Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

You will notice that, since New Labour came to power, not a single leading Cabinet member or party 'heavy hitter' has appeared on the programme (BBC's Question Time). 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

EU Constitution will help unions, admits minister

by Paul Eastham, Deputy Political Editor, Daily Mail - September 2, 2004

Union power would be significantly strengthened under the EU constitution, a senior minister admitted yesterday. Denis McShane, Minister for Europe, said it meant the EU would be the only place in the world where workers ' rights were enshrined in such a document.

Tony Blair and other ministers, including Mr MacShane's predecessor Keith Vaz, had previously denied that there would be any boost for the shop floor. When critics suggested that the document's Charter for Fundamental Rights would bolster strikers, Mr Vaz said the passage would 'have as much legal force as The Beano.'

Mr McShane's comments came in an article for Le Monde intended to encurage the reluctant Left to vote Yes in France's forthcoming referendum on the Constitution. He wrote that saying No 'would be a disaster for the unions' and that activists failed to realise how good the blueprint was for them.

The constitution was agreed by EU leaders in June 2004, but must be approved in each state. British voters have been promised a referendum on the issue. Mr MacShane wrote that voting No 'would be an error for the European Left, a disaster for the unions, and would endanger the future of 300 million European workers.'

Appealing directly to activists, he said: "The first rule of union negotiations is to read the documents from the first to the last line." Quoting extensively from the text, he said the EU was the 'only place in the world where workers' rights form part of the constitutional rights attached to citizenship'.

Senior Tories seized on the statement as confirmation that Tony Blair is trying to force Britain into a union-dominated superstate. Shadow Foreign Affairs spokesman Michael Ancram said: "Denis MacShane not only continues to promote through the constitution his ideal of a single European state, but is also trying to sell that single European state on the basis that it will be a Socialist one. This makes Labour's agenda, in supporting the constitution, even more dangerous for our country than previously thought."

In June, Mr MacShane signed the Labour party up to a radical European social manifesto supported by Left-wing politicians across the EU. One clause called for a 'World Charter of Fundamental Rights', which would include the right to strike. Labour denied this would have any impact in Britain.

It is not the first time Mr MacShane has been criticised for his statements on the constitution. Last December, he told a German magazine that Britain would sign up to the constitution even if it did not suit our interests.

 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.