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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Tax
rises a 'racing certainty' to plug Brown's £10bn black hole
if Labour wins the coming election - By Dan
Atkinson and Jonathan Oliver- The Mail on Sunday, January 23,
2005
Tax
rises of up to £10 billion are a 'racing certainty' if Labour
is reelected, according to a scathing independent report to be
published tomorrow.
Item,
the only forecaster allowed to use the Treasury's own computer
model of the economy, claims large post-Election tax increases
are almost inevitable to plug a growing 'black hole' in public
finances. And the group says a further 1% hike in National Insurance
for both workers and bosses is Gordon Brown's most likely option.
The
new levy would bring in an extra £9.5 billion a year, helping
to pay for his soaring public-spending commitments. Tony Blair
ducked the issue last week at Prime Minister's Questions when
asked if he would rule out further income tax or National Insurance
rises. The survey will put fresh pressure on him and his Chancellor
to come clean about Labour's tax plans.
Item's
New Year report casts doubt on Mr Brown's continued claims to
be financially 'prudent'. The Chancellor has already raised NI
contributions by 1% to pay for extra health spending. "The
worry is that it may be just a down-payment with further tax rises
to come," said Item economist Professor Peter Spencer, of
York University. "Considerably higher tax after the Election
is a racing certainty. It will be difficult to restrain public
spending, meaning that despite the Chancellor's protestations,
personal taxes have to go up in the Spring Budge in 2006."
Despite
the Item claims, both Mr Blair and Mr Brown used speeches yesterday
to attack tax and spending plans by the Conservatives. The Prime
Minister described as 'ludicrous' Tory claims that they would
slash taxes by £4 billion in their first Budget and at the
same time allow for greater spending on key public services. Mr
Blair said: "The Tory plans are as plain a call to return
to the past as it is possible to imagine. The Tories claim both
to be able to cut taxes and increase spending above the Labour
Government's plans, a claim of ludicrous improbability."
Addressing
party activists at Labour's National Policy Forum in London with
Mr Blair, Mr Brown claimed the Conservatives spending plans would
mean £50 billion of cuts in public services. He called their
proposals 'the biggest cuts ever in the history of any election
manifesto'.
Shadow
Chancellor Oliver Letwin hit back, accusing Mr Blair of 'misrepresenting'
his plans. "He still cannot accept the simple truth which
is that we will spend more on what matters to people - schools,
hospitals and police - and that we will offer value for money
and lower taxes," he said. "Once again Mr Blair and
his Chancellor have failed to answer the question that lies at
the heart of this Election: Which taxes will they put up to fill
the huge shortfall in their plans?"
Tax
on extensions - 'Stealth' planning fee that will hit millions
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.
