One of the most common trends in politics the world over is that laws are passed thick and fast in times of crisis, but during the more mundane periods... there’s just not a lot of action. Which isn’t a good thing.
Passing laws is a lot like putting the rain cover on our trampoline. When it’s nice and sunny, there’s other things we want to do, and there’s no need to put the cover on (at least, none of us bother).
Then later, it rains. If we want the trampoline to stay dry, we have to put the cover on. But why would we go out in the freezing rain and spend a good fifteen minutes tying up knots? We know the rain will soon pass and putting the cover on is more trouble than it’s worth. Except, when we next go on for a bounce, water will trickle down, soaking our feet and clothes, ruining the fun, and reminding us why the cover really should be used.
When domestic politics are in good shape and the international scene is quiet (good weather) Prime Ministers and Presidents don’t want to expend effort on controversial, seemingly worthless, reform (cover). There’s no perceived need to do such a thing, and why risk the peace anyway?
But when crisis comes (the rainstorm) there’s massive legislation to arrange: bail-outs; troop manoeuvres; sanctions.
All the reformist laws that would've stopped the calamity (the rain cover) had been ignored, and are now rushed through half-baked, only able to limit damage.
Any other great ideas, so needed for the future, are dropped in this time of emergency.
And then the crisis ends and the sun returns. We relax and ignore looming problems
There are many problems in our politics and economy that could have been resolved years ago, or need to be resolved now, before the rain comes. As this is a politics blog, let’s look at...
Politics and trampolines
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| (Not our trampoline) |
Passing laws is a lot like putting the rain cover on our trampoline. When it’s nice and sunny, there’s other things we want to do, and there’s no need to put the cover on (at least, none of us bother).
Then later, it rains. If we want the trampoline to stay dry, we have to put the cover on. But why would we go out in the freezing rain and spend a good fifteen minutes tying up knots? We know the rain will soon pass and putting the cover on is more trouble than it’s worth. Except, when we next go on for a bounce, water will trickle down, soaking our feet and clothes, ruining the fun, and reminding us why the cover really should be used.
When domestic politics are in good shape and the international scene is quiet (good weather) Prime Ministers and Presidents don’t want to expend effort on controversial, seemingly worthless, reform (cover). There’s no perceived need to do such a thing, and why risk the peace anyway?
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| After Brown announced the banking bailout during the Recession |
All the reformist laws that would've stopped the calamity (the rain cover) had been ignored, and are now rushed through half-baked, only able to limit damage.
Any other great ideas, so needed for the future, are dropped in this time of emergency.
And then the crisis ends and the sun returns. We relax and ignore looming problems
There are many problems in our politics and economy that could have been resolved years ago, or need to be resolved now, before the rain comes. As this is a politics blog, let’s look at...
Parliamentary Reform
Parliament is currently engaged in fierce debate over the manner and means of Brexit, and are so absorbed by it that another huge crisis is slipping by: Parliamentary reform. While MPs argue over the Northern Irish border and fishing quotas, Westminster Palace (where Parliament sits), and British democracy itself, is wobbling around them. The old way has worked for hundreds of years. But it’s time to move on.
To summarise, there are three problems:
1) Structural failure. The building is (at its youngest) 150 years old, with many aspects dating back to medieval times - only slightly older than Vince Cable.
The building is filled with asbestos-lined pipes, rats, and dodgy plumbing; the whole place is gradually sinking into the Thames, crammed with awkward offices and too-small chambers.
The Commons never fitted all 650 MPs (some of whom have to stand), and why on Earth is there an underground shooting range, but a chronic shortage of female toilets?
The building is filled with asbestos-lined pipes, rats, and dodgy plumbing; the whole place is gradually sinking into the Thames, crammed with awkward offices and too-small chambers. The Commons never fitted all 650 MPs (some of whom have to stand), and why on Earth is there an underground shooting range, but a chronic shortage of female toilets?
2) Odd customs. No clapping in the chamber. Sword hooks in the changing rooms. Having to reserve seats for ‘Prayers’.
The place is chockablock with odd traditions and procedures that a) defy common sense, and b) make it seem out of touch; too many MPs see these bizarrities as part of the UK’s great heritage and not as the elitist images they give off.
Call me fussy, but I like my Parliament to have a dash of normality.
The place is chockablock with odd traditions and procedures that a) defy common sense, and b) make it seem out of touch; too many MPs see these bizarrities as part of the UK’s great heritage and not as the elitist images they give off.
Call me fussy, but I like my Parliament to have a dash of normality.
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| How to reserve seats in the Commons - surely a seating plan would do? |
3) Dodgy democracy. We use a ‘First Past the Post’ method: the party which gets 326 seats is automatically in power, and can pass laws at their will (as long as the MPs behave). It ignores minority parties (the Greens and LDs get lots of votes but are too spread out to get many seats) and means people can’t directly choose their leaders, or dictate their agendum.
Much better would be a ‘Proportional Representation’ format, where we would vote separately for a local rep and the central government - the percentage of votes a party receives equals the percentage of seats it takes in the central government. It’s representative, fair, and accountable.
Much better would be a ‘Proportional Representation’ format, where we would vote separately for a local rep and the central government - the percentage of votes a party receives equals the percentage of seats it takes in the central government. It’s representative, fair, and accountable.
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| The US's government if it had PR - much more balanced. |
So what’s needed is a huge reform bill. Firstly, to move Parliament to a purpose-built centre further north. It would make life nicer for MPs, and improve the efficiency of law-making. This would also leave behind the weird traditions in the old building (which could be a museum and/or a centre of culture).
This would then be accompanied by electoral reform, to shake up British democracy, forcing the parties to adapt for the better. We’d have a more direct, approachable Parliament.
Wake me up when it's all over
But with the Crash, austerity, and Brexit, such reform is not likely. Only Labour could have done it this century, probably from 2004-2006. It’s not the only quiet problem we face either: there are fears than may be another mortgage crisis in 2030 (too many have taken out costly mortgages), and social mobility, hailed as Britain’s specialty, is falling apart.
Even post-Brexit, laws to change any of these problems won’t come about until there’s a relevant crisis of some sort. I wonder what other reforms the government will decide to neglect then?
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| Recessions come every 10/15 years (see downturns in economic growth)... ...we're due for another one soon. |
Even post-Brexit, laws to change any of these problems won’t come about until there’s a relevant crisis of some sort. I wonder what other reforms the government will decide to neglect then?
