Hold them to account

Iain Martin

Thursday, 20th November 2008

Iain Martin fears that Members care too little about the erosion of Parliament’s authority

Is this failure possibly rooted in this crisis being financial and economic and not military? That excuse is certainly offered by MPs, but it simply masks how impotent their institution has become and how little confidence it retains in its own abilities.

While Parliament has been asleep on the job, the executive — in the shape of the Prime Minister, the Treasury and various hired advisers — has been busy for weeks nationalising banks and making pronouncements which commit Her Majesty’s Government to all manner of questionable schemes.

Yet, many MPs appear to think that the British end of this crisis is somehow beyond their remit and consequently there was not a single demand, that I can remember or find, for Parliament to be recalled from its 11-week summer holiday. When the US bail-out, or the Paulson plan, was rejected by Congress and the global financial system teetered and threatened to take British banking with it, there was no call by prominent MPs for an urgent return to Westminster and an emergency debate (carried on into the night if necessary).

Instead, MPs wandered back from their holidays after their party conferences, if they had bothered to attend those events which many do not, and behaved mostly as though it was business as usual.

When Brown returned from the European Council Summit at which he was hailed as the saviour of the world by his spin doctors and French newspaper leader writers (neither entirely reliable sources) there were some unsatisfactory and not particularly enlightening exchanges with David Cameron and Nick Clegg. And, in terms of the holding of ministers to account for their actions in this crisis, that has been about it.

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Dave B

November 28th, 2008 7:18pm Report this comment

I'm surprised Mr Martin made no mention of the Direct Democracy platform, and it's suggestions for reinvigorating our democracy.

One key point, selecting candidates by open primary. This would give an MP a personal mandate, ensure members represent the opinions of their constituents, and weaken the party whips.

Another - have quangos seek annual approval/renewal of their budget from Parliament, and their heads confirm by parliament.

Another - judges to have their appointment confirmed by parliament.

It's an interesting platform. You can read more online

http://www.direct-democracy.co.uk/

Or buy the Carswell/Hannan book 'The Plan: 12 Months to Renew Britain'.

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