Democracy is in peril. On the 30th January MPs will debate a private member’s bill (under the ten minute rule) to introduce PR for general & local elections. I’ve seen little in the media about it so I urge you to write to your MP and ask them to attend the debate & support the bill in line with the wishes of over 80% of labour members & the majority of uk voters.
For years politician’s and experts have decried low voter engagement & warned our democracy is coming under attack and yet I’ve never seen any moves to strengthen it. Electoral reform would be the perfect way to re-energise the population in a new voting system that gives them a voice. I’m nearing 60 years old and despite voting at every general & local election my vote has only counted once. It is no wonder engagement is low.
Labour ran an election based on change but so far the list of policies looks much like the Conservatives but without the lunatic fringe & with slightly less corruption (fingers crossed everyone)
Real change would be returning the sovereignty of Parliament to the people. No electoral system is ever going to be perfect but our current two party representative system looks like a bug-filled beta version designed to lock in the rule of the aristocracy, a class just as greedy as the corporate entities currently successfully undermining democratic rule.
Why can’t we commission a couple of our world class universities and a citizens assembly to formulate the best version of democracy to date? Why can’t we build a new collaborative Parliament complex in the middle of the country near HS2, with adequate accomodation for MPs to use when sitting in Parliament. Why can’t we have a written constitution in modern language defining the contract between Parliament & the Electorate, the responsibilities of both MPs & all citizens?
As a race we’ve rendezvoused with comets, dived to the bottom of the ocean, looked back in time 13 billion years, visited other worlds whilst knowingly destroying our own, but somehow it’s impossible to create a fair & democratic system that treats everyone as equals?
Why can’t we turn Westminster into a museum instead of spending billions to attempt to upgrade it for a Parliamentary system well past its use by date.
They work for you make it easy to find and contact your MP. For lot’s more information follow the links below.
