Silent Majority Speaks

Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

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

 

WWW silentmajorityspeaks.com

Britain takes over as biggest contributor to the EU budget

Signing away our sovereignty?

Comment - Daily Mail, October 26, 2004

Yet again this Government is reverting to half-truths and distortion as it tries to justify the surrender of yet more powers to Brussels. Now, even as our absolute right to control our national borders - one of the basic principles on which national sovereignty rests - is being signed away. Tony Blair maintains the preposterous pretence that giving up our national veto will actually give Britain more power over immigration and asylum policy.

But the truth is that we are being deceived. This is another transfer of authority from the British parliament to Brussels by a Prime Minister who talks tough about preserving our national independence but gives in to every federalist demand.

Of course New Labour is not solely to blame. The Tories gave up many of our rights to block EU legislation. But the process has accelerated under Mr Blair, who wants this country to sign up to a European Constitution that he says will protect our sovereignty, when in reality it will remove the veto from most of the areas in which it remains. For, make no mistake, this latest move will have profound consequences for Britain.

Don't be fooled by Mr Blair's insistence that 'there is no question of Britain giving up our veto on our border controls'. These are the carefully chosen weasel words of a lawyer. The fact is there is a world of difference between having a veto that enables us to block legislation which is not in our interests and an opt out, which leaves the UK in a much weaker position. Knowing that Britain is likely to insist on an opt out will incentivise our partners to totally ignore our wishes.

What will this mean in practice?

If for example the rest of the EU, which has a much lower birth rate than this country and a larger land mass, decides on a massive rise in immigration, Britain will be unable to stop this - even though the result will be that many will be attracted to this overcrowded island by its generous welfare system. But the reality of course is that far from opting out, Britain will come under enormous pressure to sign up to any new laws and gradually become part of a single immigration and asylum system.

Look too at the practical consequences. The EU's borders are long and porous - we were told the Schengen Agreement to abolish internal EU borders would mean tougher controls on external frontiers.

But the opposite has happened. There has been an explosion in illegal immigration into the EU. And where have many ended up? They don't stay in Germany or Holland as they face deportation. Instead they come to Britain, where they find ways of staying often after their asylum applications are rejected.

And isn't it astonishing that we are relying for a consistent asylum policy on the very countries who have been waving illegal immigrants through into this country.

So yet again we see an erosion of our ancient freedoms. Could there be a more telling illustration of New Labour's contempt for our democratic tradition than this almost casual transfer of power to Brussels?

 For the health of our democracy, we, the people of the United Kingdom, must find a way to force Mr Blair to resign

Mr Blair has lied and deceived us over Iraq. He must resign at once. Do you agree? Agree strongly Agree Disagree Disagree strongly Don't know Don't care Please click one of the links above to cast your vote Current results

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:

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:

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.