All power to the Prime Minister
“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” (Sir Winston Churchill)
We live in troubling times. A time when the power of the people is slowing and surely being removed from their grasps and transferred to unelected institutions, powerful bureaucrats and spin doctors. A time when many of the people, blinded by the daily drudge of work and consumption, fail to notice this hemorrhaging of power. Our House of Parliament has become nothing more than a talking shop; a powerless body made up of opinion bloated clones who can do little to prevent the changes that are taking place. They can do nothing to prevent the abuses of parliament made by our national leaders or to stop actions being taken in our names that we would not sanction.
Our Parliament’s role has diminished over a long period of time; long enough for many of us to notice. First of all we have the increasing role of the executive in decision making- a slowing emerging presidential style system where the power is centered on the prime minister. The Prime Minster’s distaste for Parliament can be seen in the way it is treated. It is now common for the Government to announce policy to the media before Parliament even hears about it.
In European matters, Parliament has become a stamping factory; only there to place the people’s supposed seal of approval on EU directives. It has few powers of scrutiny or to make amendments. Parliament’s scrutiny committee can only suggest alternatives, it can not instruct the government on how to vote in the Council of Ministers. This is a power that Denmark, Austria and even Lithuania have. How can Parliament be the people’s voice if it can not scrutinize, amend or reject legislation?
Our public servants in Parliament have become political party clones. Where are the individuals who should stand up to government? Where are the characters that really care?
This is what happens at times of voter indifference and apathy. The government takes power from the sleeping public, who only awake when there’s a jolt in the dark. We need that jolt now. We need to demand the following:
-A return to the power of Parliament.
-A strong scrutiny committee and power to instruct the voting in the Council of Ministers
-A stronger European Parliament that can make laws
-For us all to get off our arses and show we care what decisions are made in our names