line .... And the thugs' guns were duly legitimised. In government the far right would, I have no doubt, arm the current vigilante thugs to "maintain law and order". Worth reflecting on the parallel techniques for manipulating the public. 1. Tell them they are special because of a geographical accident of birth. 2. Tell them they are under attack from an "enemy within" and 3. Look back reverentially with an idealised view of a largely mythologised empire.
Firstly, what a fine (but uncredited) illustration heads the article.
Secondly, you've made some important historic points, Cathy, I just hope that the detestable Trump's influence does not become even more pervasive and so extinguish the Burnham glimmer that we are currently experiencing.
I have long felt that the U.K. is a truly broken country where all the energy of successive governments is spent or misspent in fire-fighting the fallout from its many failing public services or resolving the endless scandals around internal party politics. The sheer lunacy of UK’s decision to withdraw its membership of the EU is now all too plain to see as the country struggles to give impetus to its economy and unemployment starts to rise. Where are the individuals in politics who not only have a long term vision for the country but also have the ability to articulate said vision to a public that desperately needs at least some level of certainty for the country’s long term future?! Its real problems however are not just confined to the discussion on the calibre of the politicians but in my view are to be found in the very fabric of its shaky democracy.
A rigged electoral system, vainglorious parliamentary practices and procedures, a second house that progressively loses relevance as it fills up with political appointees of dubious repute, a convoluted constitution muddied in the mists of centuries past and a head of state who leads a family mired in scandal most of whom continue to exist in a bubble of obscene wealth and privilege - all mean that the U.K. is a democracy in name only.
I actively support the growing cross-party lobby in parliament that is pushing currently for electoral reform as I truly believe that this is where a much needed radical shift in British politics and overall governance begins. Coalition government is not a magic bullet to heal a deeply wounded society but at the very least it is intrinsically more democratic than the farcical two party model the country operates today. I would like to see a future government extend the reform to embrace the idea of a written constitution which the man in the street can understand and perhaps even swear allegiance to, an abolition of the monarchy in favour of an elected head of state and an elected second house. My wish list for the country would also include an examination of parliamentary practice and infrastructure with a view to mothballing the Houses of Parliament and replacing it (using the 60 billion quoted for reparations to said relic) with the construction of debating chambers fit for the 21st century - not necessarily based in London!
Hear hear to your last sentence especially! Keep the current HoP
as a world heritage site with its rituals for the tourists, but build a new place (how about a competition for architects to xraw up a beautiful new design, family- friendly, with electronic voting, etc ) in our second city, Brum!
Yes why not in Brum - but if the final decision was that the HoP should remain in London then I would recommend it’s construction on the site of the architectural monstrosity that is Buckingham Palace given that Mr Windsor Snr (he is no king of mine) has decided he has no further use for it 🤨
As a U.S. citizen I really hope that our mistakes can at least serve as a warning to others. Our worst mistake was remaining complacent by believing it couldn't happen to us.
Aided by this belief in the political establishment that the post of President is sacrosanct. To remove a President from office for corruption or ill health would be to admit that the President - the role over the man - can be fallible. After Watergate, Nixon resigned and faced charges - Ford pardoned him. Not for just altruistic reasons I'm sure - but to preserve the Presidential image. Trump (and his allies) blatantly abuse the office of President and he behaves more like an absolute monarch than a democratically elected head of state. Which is ironic considering 250 years ago American declared itself independent from Britain due to the "tyrant" King George III. Even in the UK our monarch has no real power, we have a constitutional monarchy. But no wonder the likes of Nigel Farage look at what Trump is doing and seek total power for themselves.
Thank you for pointing out the risks. I add the one that politicians cannot be trusted to deal with them without pursuing their own party's advantage, and probably looking at the short term not the long.
So we must commission a band of non-politicians to draft a constitution, of course first dealing with the problem of who appoints those unimpeachables on what criteria.
Getting consensus on that - forcing today's politicians to reach real agreement, not to 'score a victory' on the other side - is the first task.
JM
And that is something that Andy Burnham is already trying to achieve: Concensus.
What, please, is the evidence for Burnham trying to achieve consensus with other parties on a suitable processs for planning electoral reform? JM
Well, he's said that's what he's doing and other party leaders (not Farage because Reform weren't asked) have confirmed it. You have to take it on trust.
Ensuring safeguards to our democracy are in place is indeed an urgent issue as 2029 is but a short time away. Perhaps the priority for this parliament should be introducing proportional representation to minimise the chance of a government being elected of whatever hue with a small proportion of the total vote. Under a PR system, parties will be forced to work together and a constitution which works for the majority is more likely to be achieved rather than a focus on short term party interests. I believe our current PM is a supporter of PR.
Your very sound warnings should indeed be heeded. A constitution is needed and it must be written before the probability of its authors being corrupt gets any closer.
a footnote:
Before giving your blessing to devolved governance, take a good, close look at persistently bankrupt Croydon and the performance of its spendthrift council under its twice elected, overpaid, part-time mayor; it's not a pretty sight.
Scary times!
Forgive me but I cannot understand if the writer thinks a written constitution is good, bad or indifferent. Surely written or unwritten is irrelevant as it’s the robustness that matters?
Very interesting and well written piece. Thank you.
After WW2, a whole generation in Germany grew up asking their parents "How could you let it happen?" One of the main answers then was indeed "We didn't believe it could happen here." Other observations were "By the time we realised, it was too late. The thugs had the guns." "Patriotism. We were told - and believed - we were under attack. We had to do our duty." "I either fought or my family would be ostracised, attacked, imprisoned or worse." We see the beginnings of all these features in Britain today - and alas in many other places. When Trump pardoned the Jan 6th rioters he crossed an important line .... And the thugs' guns were duly legitimised. In government the far right would, I have no doubt, arm the current vigilante thugs to "maintain law and order". Worth reflecting on the parallel techniques for manipulating the public. 1. Tell them they are special because of a geographical accident of birth. 2. Tell them they are under attack from an "enemy within" and 3. Look back reverentially with an idealised view of a largely mythologised empire.
A