tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post114020451819444936..comments2023-10-07T15:01:23.872+01:00Comments on Not Little England: Coalition: Bringing the Right onboardMatGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140815629108195582006-02-24T21:13:00.000+00:002006-02-24T21:13:00.000+00:00My reasons for preferring a written constitution a...My reasons for preferring a written constitution are simple. I don't believe that we can always be assured that our elected representatives will act in our best interests. Especially given how strong party loyalty to the whip is in this country. If we want to do something about the Executive dominating, then the key aspect to address is how MPs feel unable, or unwilling, to defy the whip for fear of the consequences. <BR/><BR/>Since a government with a reasonable majority can achieve anything under our present constitutional arrangement, then I will always be in favour of a written constitution of putting certain things beyond the purview of even MPs. The Acts you mention are not particularly useful for defending our civil rights.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10190945538968403460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140812454965905702006-02-24T20:20:00.000+00:002006-02-24T20:20:00.000+00:00Matt; it's not what was, it's what people believe?...Matt; it's not what <I>was</I>, it's what people <I>believe</I>? There's no doubt that Parliament has been diminished over the last few governments; the principle is failing.<BR/><BR/>Powerful executive is one thing, over powerful is another. Essentially, Thatcher was taking us to the line, Blair has crossed it.<BR/><BR/>Oh, I have no doubt that hard-core supporters will always vote partizan, Labour still gets 14% in Torbay, it's the undecideds, uncommitted, or the "better than the other lot" voters.<BR/><BR/>I'm not, actually, sold on a written constitution; I'd take my lead from the Acts of Settlement, the Great Reform Act and the original Bill of Rights.<BR/><BR/>And something fairly innofensive that no one could object to, but brings the Govt to account and enshrines a basic agreement as to how we should be governed in the modern age is something I'd be happy with.<BR/><BR/>I, personally, want a radical reform, but, well, I can always keep going afterwards, the current "settlement" quite simply isn't settled.MatGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140809840813985372006-02-24T19:37:00.000+00:002006-02-24T19:37:00.000+00:00"A rabid reformer like me can combine with a tradi...<I>"A rabid reformer like me can combine with a traditionalist and argue for a return to the days when Parliament was supreme and the Executive held to account by it, right?"</I><BR/><BR/>The problem here is that there never has been a Golden Age of Parliament. The Executive has always been powerful, and necessarily so in the British system of government, otherwise there <B>is</B> no government.<BR/><BR/>I can appreciate the sentiment behind this campaign, and I'm going to watch the debate with interest, but I can't help but feel that it's going to take a lot to convince a hard-Labour voter to vote Tory. They may vote Lib Dem. To compare with 1997 is unfair, since there you had Labour voters switching to Lib Dem tactically where it made sense. There were no votes cast "against" or opposite to an individual's political persuasion - i.e. there were no hard-Conservatives voting Labour to bring about the demise of Major.<BR/><BR/>I think you've already indentified what may be the biggest problem with this campaign: encouraging Conservatives to be less conservative about reform. It's all very well agreeing that we want to defend a list of our civil rights, but there is little doubt that while the left want to defend them with a written constitution and an enshrined bill of rights, the right would not want to see either... and so we then differ on our implementation. How do you make a united group without it being filled with airy-fairy simple committments that probably no one in the country would oppose?<BR/><BR/>Hang on a minute. Isn't that what all the manifestoes at the last election were like? They all said things no one could disagree with? <BR/><BR/>This is very difficult territory. The ideological gap is much wider than many people think.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10190945538968403460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140468830791061982006-02-20T20:53:00.000+00:002006-02-20T20:53:00.000+00:00Hmm. A Constitution incorporating principles of Fo...Hmm. A Constitution incorporating principles of FoI. That's an intriguing idea, and one which could get a whole host of others interested.Bishop Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914977525290282450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140464047072429792006-02-20T19:34:00.000+00:002006-02-20T19:34:00.000+00:00I think this is a brilliant idea, and am happy to ...I think this is a brilliant idea, and am happy to help in any way I can. You've definitely tapped into something people from all sides are feeling quite raw about.<BR/><BR/>As far as principles, I think it would be a good idea to stress transparency. Politicians these days have such contempt for the public but I think they'll find if they're open with their arguments and information, they might be pleasantly surprised at the intelligence the folk of this country possess.Simon Hodgeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00045940364682507474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140372098754223212006-02-19T18:01:00.000+00:002006-02-19T18:01:00.000+00:00Actually the words of Benjamin Franklin were "Wher...Actually the words of Benjamin Franklin were <I>"Where liberty <B>dwells</B>, there is my country"</I>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140287276576741762006-02-18T18:27:00.000+00:002006-02-18T18:27:00.000+00:00You just did. But a post linking here would defin...You just did. But a post linking here would definately help, the more links in the better off we are if it's going to happen, then we can link out to whoever needs the support. <BR/><BR/>Especially Unity's site when it's up and running. <BR/><BR/>Besides, you're younger than me, and I deny being old (except when I'm out with my student friends, who are all far too young).MatGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140286976936745072006-02-18T18:22:00.000+00:002006-02-18T18:22:00.000+00:00awww... thanks, Mat.I'll take "New Young Blood" as...awww... thanks, Mat.