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Our Parliamentary system and the politicians within the village of Westminster have lost their way and we need to ask why this has happened ? It would be very easy to comment that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and in part the self-seeking failures that are drawn to a political career where few who enter the House have ever had a successful career elsewhere in the real world, would seem to vindicate such a view.

However, my broad brush answer would be simply that Parliament tries to do far too much and the general public expect far too much to be done by it, the consequence of which is flannel, lies and a growing contempt of it all by the general public.

In a sense, this cycle of promising too much which just can’t be delivered is echoed by the Northern Rock fiasco where a so called bank broke the basic rule of banking by borrowing short and lending long. Northern Rock is as much a theme song for a decade of Labour Government as “Blue Birds Over the White Cliffs of Dover” was for WWII.

A Total Lack of Credibility

That these “expectations” on both sides, Parliament and the Electorate, have reached ridiculous heights, happens also to have coincided with a major disconnect between both. The general public sees politicians as useless through their failure to deliver on their election promises whilst the politicians see the public as ungrateful, retreat inside Westminster and pray for the day Brussels takes over.

The problem is compounded through an incompetent Prime Minister who has no personal mandate and is whether consequently or endemically within his own character, is clearly lacking the courage to be truthful with the public and therefore in the process, insults us all. Brown saying that he never intended to hold an Autumn Election was the moment that his honeymoon ended because it was an obvious lie.

The consequence is that even if remotely true that the EU Constitution and the EU Treaty are different, no one believes him or Milly the Muppet and Gordon turning up late for the signing of the ruddy thing, was frankly embarrassing. If Brown truly believed in the Treaty not being the Constitution, the parliamentary debate would have focused on explaining the difference between the two and be conducted on a free vote. Unfortunately, apart from there not being an anthem and a Foreign Minister, there being no difference, foolish games are being played in the House and Brown’s socialist/communist tendencies to control all things, come to the fore yet again.

The Problem of Democracy

Democracy in its truest form where everyone has their say all of the time, is obviously inefficient and would lead to chaos and gridlock if applied, the same as busy roads not having traffic lights at junctions would. So the principle that a Parliament is elected for a period of 4-5 years and we all “lend” our authority to it for that time, makes sense in terms of practical efficiency.

It also follows that such an elected government should be allowed to pursue the policies it laid out in it’s election manifesto and the basis on which it was elected without recourse to consulting the public mid-term. Ultimately, if it ‘displeased’ the electorate in a ‘big way’, it would expect to get thrown out of power come the next election.

Now all that said, the current EU Constitution/Treaty is a massive test of whether or not Parliament works and thus far clearly, it doesn’t. In part this is because of external forces being applied from the EU but mainly, because we currently have from the PM down, very low calibre and inexperienced politicians forming the current Government.

The Test Case and Example

Now regardless of whether you think being “In or Out of the EU” is the best idea, there is a simple problem from a British perspective that you must consider. The best way and in all probability, the only way to be a successful member of the EU is, to adopt the French model of signing up to everything and, unless on a one off case useful, subsequently ignoring anything that comes from Brussels.

The problem with this is that as a totally “Gallic Strategy”, the Government in Paris has no reason for any moment in time to doubt that the most insignificant Judge in both France and its overseas territories such as Tahiti, will have a problem with understanding the “game” and rule accordingly – no e-mail required to reinforce the ‘appropriate result’.

Unfortunately with our long established “adversarial system”, there is no such leeway. A Judge may decide between the ‘Letter’ and the ‘Spirit’ of the Law but only in as far as saying: “Yes, these are the written words but, at the time this law was passed, what was the “Intent” of Parliament in this matter ?” Whether the UK or the USA, we live in a more literal society when it comes to law than the majority of our European neighbours and as a consequence, there will always be problems for us.

Now whilst my personal view may be that we should leave the EU, others will say wait and “keep a foot in” whilst others will say “We must be a fully integrated part of it” however and regardless of any personal view, there is a right and a wrong way of doing things. Rather than this being a personal “rant” about the EU, look at the key issues but as you do, remember that we shall return to the most important issue, eventually, is our current Parliament fit to govern ?

How it Should Have Been Handled.

All 3 major parties promised a Referendum on the EU Constitution at the last election, should they form the Government. The Labour Government’s stance is that the “EU Amending Treaty” is not the “EU Constitution” formerly rejected by French and Dutch voters, it is radically different in both form, substance and, we have our famous opt-outs and red-lines. However, there is a major doubt hanging over that position as the former French President who wrote it and every other EU Leader has been proud to say that it is the same and a few minor details aside, by common consent, it is at least 96% identical.

Now Brown as a newly about to be crowned Prime Minister with this ‘Treaty’ being negotiated by his predecessor, a man who would like to be the first EU President, was placed in an awkward situation. For this treaty to become law, all 27 countries had to ratify it and for the UK, failure to ratify would lead to negotiating an exit from the political EU however, turning up late for the “signing” was childish and symbolic of someone not fit to govern as the subsequent scheduling of the Bill in the House has only too clearly demonstrated.

Firstly, Brown should have turned up for the signing on time but, he should have done one thing more and such a simple step, it is difficult to imagine why he didn’t except that he was just too stupid. If he genuinely holds to the belief that his “red lines” ensure British independence and integrity from Brussels, all he had to say that if evidence came to light whilst he was Prime Minister that this was not the case, the UK would withdraw from the EU after due notice and negotiation. Just this one thing would have resolved the reason behind the “no referendum” thing, put our partners and Brussels on appropriate “notice” so that they stayed honest and, reassured the public at large with clear and positive intent. It most certainly would have pulled the rug from under those of us who think that leaving the sorry mess that is the EU, is the only logical strategy.

Not the Full Shilling

Regardless of the details, retaining the sovereignty of Parliament in all matters concerning the UK, is a must, not to see the necessity to do so does not speak of the “traitors within”, it speaks of people incapable of the job, unfit to even pretend to lead and totally unfit for Office regardless of political party. This automatically leads to a requirement to disperse Westminster’s powers which are ours the citizens powers, downward and into the community where they may be better guarded and protected.

Gordon Brown is no Prime Minister and a quick glance at his Cabinet reveals an appalling lack of talent at all levels, for whatever reason, we are not producing a generation capable of ‘doing national politics’. There are very few out of over 600 in the Commons of much value to these islands, we are ruled by Brussels and Dross and is that what we want ? It is time to reduce and disperse their powers from Westminster because they do not have a “Divine Right to Rule Us”. In my next essay, I will hope to look at newer and stronger structures of government that are drawn at least in principle, from our past.