Rescuing
Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship
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You will
notice that, since New Labour came to power, not a single
leading Cabinet member or party 'heavy hitter' has appeared
on the programme (BBC's Question Time). Spin, not face-to-face
confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen
method of communication. Ordinary
people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question
which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member
might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like
us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she
might tell the truth.
Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September
16, 2004
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'5p tax
rise' to pay for public pensions
by
Jane Merrick - Political Reporter - Daily Mail, September 18,
2004
Taxes
could increase by up to 5p in the pound to fund a massive black
hole in providing the pensions of public sector workers. Experts
believe there is a shortfall of £580billion needed to pay
for the generous pension promises made to four million teachers,
nurses and civil servants.
The
deficit is higher than the national debt and is equivalent to
£10,000 for every person in Britain. Chancellor Gordon Brown
would have to raise taxes or cut public spending to plug the hole,
analysts said yesterday. There would have to be an increase of
5p on income tax to raise the £17billion a year needed just
to stop the £580billion deficit getting larger. If the Government
wanted to pay the deficit off, taxes would have to rise even further.
The
figure was calculated by actuarial consultants Watson Wyatt and
reported in respected Economist magazine. It could be even higher
because it does not account for the creation of more public sector
jobs.
Two
years ago the Government estimated the deficit at £380billion.
But analysts said it had been too optimistic in its calculations.
Public sector pension schemes cover the armed forces, police and
fire-fighters, as well as the NHS, teachers and civil servants.
Analysts believe that if the pensions liabilities were included
on the balance sheet, Government debt would soar from 33% of GDP
to 85%.
The
schemes still work on the final salary basis, which many private
company schemes have abandoned, and pensions are index-linked
to inflation. Conservative pensions spokesman, David Willets said:
"It's not just that our company pensions are in crisis. Taxpayers
also face an enormous bill for public sector pensions. What makes
this worse is that the Treasury is not being open about these
costs. Everyone else understands the problem but once again Gordon
Brown is in denial."
One
way to reduce the liability would be to raise the retirement ages
for public sector workers. Firemen can take their pension at 50,
while police officers usually retire by 55. The Government has
suggested raising it to 65 for all new recruits to the public
service, but this has met strong resistance from unions.
The
Treasury dismissed the £580billion figure. A spokesman said:
"The Government's calculations are based on long-term liabilities
in investment markets, as agreed with the independent, expert
Financial Reporting Advisory Board, whereas the Watson Wyatt calculations
endorsed by The Economist are for some reason based on long-term
liabilities in the nuclear industry.
For
the health of our democracy, we, the people of the United Kingdom,
must find a way to force Mr Blair to resign
Such
defiance of the democratic process and the will of the majority
of we people of the UK, must be exposed by voters as a matter
or urgency, and not just in the two by-elections we have had this
July and the European elections in June 2004. But how can this
be done?
The
most effective way of getting our deceitful PM to resign would
be to mobilise the army of Labour MPs currently in the House of
Commons and get them to demand it, the loss of their seat to be
a penalty if they did not. All voters in Labour-held constituencies
need to write a letter along these lines to their local Labour
MPs:
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Dear
Despite
his absolute and unequivocal assurances over the past year
of the serious risk to our security of Saddam Hussein's
'weapons of mass destruction', Prime Minister Blair
has admitted, that the threat was non-existent. For that
critical error of judgement and for his gross incompetence
in handling this very important issue, I ask you to take
immediate steps to ensure that Tony Blair does the honourable
thing and resign without delay..
I
would therefore be much obliged if you would propose and
help mobilise a Parliamentary vote of 'No Confidence' in
Mr Blair which, despite Labour's huge majority, would leave
the PM with no option but to resign.
If
I get no reply to this letter, I shall assume you will continue
to support Mr Blair as our Prime Minister. In such circumstances
I shall not vote for you in the forthcoming General Election.
Signed:
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Simple,
non-violent, protest letters along these lines on a variety of
issues could be the basis for re-vitalising our democracy and
increasing voters' interest and participation in politics. Download
a printable copy of the above letter here.
There
is another way for the voice of the silent majority to be heard,
a voice that made sure broken promises would not only be revealed,
but punished in subsequent elections.
In
the year available before the General Election expected in 2005,
many topics are available as ammunition, each one asking questions.
A weapon for our purpose will be the results of Opinion Polls
in individual constituencies using ICM, NOP, Gallop, Mori
or YouGov.
Questions
suggested for this purpose are listed here.
CAST
YOUR VOTE ON A VARIETY OF OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES HERE.
Current
and prospective Parliamentary candidates of all Parties running
for election could share a platform at public forums in every
constituency. They would be presented with the results of
polls on this issue expressed by the majority of voters in that
constituency.
The candidates could be asked if their own views and that of their
Party manifesto corresponded with the polls, and if not, how they
intended to represent the will of the majority of local voters.
Local and National Press, Radio and TV coverage would be arranged
and the results published on this web site.
Here
is another powerful strategy for using your vote effectively in
the forthcoming General Election. Send your sitting and prospective
MPs a letter defining your requirements if they want your vote.
This example deals with the proposed
EU Constitutional Treaty.
Your
letters would end: "If you do not answer
this letter, I shall take it that you intend to follow the Government
line. I shall act accordingly in the forthcoming General Election.
Or
why not create a questionnaire that you send to all the candidates
in your constituency, getting them to give yes/no answers to questions
of your choice, and ending it with the same paragraph(above).
Download
a printable example of the questionnaire.
It
is high time for the people of this United Kingdom to stop allowing
themselves to be manipulated by politicians. We need our representatives
in Parliament to genuinely reflect the view of the majority in
their own constituency, even if this means going against their
personal and/or their party's policy. While they may argue their
case, hoping to change the minds of the majority in their constituency,
they should ultimately be obliged to reflect the majority view
of those who elect them.
It
will be argued by politicians of all parties that most voters
don't have the knowledge necessary to express an opinion on important
subjects at issue, and that our vote is a form of delegated democracy.
We should argue that it is their duty to ensure that we voters
do have ready access to such information as is necessary to form
an intelligent opinion. That, after all, is one main purpose of
Opposition Parties in our Parliamentary Democracy.
Most
important of all, such proceedings would rekindle in voters their
latent interest and obligation to cast their vote, knowing that
the candidate of their choice would be more likely to act in accordance
with their wishes. A much higher turnout in elections would be
the result.
Contact
your local Party Chairman. Gain his support for setting up public
forums in your constituency on these, as well as any other relevant
topics, well before the next General Election expected in 2005.
You should then, depending on the integrity of the candidate of
your choice, feel fairly certain that your view on any subject
being debated in Parliament will more accurately be reflected
by your representative in that assembly.
