Rescuing
Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected
Dictatorship
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Come
back Gilligan, all is forgiven. Penny Young, Diss, Norfolk,
to The Guardian, February 24, 2005
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
Power
cut, please
Labour's
pollsters have Tony Blair running scared, because they have
informed him that if turnout at the next election is below
50%, the result will be a hung parliament. This would be
good news for those of us who, viewing the damage inflicted
by recent governments, would like nothing better than a
Parliament powerless to do anything. Letter from Ron
Phillips, London W14 - Daily Mail 17/2/05
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Tony
Blair's pledge cards made no mention of pensioners. Perhaps
they're the jokers.
Letter
to the Daily Mail from Brian Green, Daventry, Northants
- February 22, 2005
The
Guardian's Polly Toynbee says 'a profoundly nasty streak'
among voters worried about poverty, crime and immigration
might cause them to vote against the Government. Isn't
it time we replaced the present electorate with one more
to Polly's liking? Ephraim Hardcastle, Daily Mail,
February 24, 2005
Back
to the future
'Forward
not Back' is quite wrong: we must go back - back to clean
hospitals with more medical staff and fewer managers;
back to education with proven standards.
Back
to police on the street and solving crime; back to increased
employment in industry, back to ministers who stand up
for this country and back to democratic government. Then,
perhaps, we can move forward. Letter from S, M. Butler,
Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex - Daily Mail, March 23, 2005
Virtues
of a secret ballot
Sir
- Concerning postal votes (report Mar 23) what is the
first principle of a democratic political vote? Answer:
THE SECRET BALLOT.
It
is obvious that a postal ballot is only as secret as the
moral strength of the voter. With the infinite propaganda
powers of today's electronic media, it is frighteningly
easy for devious politicians to promote politically correct
or "cool" or, most wickedly, "honest and
transparent" voting patterns, where someone failing
to vote "with his/her group" must "have
something to hide".
Postal
voting should, at best, be allowable only to persons who
are required to be stationed away from their constituency
on government business. A few temporary disfranchisements
may result, but nothing is perfect.
Letter from J. B. Lewis, Bognor Regis, West Sussex - The
Daily Telegraph, March 25, 2005
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Tories
put £1.7bn in pension pot
By
Benedict Brogan - Whitehall Editor, Daily Mail, April 18, 2005
Michael
Howard wrong-footed Labour over pensions last night with an ambitious
£1.7bn package of tax breaks for savers. The Conservative
leader pledged to put more money into pensions for more tan ten
million people on low and middle incomes.
A
clear choice over pensions
Comment
- Daily Mail, April 18, 2005
With
an ageing population and a shrinking workforce, the greatest
longterm challenge facing the economy is ensuring that
every-one puts enough money aside for their pensions.
No issue defines more sharply the clear blue water between
the major parties than their approach to this problem.
Yesterday,
Michael Howard announced a £1.7billion package that
would add £10 to every £100 workers put towards
their pensions.
This
is a practical policy because it applies specifically
to those paying the basic rate of tax, encouraging them
to put more of their earnings aside. It excludes those
in the public sector whose pensions are already entirely
funded by the taxpayer.
And
it is also morally sound as it offers incentives rather
than compulsion and invites individuals to reduce their
dependence on the state.
Contrast
his with Government's approach. It mounted a £5
billion annual tax raid on private-sector pension funds,
created a system mired in red tape, sat by while the savings
ratio all but halved and ducked the challenge of reducing
the public sector bill.
Today,
those working for the state see their retirement income
protected while those in the private sector face impoverished
old age because what was once the best system in Europe
has been reduced to ruins.
The
Government's solution is to set up a Commission which
it has ensured will not report until well after the election
- Labour says there won't be any action for at least five
years. And its only only response to the Tory proposals
is to throw up a smokescreen of figures to justify its
claim that Mr Howard's plan cannot be afforded.
This
old mantra is - as this paper has shown many times - demonstrably
false. But more pertinently, the crisis is so deep that
we simply have to find the money - Mr Blair's pension
tsar Adair Turner has warned that millions could be forced
to work well into old age to pay for the mess.
It
is a clear choice: a party that is at least attempting
to provide real solutions or one that, having created
a crisis, sweeps the consequences under the carpet.
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The
announcement put clear blue water between the main parties on
a vital policy area, with just over two weeks left before polling
day. The Tory scheme would boost the amount the Treasury pays
into private & company pensions for low and basic rate taxpayers.
