John McDonnell
WOKINGHAM TIMES 6.7.7
I welcome the new Prime Minister’s wish to try to restore some trust in politics and government. He is right that many people are disillusioned to the point of not believing what the government says, and not voting in elections.
I went to hear his first major statement on Tuesday last week full of hope. He began well, listing twelve areas where he would surrender power to Parliament or to the Synod of the Church of England. He spoke more softly that we are used to, and stressed he wished to build consensus for constitutional changes across party divides. I was on board for the changes.
The new voice did not last long. As the statement continued unacceptable measures and crude political posturing came to the fore. The voice grew more like the strident crushing tones we have been used to during his years as Chancellor dealing with anyone who dared to doubt the self advertised brilliance of his stewardship.
Many of us feel passionately that the current settlement between England and Scotland is unfair. Scottish MPs at Westminster speak and vote on health and education in Berkshire, but cannot speak and vote about such matters in their own areas. I am not allowed to speak and vote on education or health anywhere in Scotland, although money goes from England to Scotland to allow them to spend more per head than we do.
Mr Brown ruled out any change in these two tier arrangements, slapping down the Opposition proposal that we need English votes on English issues in the Commons to balance things up after the Blair/Brown lop sided devolution.
Worse was to follow. He said he intends to appoint regional committees in the Commons for the artificial regions of England drawn up by the EU, and to allow regional MPs to question regional ministers. This was a red rag to most of us, as we dearly wish to see the back of the regional quangoes. I look forward to the day when we can wind up the South East regional Assembly, and give the money from the South East development Agency to taxpayers or to local Councils, who will spend it more wisely. The last thing I want is to see the balkanisation of England reflected in Parliament in silly regional committees talking to ineffective junior ministers.
If the Prime Minister is really serious about restoring faith in politics he should start honouring the promises of the government he has served in for so long. He could begin by offering us the referendum on the EU Treaty which they promised to get them through the last General Election without having to debate it properly then. He could go on to sort out the damage he has done to pension funds by a combination of taxation and regulation. He could start to lift the authoritarian and clumsy responses to terrorism that characterised the Blair/Brown years. He could stop the waste of money on ID cards for the law abiding, which would just provide another money making opportunity for the criminals who will make a market in forged one.
Restoring faith in politics requires politicians to speak the truth as they see it, and then to deliver what they promise. It’s as simple as that. Unfortunately on this week’s evidence the new Prime Minister has grasped the problem but has not found the remedy.
