Today, the House of Commons elects its new Speaker. With a short list of ten candidates Parliament hopes that a new Speaker and a summer recess will placate the public's demand for true reform; or better still most people forget the expenses debacle.
Rather than this being an auspicious event, ushering in a new order and a new style of politics, this election signifies a victory for the status quo. The list of candidates offer little in the way of reformers and will be decided by party feuds or allegiances, an old style of politics that has cursed Westminster for a considerable time.
In the opening rounds the Conservative Party will vote to stop John Bercow assuming the role, probably by voting for the ex-Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett. Conversely, the Labour Party will vote for John Bercow to stop Margaret Beckett winning. The person most likely to benefit from this playgroundesque voting will be Sir George Young.
In a time when Parliament is deemed to be out of touch with the disenfranchised electorate, a straight forward debate and election should be held; this needs to be transparent and above party bickering.
For the public to reconnect to Parliament and in particular the politicians that reside within
there must be an honest review of reforms required. Not a sham of a Speaker's election in which the new Speaker will be chosen through party loyalty and personality, rather than commitment to reform and real change.
It is disappointing that Parliament is wasting chance after chance to prove it can understand what the public is demanding.
Hapless Boris Johnson
1 hour ago
Posts
And the result is...
ReplyDeleteBile, Spite and the status quo = 1
Credibility, integrity and reform = 0
Same old, same old...though I do notice that the electoral reform rhetoric is beginning to increase. 'Make my Vote Count' will hold a 'Rally for a Change' on the 9th July in London. The Electoral Reform Society is growing in visibility and etc.
I recall this quote:
'If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.'
Lao Tzu
I suppose I am sometimes frightened to think of what our system's ultimate destination is... and I am now old enough to realise that change is a long time coming...
It is interesting that the calls for electoral reform are growing louder. But sadly, the calls are falling on deaf ears, with MPs now content they have done enough to placate the public, there is little urgency for them to continue using any form of reform rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteBut I am fearful that once this crisis has drifted from people's memory that the Government, which ever brand, will just continue to collect power in the centre. I think the broader debate concerning civil liberties and voter enfranchisement will also wane.
It is necessary for rallies such as 'Make my Vote Count' to increase in frequency to keep these vital issues at the forefront of the public's consciousness.
I am afraid that Lao Tzu's quote is indeed prophetic.
Wasn't it ever thus? A fit of the vapours, smelling salts then a stiff upper lip. Beggars belief just how behind the times - how old-fashioned - this British 'democracy' is. But it is a bit scary this getting older lark - when you see the old-fashions coming back round again...
ReplyDeleteYou are right, and I fear that campaigning for electoral reform will face the same destiny as the old campaigns which used to do the rounds - Written constitution anyone? The well-worn response to campaigners back in the time was 'we are a civilised country with an ingrained sense of fairness and equity'...(eh?)
Anyway, those who are interested in politics are a peculiar minority - strange people! Yes, that's you and me! Give folk a mortgage to worry about and the threat of redundancy - and they'll be too preoccupied to think of much else... except that new kitchen they want... or the Jimmy Choos... or the fab car...
In a 'fun' moment my pal and I invented a new (and we thought, guaranteed successful) political party: the manifesto promise was: to provide a new kitchen and bathroom and home makeover to all... cynical? us?...