Silent Majority Speaks

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

Uninsured drivers 'behind surge in hit and run horror'

by Ben Taylor and Andrew Levy - Daily Mail August 7, 2004

Hit and run crashes are soaring as motorists driving without insurance flee accident scenes. In some police force areas, incidents are up by nearly 50%. Senior officers are convinced that a steady rise in uninsured drivers is partially responsible for the huge increases.

Last week, the Mail revealed one in five motorists stopped by police in random checks had no insurance. Motoring organisations believe there are more than a million uninsured drivers on the roads but police figures suggest this figure could be five times higher.

A Daily Mail survey of police forces across the country has uncovered the horrific toll of hit-and-run accidents. In London, so-called 'fail-to-stop' incidents have soared in the past five years. In 1999-2000, the figure was 2,362 but by 2003-2004 it had jumped to 3,353 - a rise of more than 42%. Twenty seven people were killed, compared to 21 previously - an increase of about 30%.

In the same period, serious injuries almost doubled from 276 to 477. Other forces revealed similarly worrying trends. Lancashire police, for example, recorded a rise of nearly 32% from 542 accidents to 715. In neighbouring Merseyside the increase was 23.8%. Essex police, too, recorded a marked increase of 43% - from 567 hit-and-run crashes to 811. Serious injuries rocketed from 50 to 126. In Leicestershire the overall trend appears to be on the rise and in Somerset hit and runs rose from 97 in 1999 to 140 in 2003 - an increase of 44%.

"There is no doubt that hit-and-runs are a growing problem, especially in urban areas," a police source said last night. "Too many drivers are not prepared to stop. The only conclusion can be that they have something to hide."

Last night it emerged that the Government is planning a crackdown on uninsured drivers. Measures to be announced next week will be spelled out in a report by Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University. Under his plan, police will be able to access a national data-base for the first time to identify rogue motorists who take to the road without insurance. There will also be new powers to clamp and seize the vehicles of uninsured drivers.

Last night a Scotland Yard spokesman said the force was unable to explain the surge of hit-and-run accidents in the past five years. She said: "It is our belief that failing to stop at the scene of a collision can be attributed to a range of reasons. Some may be connected to the unlawful use of the vehicle, such as the driver not having valid motor insurance or MOT, or they may have committed a driving offence such as drink driving or speeding. They may even be wanted in connection with another crime. However, some people may not have done any of these and leave the scene due to the emotional shock of the incident and the short-term inability to deal with the scene and the consequences."

Last year almost 50,000 people made compensation claims after accidents with uninsured drivers. It is estimated that around £500million was paid out. As a result, insurance premiums for motorists have soared - to an average of £400 a year. Yesterday, insurance group Direct Line announced that motorists would no longer be penalised if they were involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. The offer will apply to those who have comprehensive motor insurance with the group and are hit by an identifiable vehicle in an accident that is not their fault.

Mail Editorial Comment: Dozens of deaths, hundreds of serious injuries, lives ruined - the pain inflicted by the reckless, selfish morons who drive without insurance and scuttle away after an accident is beyond calculation. Motoring organisations come up with the staggering estimate that there are more than a million uninsured drivers.

It hardly matters whether they are illegal immigrants, petty criminals or people driving while disqualified. Every one of them mocks the law and insults honest motorists, confident in the belief that they won't be caught - and that even if they are, they won't be seriously punished.

Enough is enough. The technology is already available for police to mount electronic checks to catch uninsured drivers. Courts have powers to impose severe penalties. Is there anything to prevent us stamping out this menace, other than lack of official will?

 

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

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."

Blair's defiance of the will of the majority of we, the people of the UK, over the invasion of Iraq 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:

Here's one to force Tony Blair to resign:

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.

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.

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