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July 4, 2005
Democracy
It's been two months since the General Election, two months since Blair said he would "listen and learn". With Labour gaining a 67 seat majority on 36% of the vote (or more damningly, 22% of the electorate), the campaign for electoral reform once again to the fore. The Independent is continuing to run its campaign and the Electoral Reform Society are trying to keep the pressure on.So, in light of the campaigning and Blair's promise, not to mention previous manifesto commitments, you'd expect to start hearing some constructive noises from the Labour government.
Instead, what we get is Geoff Hoon suggesting that voting be made compulsory:
The BBC - Hoon suggests compulsory voting
People could face fines if they fail to vote in British General Elections, under plans outlined by Geoff Hoon.
The Commons leader says a move towards compulsory voting is necessary to reinvigorate UK democracy.
Yeah right, as if that's really going to make the electorate feel empowered. Once again this Government appears to be attempting to criminalise a section of society, this time the substantial group who feel that none of the political parties truly represent their desires and aspirations.
However, at least Hoon is prepared grant the electorate a further option:
Asked if the ballot would include a box for "none of the above" politicians, Mr Hoon said: "I think that's absolutely vital.
"People do in effect abstain by spoiling their ballot papers."
I'm at a loss to understand what Hoon is hoping to achieve. All this compulsion will achieve is to force people to actively abstain or face a fine. It certainly won't go anyway to addressing the disconnect between politicians and the electorate.
Still, not all senior Labour figures are so out of touch with reality as Geoff Hoon. In The Independent, Robin Cook makes the case for getting the public involved in the current review of PR being carried out by civil servants.
Mr Cook called on the public to "demand ... that that review is opened up" and "made more transparent".
He said the review should "take evidence and meet in public" and " publish its reports so that the people who are involved in choosing the House of Commons are people who themselves have a say in this review and the way in which it [the Commons] is elected."
Unfortunately I suspect that necessary, fundamental electoral reform is dead under New Labour. After two landslide victories and an historic third term, New Labour is treating the electorate with the sort of disdain that we came to expect from Margaret Thatcher. In reality we will probably see PR placed on Labour's back-burner until such time as they are voted out of office. It is incumbent on those of us who believe in a truly representative democratic process to keep up the pressure.
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Posted by Clive on July 4, 2005 3:50 PM in the category Old Stuff