Churchill famously said: “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Had he lived in the 21st Century, he might well have been commenting on the memory of democracy, thanks to an onslaught of attacks on its very existence from those in power, who really ought to know better.
Under Boris Johnson (I’m talking figuratively, not literally, as with pole-dancing IT tutors, shame on you), the Conservative Government prorogued Parliament in 2019 in an effort to bypass Parliamentary scrutiny of its Brexit plans. Subsequently declared unlawful by the Supreme Court, which stuck a giant pin into Johnson’s devious strategy and his over-inflated balloon of a ̶p̶a̶u̶n̶c̶h̶ ego, the rogue PM was deemed to have let the Queen down, the public down, and – best not to have stood downwind of him – himself down.
This, of course, was a few years after the Daily Nazi (name changed to protect the guilty) proclaimed in 2016 that judges were the “enemies of the people” in their ruling that Parliament must be consulted in giving notice of Brexit. (Tsk, judges. Sitting in our courts, upholding our constitution…)
Undeterred in their quest for tyranny, the Tories then introduced a requirement for photo ID in the local elections of 2023, to solve the formidable problem of fraudulent voting. In fact, the issue was so ̶b̶a̶d̶ non-existent, more Conservative MPs had been accused/convicted of sex offences since 2019 than there were cases of voter fraud.
But what’s wrong with this, I hear you ask (I’m afraid data protection doesn’t apply to this piece). Surprisingly, there are around two million people who don’t possess a driving licence, passport, bus pass, or police mug shot (not everyone’s a Tory MP, you know). Unsurprisingly, student and young person’s travel cards are excluded from the list of acceptable documents, which I’m sure was a genuine oversight.
Ahem.
And at a local level?
This modern interpretation of democracy experienced at a national level – ‘everyone has an equal right to be disregarded’ – has recently wormed its way into local government, with the worms at Brighton and Hove City Council now adopting a ‘cabinet’ system of governance. Favoured by a growing number of councils to speed up decision making, it essentially means the electorate, and many of their councillors, are distanced even further from the decision-making process. Putting into question the age-old adage ‘we get the government we deserve’. How can people deserve something if they’re not allowed to do anything to deserve it?
The cabinet is led by the Leader of the Council, Bella Sankey (Labour), who has appointed nine other (Labour) councillors to sit in it – equating to a sixth of the total number of 54 councillors city-wide. The Cabinet meets monthly to decide on policy, with opposition councillors awarded a meagre 15 minutes to ask questions. This naturally reduces the opportunity for scrutiny of decision-making by democratically elected councillors, never mind the public. As Conservative Leader Alistair McNair has complained: “It’s 15 minutes for all opposition councillors to put in questions on very important matters. It’s ridiculous.”
Accordingly, every single question/complaint/request for discussion I’ve put to BHCC about the proliferation of extremely noisy outdoor events in Kemptown during the summer months has been gaslit, rebutted, or simply ignored. You can read my ̶r̶a̶n̶t̶ expertly considered piece on this here.
Of the two councillors responsible for my ward, one is famous across town for never replying to emails (I’m still awaiting any response to the several missives I’ve sent him since August 2023), and I’m beginning to question if he’s actually a real person. Remember Eastenders?
DR LEGG: The results are back from the lab, Pauline, and it’s bad news – I’m afraid you’re fictitious.
The other councillor in my area, newly elected last May, sat through a fiery engagement meeting about the impact on local residents of the numerous festivals inflicted on us (which make a great deal of money for private companies), before piping up with: “But why do you say six hours of ear-splitting techno music without a break, two days running, is a nightmare?” Grasp of local issues plainly not required for office.
Recently, it was suggested by a council employee we could sue the Council if we take such exception to days and nights of high-decibel noise, which preclude sleep for 11 days out of 18, and the suspension of our civil rights.
Which means democracy where I live exists only for those who either agree with Brighton and Hove City Council, or are wealthy enough to take it to court.
As to the question in the title of this piece, Whither Democracy? well, it’s withering. Gives withering look.
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