Chartist Romp

A noble cause

I felt inadequate addressing the Chartism Day Conference delegates tonight.

I had not arranged for six ladies in white dresses to lead me into the room throwing flowers in my path. Earlier Janette Martin told us that were what happened when the most eloquent of Chartists Henry Vincent spoke to meetings. I did not have time to check whether I could claim for six ladies and flowers from the MPs expenses allowance. Although I could probably make a better case for that, than claims for nannies’ pay or pergolas.

The University of Wales Newport hosted a commemoration of the People’s Charter and the most significant event in Newport’s history. The author of a new study of Chartism Malcolm Chase was there and I thanked him for confirming that Newport hero George Shell became a national hero.

The night before he was killed in the Chartist charge on the Westgate hotel, this 17 year old cabinet maker wrote to his parents” “If I die tomorrow, I do so in a noble cause”

Chase recalls that he was remembered in verse in the Chartist’ national paper.

Who fought for freedom, more than life?
Who gave up all to die in strife?
The young the brave, no more a slave,
Immortal Shell,
Who died so well
He fell and sleeps in honour’s grave.

There is a need for a new Charter

The Prime Minister can still declare war without the approval of Parliament. Only Britain and Lesotho has hereditary chieftains in their legislature. Governments are given absolute power on the basis of a minority of votes. Power and influence can still be bought and the media wield extraordinary control over the public opinion.

It’s time for a new charter with the following six points.

* Make all votes of equal value.

* Extend to all media the broadcasters statutory duty of balance.

* Make power the exclusive gift of the electorate never to be inherited or bought.

* Liberate political parties from dependence on outside interests through national funding.

* Give franchise to 16 year olds.

* Broaden all political horizons to encompass one humanity, one environment, and one world.

Disarmed by charm

It was difficult to love the hard-nosed cunning lobbyists who gave evidence to the Public Administration Committee in London.  It was impossible to dislike the charmers who gave evidence to us in Brussels.

Elaine Cruickshank has a distinguished record of service having been propelled through the Foreign Office to CEO of a top lobbyist firm. All our aggressive tentacles were withdrawn and we allowed ourselves to be seduced into flaccid submission.

Ruth Rawling convinced us that all Brussels lobbyists are starry-eyed idealists who are free from guile and sin. How could we disagree?

We warmed to Greenpeace lobbyist Jorgo Riss He is the spokesman for an alliance of groups campaigning for transparency. He believes that the new voluntary register is a cop-out and weak compromise. Right on.

Is it the Brussels air or are we going soft?

Comments

[Jolly Roger]

Well blow me down and bugger me.
You've made a post and I almost agree.
Of your half a dozen bulleted points,
There's only one that disappoints.
re: National Funding. It's number 4.
I don't want the bill for that at my door.
Why should I pay for your Political Frolics.
If you ask me Paul, it's a load of Bollicks.

You clearly don't think that we pay enough.
What with all the snouts in trough.
Expenses here, expenses there.
Including secretarial baby care.
Window cleaning, moss management too,
Without your ex'es, what would you all do?
The times are changing, Paul, dear chap.
The Public's had enough of this crap.

Are we to assume that this further payout
Would be available to the full party layout?
Do you include BNP or Greens or Browns.
And Independents from various towns.
How about the Raving Loonies,
The Flat Earthers, UKIP and the Moonies.
The None of these Turkeys could do with the cash.
In order to fund their recruitment bash.
I'm sure that many new Parties will emerge,
To benefit from this welcome Spending Splurge.

If fact I think I'll start my own Party.
I'll call it the Arty Party Farty.
Now that I've declared and kept to the norms.
Kindly tell me where I collect the Forms.
To book my place on the appropriate teat,
Of the Public Cash Cow where you have your seat.
Maybe I should've called teat an udder.
I'll stick to the 'Rules' my Political Bruddah.

