Western democracies are failing to deliver – they must change
Ian Dunt in ‘How Westminster Works … and why it doesn’t ‘and Sam Freeman in ‘Failed State’, both make a clear case that the democratic process in Britain is failing to deliver the standard of governance we need. There are two major problems. Firstly, the systems of Government are characterised by short-term thinking, lack of expertise and a failure to delegate. Secondly, the excessively tribal nature of political parties means that there is little scrutiny and control of Government by Parliament.
There are six major actions which are necessary to improve the system:
- Reduce the tribalism of party politics to encourage more reasoned debate
- Improve management expertise
- Put more focus on long term strategy
- Take more decisions locally rather than centrally to improve their appropriateness and effectiveness
- Reduce the power of money in politics
- Refocus economic management on wealth maintenance and creation and away from just GDP growth
There needs to be a greater separation of Governance and Representation. It is not possible for an elected MP to both represent his constituents and run a busy department at the same time. Day to day management should be removed from the responsibilities of MPs; they usually have neither any management training nor any expertise in the department for which they are responsible.
The role of the Prime Minster has not been first amongst equals for centuries. His powers are currently Presidential in nature. The role of the country’s political leader needs to be properly redefined and adequately resourced.
This is one suggestion of a way forward. It builds on the few things in government that actually work well; select committees, elected mayors and the review of legislation in the House of Lords
Governance:
Build a civil service that:
- Is divided into probably around 15 Ministries: business/trade; culture/media/sport; energy; science/technology; transport; work/pensions; foreign affairs; treasury; defence; justice; housing/local government; agriculture/food; land/water/environment; police/ borders; health/social care.
- has expertise, is in control of day-to-day issues and answers directly for any operational failings.
- directly controls and manages non-ministerial departments and agencies
- reports regularly on agreed measures of performance
- has suitable management structures and reward systems
- Only outsource service roles if:
- There are many companies capable of supplying the service
- The service is measurable
- The risk of failure is with the outsourced company
- The terms of the outsource contract are effectively managed
Representation
MPs are both members of a select committee and the House of Commons
- Select Committees
There should be one select committee for each ministry. Each select committee:
- Agrees the Ministries long-term strategy, sources of finance and annual budget
- Agrees the management reward system
- Appoints senior managers
- Manages the complaints and performance measurement system
- Reviews performance regularly
- Initiates legislation proposals
- The full House of Commons
- Agrees rules of conduct based on ‘Frome ‘rules to reduce grandstanding and tribal behaviour
- A willingness and ability to participate in rational debate leading to a conclusion.
- Understanding the difference between constructive debate and personal attacks.
- Agrees rules of conduct based on ‘Frome ‘rules to reduce grandstanding and tribal behaviour
- Avoidance of identifying ourselves so personally with any particular position that this in itself excludes constructive debate.
- Preparedness to be swayed by the arguments of others and admitting mistakes.
- Relative freedom from any overriding dogma or ideology which would preclude the views of others.
- Trust, confidence and optimism in other people’s expertise and knowledge
- Confidence in the mechanisms and processes of decision-making that we establish, accepting that the decisions of the majority are paramount.
- An acceptance that ‘you win some and you lose some’; it’s nothing personal and there’s really no point in taking defeats to heart
- Agrees legislation
- Appoints chairmen of select committees
- Each representative fields complaints from his Region for the relevant Ministry and has the support of a ministerial complaints system.
- There should be strict controls over lobbying and full transparency over the source of funds of lobbying groups. As well as full disclosure of MPs benefits and sources of income.
Role of President (Prime Minister)
- Define the ministries
- Manage the allocation of budgets to the ministries and hence the overall strategy
- Represent the nation abroad
- Control the legislative timetable
- Manage his cabinet department
- Co-ordinate the workload between the ministries
- Manage the Office of budget responsibility that reports the nations performance on the maintenance and growth of wealth. This includes personal wealth, company assets, institutional, local and national infrastructure, natural assets and the talents and energy levels of the population at large.
Local Government
Move towards a regional system of local government. With probably about 12 regions, including one each for Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Each region should have a mayor and decide its own sub-regions. The administrative organisation should mirror that defined above.
House of Lords
Continues its role of reviewing proposed legislation with delaying powers but not the ultimate veto. Rather than the current patronage system of appointing membership, perhaps 10 knowledgeable representatives for each of the ministries could be appointed by the select committees for a 4-year term.
Selection of MPs
We need to improve the voting system to be able to attract more effective MPs and give them appropriate training and the resources to do the job. There are many ways forward. One suggestion is:
- A separate vote for a president
- A regional based voting system for MPs
- Each region should have sufficient MPs to have at least one representative on each of the main civil service ministries
- Any one can put himself forward as a candidate. either to represent a political party or as an independent
- Each party produces a candidate list. Those independents with more votes than party nominees are elected. The number of party MPs elected from each region is in proportion to the share of the vote for each party.
- The constitution should be tightened to reduce the power of money in affecting political processes. All political donations from companies should be banned and donations by individuals should be limited to that affordable by the ordinary citizen
- On election each MP is given appropriate training in the workings of government.
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