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
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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Sexist
and sycophantic
Jane
Merrick is summoned for soggy sandwiches with Alan Milburn to
hear what Labour has done for women - Daily Mail, Frbruary 17,
2005
The
Labour Party is desperately trying to win over women voters -
and it tried to woo me too yesterday. Polls show that support
for Labour among women is 11% lower than it is among men, suggesting
that Tony Blair can no longer count on the female vote to hand
him a third term in power.
Alastair
Campbell's aggressive four-letter tirade in an e-mail to the BBC,
and Ken Livingstone's slur against a Jewish journalist have only
added to an impression that the party is dominated by macho men
who turn off women at the ballot box.
So
it was little surprise that Labour's election coordinator, Alan
Milburn, should attempt to court the female vote by holding a
press conference on 'women's issues' yesterday. More surprising
was the extraordinary manner he went about it.
Just
before 11 am yesterday, I received a text message summoning me
to the Labour Party's headquarters for a woman-only press conference,
and lunch, with Mr Milburn. I also received e-mails and phone
calls from Labour Party press officers, making sure I would go
along, because it would definitely be worth my while.
The
message was sent to every woman journalist in the Westminster
lobby - it is unprecedented for a party to hold such an exclusively
female event. I found this incredibly patronising and rather sexist,
suggesting women need special treatment because we can't compete
with our male colleagues.
I
arrived at the Labour HQ to be whisked into what can only be the
party's attempt to create a 'cafe' - round glass tables and chairs
and a buffet on the side. But it was going to take more than soggy
sandwiches and stale crisps to seduce me.
A
little later, a press officer arrived to tell me and about 15
other women journalists that 'Alan' was 'ready for you'. We were
herded into the new press conference room. I wasn't sure whether
the pink and lavender backdrop was especially for us.
Mr
Milburn walked in with a wide smile, followed by two Blair Babes
who have managed to achieve junior ministerial rank - Deputy Minister
for Woman Jacqui Smith and Minister for Work Jane Kennedy. There
were no senior women such as Patricia Hewitt, Tessa Jowell and
Harriet Harman - they are said to have described Mr Milburn as
a 'macho bully', 'patronising' and 'arrogant'.
He
delivered a few words about Labour's economic record being 'particularly
beneficial to women' before handing over to Mrs Kennedy and Miss
Smith. But when it came to our questions he appeared bored and
aloof. He snapped at one journalist ;'That is not true' when she
suggested the pay gap between men and women was wider than ever.
Another
reporter asked what Labour were doing for women's pensions - many
haven't paid enough National Insurance contribution's as they
have taken time off to bring up a family. Mr Milburn merely looked
at Mrs Kennedy, suggesting she should answer. She didn't and he
muttered 'Well I don't know the answer'.
I
then introduced myself as from the Daily Mail. He muttered 'Oh
yeah' and sniffed. I asked whether he accepted that the actions
of Mr Campbell and Mr Livingstone would put women off voting Labour
at the General Election. And I asked him how he felt about being
described by women colleagues as macho.
Even
though both questions related to his election role, he refused
to answer. He shrugged and indicated he wanted the women to handle
the question. Miss Smith blurted out: 'That wasn't me, by the
way!'
Her
burst of sycophancy wasn't over. She said she had been a junior
minister under Mr Milburn when he was Health Secretary and he
was a 'good boss'.
Mrs
Kennedy claimed no one she had spoken to on the streets of Britain
had raised the problem of Labour being 'too macho'. She added:
"And on a personal note my mum was a constituent of Alan's
in Darlington and thinks he's an absolutely wonderful MP and I
would recommend him, not just to his constituents, but to the
rest of the country.'
Mr
Milburn seemed rather distracted by a woman at the back of the
hall, at whom he kept grinning. Then it was all over. He hurried
disappeared and we were left wondering if it all had been worth
the effort.
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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
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.