[Will S]

Paul, if you introduced national funding, don't you believe that it might fatally damage the party structures and competitiveness. Would you measure the party funding by current opinion polls or by the last election (or maybe the level of membership)? Furthermore the level of favour would surely either discriminate against small parties or in favour of the large parties. The current system already allows for a natural cycle of parties as well as the emergence if new parties (UKIP and the BNP are two prominent examples), and this occurs through the rapid popularisation of a party with rich donors. This type of a rapid popularisation would not be possible through state funding. Furthermore such a change would wholly benefit the almost bankrupt Labour party (I believe the Lib Dems are managing their funds better) and enable them(you) to fight the next general election in the face of massive unpopularity.

I would also disagree with giving the right to vote to 16 year olds as in my experience (as I've recently left school myself) there is not the slightest interest in politics even in my school, which is one of the best comprehensives in the country. People voted in the youth parliament elections because they were encouraged to do so in an assembly. The new Politics ALevel has a smaller class size than Media Studies, Psychology, Sociology or Religious Studies. And even in my Sixth form, those elegible to vote at 18 do not have the slightest interest in doing so. Is it not the fact that a certain level of maturity is required to want to vote in an election and that people reach this maturity at different point? You might as well lower it to 14 for those few who'd like to vote then.

[Paul Flynn]

Thanks Will S./ I will blog about national funding for parties later.
The present teenage generation seems to largley politically inert. Hard days ahead might stir their interest. It's only 60% that vote in the franchised population now.

[Don Cox]

"Extend to all media the broadcasters statutory duty of balance."

That is both impossible and undesirable. It would make it impossible to publish a magazine with a consistent political viewpoint, or a satirical magazine.

And "all media" includes comics, music CDs, films and books. How would you ensure that a book is "balanced"? Who on Earth could police such a law?

[Don Cox]

I think the voters would rather abolish political parties, not fund them. What, in my opinion, most people want is a Parliament of independents, having as their top priority representing their constituents - not following a party line in the hope of becoming ministers.

[Plain Jaine]

Hmm...Don, a Parliament of Independents - those who can navigate the complex legal and financial rules in standing for election, plus can fund themselves, as well as having access to a legion of people to help canvass, stuff envelopes, make telephone calls, wirte / design election literature....sounds like there you go again ending up with a party - which by its nature is political.

Or are you suggesting that this would not end in two outcomes a)create political parties, or b) a Parliament made up of people who already have access, money, and contacts?

And that is before you even consider how any piece of legislation could be drafted from an idea into fully formed law and encourage enough support from a group of people to get passed - after a while surely those who have similar views would form a coalition of sorts.....and there we go - political parties. At least with political parties and majority government you can pin something on the buggers - coaltion just seems to end up with everyone blaming someone else.

Oh, and thanks for recycling the old myth that all backbenchers follow a party line in hope of being a minister - perhaps you should spend more time on public whip, they work for you, and individuals websites rather than reheating something that has already become common currency.

[paulflynn]

Thanks Don Cox. The duty of the broadcasters to provide balance regulates itself very well. We have a less effective system for the conduct of the press. It is a toothless body. All that is required is to give it full powers that the broadcasting bodies have. There would be a de minimus regulation to ensure that only mass market media need to be balanced. It's entirely practical

[Huw]

If only Paul you were in the now forgotten Labour party rather than in the execrable new labour. It does you no credit, it does not match your views and they have no interest in you.The unfortunate thing is that political parties are fundamentally antidemocratic bodies, there is definitely no argument to be made for the taxpayer to fund them to any extent. But if you genuinely want to extend the franchise and make all votes of equal value, you will never do so while remaining in the belly of the beast. Get away from this pretence that New Labour is anything to do with the party you joined and served for years before it was murdered, cut up and buried by Blair and Co. Make a clean break, give the majority of people someone to vote for who can represent them, at the moment all you do is hoodwink many into thinking New Labour is just Labour which has lost its way a little. Its dead and gone and the first politicians to realise that will benefit both themselves and the electorate.