EU Referendum


Harrogate conference: five days to go


09/07/2012



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Witterings from Witney once again makes the running, but this time he is backed by The Boiling Frog. Both address the vexed question of the nature of democracy.

At this stage, I have a declaration to make. The meeting on Saturday is not a "Richard North benefit". It is has not been convened to take note of my proposals and then endorse them. Rather, thirty-plus people from all over the country, at their own expense and in their own time, will form six syndicates, each in a genuine attempt to frame six demands which, if conceded, will make this country a better place.

The vague plan at this stage – which will be firmed up on Saturday – is to roll out the points we decide are worth an airing, and then put them to a series of meetings up and down the country. If the ideas capture the public imagination, then our movement will grow. If we have got it wrong, then it will wither on the vine.

That said, my assumption has been that we should favour more direct democracy, and that has very much been a theme pursued by Witterings from Witney. However, The Boiling Frog wonders whether we should rethink representative democracy, strengthening it rather than abandoning any attempt to acquire what we have never really had.

Thus, on Saturday, before coming up with our points, we could usefully each decide where we want to go in the broader terms – as to what type of democracy we should be, and where the balance of power should reside.

With that in mind, TBF has offered some suggestions of his own. One such is that MPs should be prohibited from having any affiliation with a political party. One wonders how candidates would then finance their election campaigns, and recruit the expert teams need to fight elections. But it is a good thought and one that deserves consideration.

Also explored is the idea of getting rid of general elections, and I cannot see any downside to that. But, with three-year election cycles and a third of parliament up every year, this would have the advantage of effectively keeping a running commentary on the Parliament's and the Government's position.

For our group on Saturday, there is much to do. But these are people who are prepared to do "something". And if democracy is about "people rule", as Witterings from Witney avers, then it must come from the people.

Sitting on our hands and letting our masters tell us what democracy is, and what it should mean to us, is not an intelligent option.

COMMENT: "HARROGATE CONFERENCE" THREAD