I was struck by this quote by the columnist Frank Tyger from the American business magazine Forbes taken form my copy of The Week under the weekly heading 'Wit and Wisdom':-
"Progress is not created by content people."
This is so true, and something I have consistently said, with regards the progress of our Agenda.
The point I have made is that the people in this country are generally still too comfortable, and if you also include the dominance of Brexit on the political scene, then it is quite understandable how reforming our governance is still a low priority.
However I do believe that the complete omnishambles our parliament, and in particular our MPs, have made over Brexit is starting to awaken the people to the realities at Westminster and the need for reforming the system.
The good news is that our six demands exist and I believe cover all the important areas that need to be addressed if we are to achieve a system of governance that more closely reflects the desires and wishes of the majority of the electorate.
The promotion and progress our our six demands requires a steady programme of education up and down the country and so I'd ask anyone interested in helping to spread the word to get in touch from the 'Contact' link on our website.
"the complete omnishambles our parliament, and in particular our MPs, have made over Brexit is starting to awaken the people to the realities at Westminster and the need for reforming the system."
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Come off it? Even going back to 1997, Labour were elected on a manifesto of constitutional reform, devolution, reform of House of Lords etc.
Wales and Scotland had referendums on independence in the 1970s. Places like Liverpool barely recognise being part of the national situation re Westminster.
Generally speaking it is those on the right, supporters of Brexit, that have opposed constitutional reform, voting reform, devolution and any subsidiarity that extends past Westminster. Until now - the moment when their Grand Project of English nationalism risks being circumvented by a recalcitrant UK Parliament. Suddenly it's time for reform!
It is not yet evident but I do believe that people, through Brexit and much else, are disillusioned with our politicians and politics in general which is why so many now don't vote in elections.
ReplyDeleteHowever on you point about other constitutional reforms of the past they were mere tinkerings on the edges compared to our six demands which I will assume you have not read?
Why would you assume I haven't read them? I have and they pale in comparison to demands made 150 years ago. It would be more honest to put THA in such a context, rather than paint it as some new radical departure. The fact is we haven't ever been short of ideas for reform rather we have faced opposition to it, usually -as I said- from people on the right (those supporting Brexit).
ReplyDeleteBTW, THA completely fails to address democratic control over private interests: there is nothing about corporations being subject to greater democratic control, for instance.
Likewise, nothing about the monarchy or inheritance, class or gender. Plenty of other longstanding agendas encompass these things and demand far more radical reform. And, as I said, most opposition to it has come from those groups inclined towards to Brexit (conservative, rightwing, nationalist, patriarchal, monarchist.....)
Our demands are far more comprehensive than constitutional reforms of the past - if you have read them then you would appear to not understand them.
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