DEMOCRACY DENIED

These are perilous political and economic
times. Is our parliamentary system in which
MPs will be denied the right to call
Government ministers to account during
the forthcoming seventy-six day summer
recess, fit for purpose? When the recess

comes to an end on 15th October,
Westminster then goes into the party
conference season, adding a further three
weeks to the political paralysis.

 It has been said that MPs need the long
summer break in order to think and to reflect.
Some may question whether time spent doing
so during present parliamentary sessions is
being used entirely effectively and call not
only for improved policies and strategic
input, but also an extention of the number
of sittings.

The Prime Minister and Opposition leaders
should undertake a review of the long summer
break, which may have been appropriate in
the early Nineteenth Century, but certainly
not now with the need to respond immediately
to unpredictable global events.

Public disenchantment with politics is at an
all-time high. MPs are seen as being increasingly
out of touch with those whom they are paid to
represent.The growing apathy of voters and
their disconnect from the political process
can be seen in declining turnouts at general
elections. In 1950, 84% of the electorate voted,
whereas in 2010 it was just 65% and nothing
suggests that this will change.

The mood of cynicism is the result of the main
parties gravitating to the ideological centre-
ground and those in the Westminster bubble
appearing to represent only themselves, rather,
that their constituents.

MPs expenses and failure to address the concerns
of ordinary people are fuelling resentment,
exacerbated by deep cuts in public spending. On
the state of the economy, Europe, immigration
and a wide range of other crucial issues, voters'
voices are not being heard and this poses an
increasing threat to democracy.

This feeling of disenfranchisement has prompted
people to ask if it is worth voting, a view that is
compounded by the fact that there seem to be few
substantive policy differences separating the
Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

However, this malaise will inevitably turn to
frustration and anger, as the pain of austerity
continues. Voters are turning to UKIP as the
catalyst that will address what is happening
in an overcrowded Britain, requiring strong
leadership, driven by principle, not focus
groups.

UKIP's star is in the ascendent, but for how
long? Long enough, it is hoped, to
influence the Conservative leadership to
dissolve its unworkable political marriage
of convenience with the Liberal Democrats.
It must do what it takes to stand any chance
of a working majority in 2015. Britain's
survival depends on it.