The apathetic generation
Lucy Cranshaw goes to the Power Commision in Westminster to investigate why nobody seems to care about politics anymore
What has happened to democracy in Britain? Citizens are now becoming increasingly disengaged. The Power Commission was set up to investigate how these worrying trends might be reversed. So on a wet and windy Saturday morning I found myself in Westminster, feeling a little over-keen, in a queue to hear what the Power Commission and a few of our leading politicians had to say about democracy.
For the Commission itself to be as representative as possible it consulted 175 experts, received 1500 public submissions and set up a Citizens Panel in Gateshead. This meant that more people were consulted about their feelings on democracy than ever before in Britain.
Baroness Kennedy, chair of the Commission, explained that the conference was set up to confront feelings of ‘anti-politics’ in Britain. In the last general election 64% of the electorate did not choose this government. This disengagement and disaffection with formal politics needs to be addressed.
David Cameron, gave his support for much of the Commission’s findings including more decentralisation and a partly elected House of Lords. Yet, he did not agree with the Commission’s proposals for a proportional system of voting, saying it would destroy the ‘clear link between MPs and constituencies.’
A key findings of the Commission was that people do not feel represented. However, looking around the conference I could see little evidence of an attempt at representation. Everyone in the audience seemed to be white and middle class. The Commission did appear to be ‘preaching to the converted’ - ironic for an inquiry set up to combat an unrepresentative and alienating system.
An important finding of the inquiry was that it is not apathy that creates anti-political feelings in Britain, but alienation. People give to charity, run school fetes and campaign on single issues which shows that they want to get involved. Yet they feel powerless and alienated by the political system. People cannot, therefore, be blamed for having a lack of interest - they want to get involved; it is the system that they cannot relate to.
The Commission is certainly an innovative initiative and demonstrates that people are concerned about the important issues of political control and representation. But until politics becomes more accessible there is the danger that initiatives such as the Commission will remain unnoticed and misunderstood. To confront the disengagement concrete action needs to be taken. As the Commission says, only a radical overhaul of the existing system will do. Only when this is accomplished will we be able to say that power is really being shared with the people.
H I Manning
The conclusions published are long overdue. However until those in or seeking office areprepared to address the problem of getting the electorate to address the publics welfare garment of desire with the amount of cash that same electorate is prepared to pay and vote for, we are all whistling in the wind.
Politicians will not address the issue, because Society will not.
Bob
who cares!
Ivor Manning
The Leader Frost, in giving evidence on Lords Reform (19th June). Told the committee that cross party negotiations were going well. However the conclusions reached were confidential. Back benchers were not informed on these matters.
So you see, members might have a link with constituents but both are treated with contempt and the House of Commons is innefective. That is why we are disenchanted with this sham democracy.