Changing the way we think of politics
Last week the prime minister made a speech called 'The New Politics' to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
The headlines that were to come out as a result of this speech predictably centred around the appointment of a Tory MP and a Liberal Democratic MP to advise the government on certain issues. Now whatever you may think about Tories and Liberals advising the government (and you can probably guess what I think about this!), the PM's speech on Monday contained some crucial points on the way in which politics is done and could be done in the country that seem to have been largely missed by the media. I think his views deserve to be highlighted.
All MPs have experience of the good work that goes on in their local communities through local people's hard work. We all recognise the amount of time that these volunteers give up to help those in the community. In Crofton, for instance, it has been the hard work of local volunteers that got local sports facilities up and running, finding the funding for the project and dealing with all the administrative problems that can occur with this type of project. In Featherstone, another village in the constituency, the hard work of local residents has meant that the community now has the use of a 'pocket park' even though some opposition politicians tried to stop it. Gordon Brown's speech last Monday paid tribute to the many volunteers who help to improve the society in which we live, but also asked a fundamental question: if people are willing to give up their time to help their local community and this volunteering has increased over the past few years (over half the population volunteers at least once a month), why do people still feel disconnected from politics and politicians and to society as a whole?
The PM recognised that in order to help solve problems in society, the challenge of global warming, global economic competition and solutions to violent crimes it is necessary to do politics in a new way. It is necessary to listen to people's own ideas about what is wrong in their society, as they will ultimately be the people who are changing society. Gordon Brown announced that he will be setting up 'citizens' juries' in every constituency and on specific policy areas. The aim of these juries is to involve the public directly in policy-making. I understand this will help the government keep in contact directly with the country. However these juries should not supplant existing democratic structures such as the local councils, and the same voluntary structures that the PM praised in his speech. For example, the patients' forums who speak on behalf of people in the NHS, or the trades unions in the workplace, or all the charities and other organisations like tenants and residents groups which exist in our country. Members of the public should also feel able to go to their local councillor, community group and raise problems that are in the local community.
Gordon Brown also announced a Speaker's Conference at the House of Commons that will discuss important issues such as electoral registration, weekend voting and the under-representation of women and ethnic minorities in parliament and the possibility of lowering the voting age to 16. This conference will be cross-party and will also look for solutions to the electors' apathy with voting and politics in general. It is worrying that voter turn-out is so low – 62 per cent at the last election. I hope that by raising these issues at the beginning of his leadership, Gordon Brown can encourage people to play a more active role in their communities and acknowledge the benefits for society as a whole of greater participation in the political process.
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Weather for Wakefield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
