What’s wrong with our democracy? It seems the new Labour government is starting to experience the same psycho -dramas as the last Tory administration. Unable to make a substantial difference to people’s lives in the first period of government, they are becoming increasingly riven with internal divisions and leadership crises.
We have had a succession of poor governments. When we needed to focus on the long-term, short-term events have overwhelmed. When we needed leaders with vision and tenacity, we too easily elected leaders with charisma but little understanding. While China was staking strategic steps towards global dominance and America was flexing its muscles – the UK (and the rest of Europe) have drifted rudderless to an uncertain destination.
The British people, however, don’t seem to blame the UK’s democratic system, they merely turn towards another party. Currently Reform are running high in the polls. If current indications of their performance in local government is anything to judge by, a Reform government is likely to be even more chaotic.
According to books by Ian Dunt and Sam Freeman the British Democratic system is characterised by short-term thinking, lack of expertise and a failure to delegate. It was designed for another: slower moving and simpler age. We desperately need to reform our democratic processes to make them fit for the modern era.
Until this happens, psycho dramas are likely to continue.
