Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Monday, 27 June 2016
Is the PLP out of step with it roots?
The feeding frenzy post the UK referendum is in full swing, and today this was evident in the activities in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP). Now I'm not a Labour supporter by any means and certainly not of the left wing of that party for their attitude is a bit too left wing for my liking. I'm a natural Tory voter you see, but I also shy away from the extreme right of Conservatism for that too has overtones that do not sit well with me. I suppose I should be a Liberal Democrat for the centre ground is where I find myself most comfortable politically speaking, but then again I find there is a lack of spine in the leadership.
However I digress, for one thing I hold dear is the thing this country is proud of, and that is its democracy, something that right now the PLP conveniently is seeming to ignore. Mr Corbyn may not represent my political views, but he is the leader of his party by a democratic vote, and by a really significant margin too. We have witnessed a large proportion of the Labour Shadow Cabinet resign in protest at Mr Corbyn's leadership blaming him for a lack of leadership to motivate the core Labour voter to follow the party line. I did have the impression that Mr Corbyn was less than passionate about the stance for REMAIN the party espoused, and this indicates to me that he was having to represent a case he didn't believe in. Who knows, in the secret ballot he may even have put his cross against LEAVE. Maybe he too, like me, is passionate about democracy and knows just how undemocratic the EU really is, but was constrained from saying so.
One thing I do believe though is that he does have the support of the ordinary Labour Party member, for he represents the roots of the party far more than most of the PLP. It is the PLP that is out of tune with the membership, not their leader. Perhaps before they all decided to fall on their swords in a grand gesture of disloyalty, they should have taken time to consult with their constituents. I really do hope the PLP forces another Labour leadership election for Mr Corbyn will be vindicated. Democracy will carry the day as it should.
However I digress, for one thing I hold dear is the thing this country is proud of, and that is its democracy, something that right now the PLP conveniently is seeming to ignore. Mr Corbyn may not represent my political views, but he is the leader of his party by a democratic vote, and by a really significant margin too. We have witnessed a large proportion of the Labour Shadow Cabinet resign in protest at Mr Corbyn's leadership blaming him for a lack of leadership to motivate the core Labour voter to follow the party line. I did have the impression that Mr Corbyn was less than passionate about the stance for REMAIN the party espoused, and this indicates to me that he was having to represent a case he didn't believe in. Who knows, in the secret ballot he may even have put his cross against LEAVE. Maybe he too, like me, is passionate about democracy and knows just how undemocratic the EU really is, but was constrained from saying so.
One thing I do believe though is that he does have the support of the ordinary Labour Party member, for he represents the roots of the party far more than most of the PLP. It is the PLP that is out of tune with the membership, not their leader. Perhaps before they all decided to fall on their swords in a grand gesture of disloyalty, they should have taken time to consult with their constituents. I really do hope the PLP forces another Labour leadership election for Mr Corbyn will be vindicated. Democracy will carry the day as it should.
Sunday, 26 June 2016
This (Dis)United Kingdon
Thursday 23td June 2016 saw the United Kingdom go to the polling booth to decide if the voting public wished to remain in the European Union or leave. The first time they have been consulted on the matter since 1975. The result was close as was to be expected and whilst there was a clear majority, for me it is not conclusive and as a result has caused more division that perhaps was intended.
The lead up to the vote was dreadful. Both sides of the debate told lies, exaggerated the facts, pounded the voters with fear and doubt. Many couldn't see past the rhetoric of the campaigners to focus on what the problem was. In the end it was the fear of immigration that swayed so many voters to put their X next to leave. Ok so I voted leave, but for me the reason was not because of immigration of any of the number of baseless untruths that were told. No my reason for voting leave was simply that I wish to live in a democracy, and the way the EU is formed currently it is anything but.
