Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Fighting for a fair democracy in Britain
A CATALOGUE OF GOVERNMENT FAILURE
Speaking of the barrage of attacks on the Labour government in the media, Lib Dem Cllr.John Beanse said: “The media have turned the spotlight of late on several failings of the Labour government.
However, there is one vital issue that has received little or no attention – our inadequate democracy. The government’s record is a sorry catalogue of unfulfilled promises:
Ø In 1996, Tony Blair said: there should be “the chance for the people to decide after the election by which system they elect the government of the future”.
Ø In 1997, the Labour party election manifesto said: “We are committed to a referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons.” An Independent Commission under Lord Jenkins was set up, but its recommendations were ignored.
Ø In 2001, the Labour manifesto said: “We will review the experience of the new systems and the Jenkins Report to assess whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons” - and again promised a referendum. Still no referendum.
Ø In 2005, the same commitment was repeated.
Ø This year (2007), the "Governance of Britain Green Paper" stated: “In line with the government’s manifesto, it is carrying out a review of the experience of the new voting systems established since 1997 - - -” This review was supposed to be completed by the end of 2007.
Here we are at the end of the year and still we have nothing. The Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Government to account on this vital issue.”
Cllr. John Beanse added: “ We desperately need to bring our democracy into the 21st century. We need a fair voting system where all votes count equally and the balance of public opinion is reflected accurately in the Commons. The reality is that, counting in those who did not vote at all in the last General Election, the present government had the support of only about 22% of the British people in 2005. This is a mockery of the word “democracy.” ”
However, there is one vital issue that has received little or no attention – our inadequate democracy. The government’s record is a sorry catalogue of unfulfilled promises:
Ø In 1996, Tony Blair said: there should be “the chance for the people to decide after the election by which system they elect the government of the future”.
Ø In 1997, the Labour party election manifesto said: “We are committed to a referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons.” An Independent Commission under Lord Jenkins was set up, but its recommendations were ignored.
Ø In 2001, the Labour manifesto said: “We will review the experience of the new systems and the Jenkins Report to assess whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons” - and again promised a referendum. Still no referendum.
Ø In 2005, the same commitment was repeated.
Ø This year (2007), the "Governance of Britain Green Paper" stated: “In line with the government’s manifesto, it is carrying out a review of the experience of the new voting systems established since 1997 - - -” This review was supposed to be completed by the end of 2007.
Here we are at the end of the year and still we have nothing. The Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Government to account on this vital issue.”
Cllr. John Beanse added: “ We desperately need to bring our democracy into the 21st century. We need a fair voting system where all votes count equally and the balance of public opinion is reflected accurately in the Commons. The reality is that, counting in those who did not vote at all in the last General Election, the present government had the support of only about 22% of the British people in 2005. This is a mockery of the word “democracy.” ”
# posted by John Beanse @ 8:17 AM 
