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

"You're wrong about 24-hour drinking, Mr Blair - and I should know!" writes Tony Booth, reformed alcoholic, who just happens to be the Prime Minister's father-in-law. His article in the Daily Mail, November 19, 2005, ends: I was lucky - alcohol could so easily have destroyed me, but it didn't. Others, by the simple law of averages, will not be so luck once round-the-clock drinking becomes the norm. Marriages will be wrecked, children will be neglected and family bank accounts will be drained - all by the Demon Booze. Some will succumb to disease, others to violent injury. A tragic few will even die, either directly or indirectly because of the increased availability of booze. I wouldn't want that on my conscience and I don't want it on my son-in-law's either. I still hope he'll do the right thing and call time on these ridiculous and dangerous licensing laws before it's too late. Take it from someone who really has supped in that last chance saloon, Tony: with these new laws, only misery lies ahead.

All day pubs will bring us 24 hours of hell say the police

by Matthew Hickley, Home Affairs Correspondent, Daily Mail - Saturday September 18, 2004

Police chiefs yesterday warned of '24 hours of hell' on the streets of Britain as they criticised Labour's plans to relax the laws controlling drinking hours. Officers said the drinks trade had proved 'unworthy' of more relaxed laws by 'ruthlessly exploiting' young drinkers in pursuit of profit.

Ministers hope 24-hour opening will foster a 'Mediterranean-style' drinking culture in Britain - ending the rush to down drinks before closing time, and the problem of drunken crowds spilling on to the streets all at once. But Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Steve Green, alcohol enforcement spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "If we want a continental cafe structure - build cafes. If we want 24 hours of hell, let's keep on the way we're going. I am sick of my officers being used as punch-bags by drunken thugs." Read the full article by Chief Constable Steve Green here.

The broadside came as David Blunkett announced his high-profile blitz on booze-fuelled violence and yobbery had been a great success. Police sources insisted talk of a crackdown was 'misleading'. They said the campaign had involved officers carrying on their normal efforts to police pubs and clubs while gathering extra statistics for the Home Office to publish. The blitz was meant to reassure the public that action was being taken ahead of the shake-up of licensing laws next year.

Figures released yesterday showed that in July and August police in 92 hotspot areas arrested almost 6,000 individuals for drunkenness, issued 4,060 fixed-penalty notices and confiscated alcohol from almost 10,000. Just over half of the pubs targeted in1,825 'sting' operations were found to be selling booze to under-18's, along with a third of off-licenses and shops.

Mr Blunkett claimed the figures showed 'real progress', but police chiefs and alcohol campaigners said they underlined the folly of letting pubs stay open around the clock. Mr Green said the results left him ashamed. "I am ashamed of the drink-punch-smash-vomit culture which has spread like an ugly acne on the face of our once proud towns and cities. I am ashamed that we have been to weak to curb the excesses of generations of young people."

He blamed the 'inadequately regulated' drinks industry for ignoring the 'mayhem' pubs and clubs create and focusing on maximising profits- tailoring alcopops to young tastes, encouraging binge drinking through promotions and cramming more customers into 'vertical-drinking' venues. "These young people do exactly what they are encouraged to do - they drink to excess," he added.

Mr Green called for far tougher penalties, both for irresponsible licensees and for drunken yobs. He said: "We need to show less understanding to yobs who rampage through our towns. We need to show less trust for an industry which has ruthlessly exploited our youth."

A spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association claimed a small minority of licensees were 'tarnishing the industry's good name'. From next February, responsibility for licensing pubs and bars will pass from magistrates to councils, as well as ushering in 24-hour opening for some venues.

Drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction also voiced 'deep concerns' over extended opening. A spokesman said: "Just dishing out fixed-penalty tickets won't deal with the longer term consequences."

Health Department figures show a fifth of men and one in 11 women are binge drinkers. 21% of men admitted drinking more than eight units of alcohol on at least one night during the previous week- while 9% of women had drunk at least six units in one season.

Do you agree with this Government's plans to allow 24 hour drinking in licensed premises? 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

 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.