New essays “define the political landscape”
Article posted by Unlock Democracy
Unlock Democracy today publishes three essays on democratic reform by leading figures in the main political parties. Each essay is based on Unlock Democracy Lectures given by each author in autumn 2008.
The three essays are:
- Charter 88 and Liberalism by David Howarth MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice)
- Continuing the journey towards a modern constitution for Britain by Charles Clarke MP (Labour and former Home Secretary)
- Time for a Tory Democracy by Daniel Hannan MEP (Conservative and Telegraph Columnist)
The lectures were held to mark the 20th anniversary of Charter 88, of which Unlock Democracy is the successor organisation.
Commenting on the essays, Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:
“Taken together, these three essays define the political landscape that democratic reformers in the UK must navigate over the next few years. Charles Clarke wishes to see a continuation of Labour’s reform programme started in 1997. David Howarth is keen to emphasise the need for electoral reform and a written constitution while Daniel Hannan adopts a radical approach, as hostile to human rights as much as it is in favour of local control.
“Charter 88’s lasting legacy can be seen in all three essays: we are all democratic reformers now. At the same time, the scale of Unlock Democracy’s future task is apparent for all to see.”
February 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Charles Clarke, predictably, tries to divert attention from the elephant in the room by blathering on about improving English regional governance. Of course we all want better government at local and regional level, but the really important and blindingly obvious democratic deficit is in the absence of any national government for England, when Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already enjoy this, and look set to have the powers of their national forums steadily increased. If this problem is not fully and effectively dealt with it will, in due course, destroy the United Kingdom.
We need to exclude MPs from non-English constituencies from all matters affecting England others than those which, for their own countries, have been reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament. The cleanest way to do this and the one least fraught with unintended consequences is through the establishment of a devolved English Parliament. There is no appetite for this in the Labour party, but they must face it, or face something worse.