And
with half the workforce currently putting no money aside, it could
persuade more people to save for their old age rather than rely
on the State to pick up the bill. For every £10 saved, A
Tory government would pay an extra £1 into the pot - increasing
the existing incentive of £2.20 to £3.20.
Young
workers starting a pension now could see the value of their fund
rise by more than £10,000 and generate an extra income of
around £500 a year.
Mr
Howard sprung the pensions surprise after weeks of speculation
that he was planning to cut income tax. The Tories have earmarked
£4bn a year for tax cuts out of the £35bn annual savings
they have identified. They have already pledged to spend £1.3bn
on giving pensioners a rebate on council tax worth up to £500.
After yesterday's £1.7bn, Mr Howard still has £1bn
to play with before polling day. There was speculation last night
that he may use it to offer further help to pensioners.
The
pensions announcement caught Labour unawares. Ministers led by
election coordinator, Alan Milburn, had prepared an attack on
Tory plans but were unprepared to talk about pensions. Mr Howard
said Labour had failed to address the issue of long-term savings.
"Britain today faces a pensions time bomb - a time bomb that
threatens people's sense of security," he said. "For
too long this issue has been swept under the carpet. It's been
too difficult - and for some too frightening - even to think about.
Doing nothing is not an option. Only by encouraging more people
to save can we address their anxieties about their long-term future
and give our economy a brighter future."
He
added: "I believe in rewarding people who do the right thing
and help themselves. Under our scheme people won't get something
for nothing - they'll only get something out if they put something
in. so to people paying basic rate tax in their late 20s, 30s
and 40s, our message is simple: if you do the right thing, we
will do the right thing by you; if you save, we will boost your
savings; and if you help yourself, we will help you."
He
defended the decision not to use the cash to raise income tax
thresholds, saying that the Tories felt it was 'in the best interests
of this country to face up to this problem.'
The
Tory pledge is aimed at repairing damage done to the pensions
industry by Gordon Brown's £5bn/year on dividends. Contributions
to occupational and private pensions are deducted before tax,
meaning that every pound paid gets relief from the Treasury. For
standard-rate taxpayers the relief is worth 22p on top of every
pound paid in.
The
extra cash offered by the Tories would be paid to all those whose
contributions earn relief at the lower and basic rates of income
tax. It would not be given on any relief paid at the 40% rate.
The
measure would come into force in April next year. Most public
sector workers, who belong to unfunded pension schemes, such as
nurses, would not benefit.
Labour
claimed to have identified 'a black hole' in Tory spending plans
and Transport Secretary Alistair Darling accused the Tories of
'counting' voters by offering money they did not have. 'Their
policy is worthless because of that,' he said.
Last
night, Labour faced fresh criticisms of its record on pensions.
One in three firms fear Government policies could force them to
axe their final salary pensions, said a report from the respected
Association of Consulting Actuaries. It found that three in five
firms feel the Pensions Act, introduced last November, will actually
reduce the number of companies offering their workers a pension.
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Tactical
Voting
As
UKIP member for several years, I believe the greatest
threat facing the British is the potential loss of our
independence to govern ourselves. Once Brussels gains
complete control, everything else we are voting for in
the coming election is academic. The real decisions will
be made in Brussels by people we can't vote out.
Much
as I support UKIP's aims, I now believe the single most
important goal for British voters is to remove Blair and
his rotten Government before they complete the process
of removing our sovereignty. Only a vote for Michael Howard
will do this - Letter to the Daily Mail from Tony Beverley,
London SW10 - April 7, 2005
Perhaps
Ann Widdecombe was right about Michael Howard, but it
should have been KNIGHT with a K, and he could have saved
us from the monsters Blair and Campbell - Letter to
the Dail Mayil from Les Fletcher, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn
Bay, Wales - February 18, 2005
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
Hold
the front page
Further
to BBC bias (Mail), very often on BBC Breakfast and Breakfast
With Frost, coverage of the morning papers is censored.
If the front page of the Daily Mail is critical of Tony
Blair and his Soviet-style Government, it is not shown,
although the front pages of all the other newspapers are
shown. A supposedly independent broadcasting body is acting
as censor for this Government - an absolute disgrace.
Letter from Peter Fish, Chippenham, Wilts. .- Daily Mail,
February 17, 2005
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The
REAL NASTY PARTY- How
Labour is the true home of spite, bigotry and contempt for the
public
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.