The grand plan of the EU was to move to ever closer union with the dream being a United States of Europe. I don't think that this is achievable for the nations that make up Europe are too diverse culturally to be able to do so. The European nations are the mother of America, but cannot adopt the system of governance their child has managed to do. Well perhaps they could if they chose to have a system of governance that followed the model the USA has chosen. However the EU is not like the USA for one important reason, it is run by unelected, appointed officials.
The EU has a president, Mr Juncker but he is unelected unlike the president of the USA. In fact apart from the European Parliament whose members are elected every five years, the rest of the EU is presided over by unelected officials. These unelected officials hold sway over the democratically elected chamber. As someone who passionately believes in democracy being the right way to govern, the system adopted by the EU is unacceptable for me. To add to this problem for me are the directives and regulations issued by these councils that are not adopted the same manner in each member state. The playing field is not level across the EU.
I believe in the European project, and the place of the UK within it, but as all the countries that are members are all democracies, is it too much to ask that the umbrella body that seeks to draw us together is made up in the same way? No, in my opinion, it is not an unreasonable request. The problem is that there is no will to change the current unfair and blatantly undemocratic system that is effectively a dictatorship. Certainly the will to change is not expressed by the Council of Ministers, the European Council or European Commission, and neither is their any will to effect change from the democratically elected governments of the member states. It is this lack of will to have a proper democratic process throughout the EU organisation that caused me to vote the way I did, and for no other reason.
In order to effect change, it is necessary to send a clear message that change is needed, and the UK has done exactly that. Perhaps now, and before it is too late and the UK invokes article 50 that the countries that make up the EU come to their senses and force democracy into the EU. I sincerely hope the threat of other central countries of the EU like France and Holland where the tide of nationalism is rising, and given hope from the result of the UK vote, is sufficient to make it plain that something has to happen for the sake of us all.
The lead up to the vote was dreadful. Both sides of the debate told lies, exaggerated the facts, pounded the voters with fear and doubt. Many couldn't see past the rhetoric of the campaigners to focus on what the problem was. In the end it was the fear of immigration that swayed so many voters to put their X next to leave. Ok so I voted leave, but for me the reason was not because of immigration of any of the number of baseless untruths that were told. No my reason for voting leave was simply that I wish to live in a democracy, and the way the EU is formed currently it is anything but.
The grand plan of the EU was to move to ever closer union with the dream being a United States of Europe. I don't think that this is achievable for the nations that make up Europe are too diverse culturally to be able to do so. The European nations are the mother of America, but cannot adopt the system of governance their child has managed to do. Well perhaps they could if they chose to have a system of governance that followed the model the USA has chosen. However the EU is not like the USA for one important reason, it is run by unelected, appointed officials.
The EU has a president, Mr Juncker but he is unelected unlike the president of the USA. In fact apart from the European Parliament whose members are elected every five years, the rest of the EU is presided over by unelected officials. These unelected officials hold sway over the democratically elected chamber. As someone who passionately believes in democracy being the right way to govern, the system adopted by the EU is unacceptable for me. To add to this problem for me are the directives and regulations issued by these councils that are not adopted the same manner in each member state. The playing field is not level across the EU.
I believe in the European project, and the place of the UK within it, but as all the countries that are members are all democracies, is it too much to ask that the umbrella body that seeks to draw us together is made up in the same way? No, in my opinion, it is not an unreasonable request. The problem is that there is no will to change the current unfair and blatantly undemocratic system that is effectively a dictatorship. Certainly the will to change is not expressed by the Council of Ministers, the European Council or European Commission, and neither is their any will to effect change from the democratically elected governments of the member states. It is this lack of will to have a proper democratic process throughout the EU organisation that caused me to vote the way I did, and for no other reason.
In order to effect change, it is necessary to send a clear message that change is needed, and the UK has done exactly that. Perhaps now, and before it is too late and the UK invokes article 50 that the countries that make up the EU come to their senses and force democracy into the EU. I sincerely hope the threat of other central countries of the EU like France and Holland where the tide of nationalism is rising, and given hope from the result of the UK vote, is sufficient to make it plain that something has to happen for the sake of us all.
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