Rescuing
Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected
Dictatorship
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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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After
a clear vote against them, we still got eight non-elected
Regional Assemblies. When we vote against the EU Constitution,
we'll get them anyway. Letter from P.Cove, Aylesbury,
BUCKS.- Daily Mail, January 31, 2005
THE
TIMES slavish support for the Government worries some
members of the paper's staff, not to mention any perspicacious
readers who are left. Political editor Philip Webster
was questioned about this when he addressed colleagues
as part of an in-house 'masterclass' exercise. Small wonder.
One of his Blair-worshipping subordinates wrote a news
story yesterday poo-pooing the row over Labours anti-semitic
poster mocking Michael Howard, saying it was merely £5million
worth of 'free publicity' for the party. Ephraim Hardcastle
- Daily Mail, Febrauary 2, 2005
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Howard's
pledge on Aids and TB tests for migrants
By
James Chapman, Political Correspondent, Daily Mail, February 15,
2005
Michael
Howard will today pledge to screen immigrants coming to live and
work in Britain for tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and other diseases.
Under a Tory government, those coming from outside the EU for
between six and 12 months from countries with high TB rates would
have to have a chest X-ray followed by tests if necessary.
Those
coming to stay for more than 12 months or to settle permanently
will have to undergo full medical tests taking account of conditions
in their own country. The tests will show that they have an 'acceptable
standard of health', Mr Howard will say.
Medical
practitioners will assess whether immigrant workers are unlikely
to be a danger to public health here and unlikely to impose significant
costs or demands on Britain's health system. The experts will
also examine whether the immigrants are fit to undertake the work/study
they are applying to come here for.
The
examination will include an overall health check-up, chest X-rays
for TB - except for children and pregnant women - and tests for
hepatitis and HIV for those over 16.m, Those coming for less than
six months would not face a test unless they wanted to work in
healthcare, childcare or teaching.
Applicants
will have to pay for their own health checks. Fees for permits
and visas will be increased to cover any additional processing
costs so the scheme is self-financing with no extra tax, said
Conserative aides. The Tories say the checks are based on policies
in many other countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Only
TB sill automatically preclude the granting of a a visa. All other
conditions will be dealt with on a 'case by case basis' to consider
what costs if any they will impose on the Health Service. While
medical status could affect the rights of economic migrants to
stay in Britain, the proposals will not affect asylum applicants'
claims.
The
Tories say they do not believe those genuinely fleeing persecution
should be denied refuge because of their health. Mr Howard said:
"The British people deserve the best standards of public
health. We need to control who is coming to Britain to ensure
that they are not a public health risk and to protect access to
the NHS. It's plain common sense. At the next election people
will face a clear choice; limited and controlled immigration under
the Conservatives or unlimited immigration under Mr Blair."
The
Tories quoted from a report by the Health Protection Agency which
showed that a large majority of new HIV cases in Britain now involve
heterosexuals who acquired the infection abroad. Most came from
sub-Saharan Africa, with more than half originating in Zimbabwe,
Malawi and Zambia.
While
transmission among homosexuals has remained broadly stable in
recent years, the number of cases among heterosexuals increased
fivefold in the past decade to reach 3,800 last year - more than
three times as many as France or Germany. Similarly, the Department
of Health says that, out of 7,700 new cases of chronic hepatitis
B last year, 96% entered the UK with the infection.
Immigration
has also been blamed for a 20% rise in TB in England and Wales
in the past ten years. Britain is the only place in the EU to
see an increase in that time. The Government set up a group to
examine the issue but it has yet to report.
Click
one of the links above to cast your vote
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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.