<BR/><BR/>I'll take "New Young Blood" as a compliment.<BR/><BR/>The Conservative Party I think is the broadest of broad church parties, you get all sorts and that I think is a good thing.<BR/><BR/>So how do I sign up for this coalition thing?Biodunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16683085652044953165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140282767258171842006-02-18T17:12:00.000+00:002006-02-18T17:12:00.000+00:00I think I agree with John; I was 17 at the time of...I think I agree with John; I was 17 at the time of the '92 election, which I followed with interest; I <I>wanted</I> the Tories out then (although I <A HREF="http://groups.google.com/group/uk.politics.misc/browse_thread/thread/7194167746ee7602/cc517c561b9bc58e?lnk=st&q=&rnum=12#cc517c561b9bc58e" REL="nofollow">acknowledged Major's skills as a campaigner</A>), and definately wanted them out 5 years later; they were tired, had succumber to the appeal of populism and moralising (back to basics/"did you threaten to overrule him" anyone?) and were devoured by the legacy of the late Thatcher period.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't just Thatcher. But NM is right; it's the past, it's gone. Looking to the future, Cameron is taking things in the right direction; even if he's not genuine, Toriy bloggers such as <A HREF="http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/" REL="nofollow">Gav</A>, <A HREF="http://toryconvert.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Convert</A> and <A HREF="http://oremi.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Biodun</A> show that there is a groundswell of new young bloods who believe in social freedoms, and probably believe in political freedoms and decentralisation as well.<BR/><BR/>Thatcher et al looked at Militant run councils and decided to neutet them, Labour hasn't done much to restore their powers, but I suspect a new generation of Tory politicians will be sympathetic to restoring local democracies as well.<BR/><BR/>This has to be about restoring accountability and basic freedoms, taking power away from the executive and the centre. I think that's something most those politically involved that haven't bought into the NuLab project can agree to.MatGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140273543964423332006-02-18T14:39:00.000+00:002006-02-18T14:39:00.000+00:00Hmmm. Not sure I agree with Nosemonkey - I'm too y...Hmmm. Not sure I agree with Nosemonkey - I'm too young to have hated Thatcher at the time, yet am still instinctively anti-Tory. I think it's just that Thatcher personifies the "I'm alright Jack, screw the rest" attitude that is often - unfairly, in many cases - attributed to Conservatism.<BR/><BR/>She also typified the habit - not exclusively a Tory one; best seen today in the blacktops perhaps - of suggesting she was acting in the interests of a silent majority of ordinary working people. Even when such a majority exists that tends to translate as "working in the interests of people like me." That can be uncomfortable for those who were drawn to the left of politics by a naive idealization of the greater good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140221013540612482006-02-18T00:03:00.000+00:002006-02-18T00:03:00.000+00:00To get over the anti-Tory thing it's necessary to ...To get over the anti-Tory thing it's necessary to shake of the instinctive anti-Thatcher thing. Because that's largely what it is. Press people why they won't vote Tory, it always comes down to her.<BR/><BR/>But it's been 16 years. She's practically dead. It's time to move on.<BR/><BR/>And if you push people these days to come up with what Thatcher did that was so bad (once they accept that our industrial sector was no longer viable anyway), the worst they can usually come up with is the Poll Tax. Give me that any day over Blair's ID card equivalent - because not only is that a shit-load more expensive, but what is it if not a poll tax?<BR/><BR/>And Blair's version is a poll tax with nobs on. When did Thatcher suggest fingerprinting and retina scanning us all to ensure we paid?<BR/><BR/>And for those who will counter by saying I've got a short term political memory, bollocks. I live in the present; Thatcher's the past; I'm worried about the future. Plus the next general election will be the first with voters who weren't even born while she was in office.<BR/><BR/>Get over her. Blair's worse.Nosemonkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10770646488422232541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140214780847899412006-02-17T22:19:00.000+00:002006-02-17T22:19:00.000+00:00Absolutely; no idea what we'll be needing as yet, ...Absolutely; no idea what we'll be needing as yet, to be honest I'm still surprised how fast people are coming on board; nascent idea to blogswarm in 2 days. Weird.<BR/><BR/>Cool, but weird.MatGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17312454.post-1140208024057451892006-02-17T20:27:00.000+00:002006-02-17T20:27:00.000+00:00A night away from the PC and a revolution breaks o...A night away from the PC and a revolution breaks out!<BR/><BR/>If I can be of any assistance with interwebby stuff, let me know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com