In recent years there has been a crisis in democracy in Britain. Political analyses believe that there has been an erosion of confidence in the institutions of representative democracy. They say that the reason for this attitude and also the growing cynicism is due to the decline in conventional participation: which has discouraged electoral turnout. In 1998, the House of Commons Affairs Committee investigated electoral law and administration, argued that the participation rates in British elections have been low and effects should be made to increase them. Increasing turnout levels are important because it is healthy for a democratic and political system that participation in the electoral process should be as high as possible. The major factors affecting turnout relates to the voters’ general perceptions of the importance of their own vote and the views of the particular candidates standing for elections. One of the problems Britain face today are a lack of good, honest candidates with traditional morals and values. Voters’ once could clearly distinguish each party’s manifesto but in recent elections, this has been unclear.
Another reason why people are losing confidence in the democratic system is because they feel that the have been ignored and it seems no matter what the majority has to say the government does its own will. Take for example, in 1999 the Labour government announced that it intended to abolish Section 28, introduced under the Conservative administration of Margaret Thatcher to prevent local government providing funding for gay and lesbian groups and discussing homosexual relations in sex education classes in schools. A campaign to keep “Section 28″, accompanied by much public debate, was funded by a rich businessman, a Free Church member, who formed an alliance with certain religious groups and conservatives. Allegedly four million ballot papers were distributed, and about forty percent returned. Not surprisingly, those against teaching about homosexuality were more likely to take part and 80% voted to keep the bill. A poll of this type has no legal effect and parliament had announced in advance that the result would be ignored.[1]
Every elections in Britain people are free and without victimisation to vote for a party of their choice. The reason we all vote is because we either believe the promises that the political party’s make or we vote for the one with the philosophies we agree to. For we all want to make Britain a better place. However some governments abuse their position and become a “democratic dictator”. They have been elected by the people and for the people yet in office they represent no one but the longevity of their party in power. Such examples are of Zimbabwe and the tyranny of Robert Mugabe who during election after election forces the masses to vote for him or face the consequences. Britain is not that extreme however they are as controlling, for example:
In Britain we have lost our privacy and we slowly coming into the days when we lose our freedom. Our Government has given itself unbelievable new powers to listen to, read and monitor all our communications and transactions. Personal privacy, the essence of true liberty, no longer exists. And the worst is yet to come. Our ruthless and abusive Government clearly intends to extend its powers still further and to continue to take away what few rights we have left and what little privacy remains. It seems that every new piece of legislation is now introduced in the name of terrorism. Surveillance cameras are everywhere. The Government is bringing in ID cards. New legislation reducing our civil liberties is being introduced so quickly that civil liberties groups hardly have time to express outrage at one new piece of fascist legislation before another ism being prepared.
The Government keeps detailed records of every move we make. They have introduced new legislation, which has so damaged our personal security that identity theft is now one of the fastest growing types of crime. Personal privacy for law-abiding citizens is now just a memory. The law enforcement agencies have given up protecting the public (the task for which they are paid) and now spend most of their time persecuting motorists (an easy target and a ready source of income).
“The sovereignty of Parliament is, from a legal point of view, the dominant characteristic of our political institutions. Parliament consists of the King, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons acting together. The principle, therefore, of parliamentary sovereignty means neither more nor less than this, namely that “Parliament” has “the right to make or unmake any law whatever; and further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament.”[2]
[1] Sources: www.eurogay.co.uk, World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
[2] Chap. I. p. 3, post. Parliament may itself by Act of Parliament either expressly or impliedly give to some subordinate legislature or other body the power to modify or add to INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE LAW OF THE CONSTITUTION by A. V. Dicey, All Souls College, Oxford, 1885
Posted by Brendon Naicker 