Mary Ellen Synon, writing in the Speccie, does in effect dampen Cameron’s triumphant – well, he probably thought so – appearance in the HoC on Monday when he presented his report on the budget negotiations.
Cheering Tories may not grasp what actually happened at the European Council last week writes Mary Ellen, which is not surprising as they are not alone. Labour MPs appear also not to grasp what something being a Competence of the EU is either – as related by Richard North, EUReferendum, in one of his posts on the food crisis.
That those who maintain they govern us are not even aware of the limit of their remaining powers is, I suggest, a cause for concern. Perhaps if MPs deigned to read Articles 3-6 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union they would realize just how little remains for them on which to legislate.
Of late I have been criticised for (a) my appearing to be anti-Ukip and anti-Farage; (b) anti-MPs of various, but mainly blue, hues; and (c) preaching The Harrogate Agenda in the manner of a political class that we abhor; and even questioned whether The Harrogate Agenda has an “action plan” – criticisms, all of which I also consider to be a matter of concern.
First, allow me to lay to rest one myth that appears to be have been generally accepted by some commenters. I am not, per se, anti-Ukip or anti-Farage; however, like anyone else do I not have the right to question one or both when I consider them to be failing those whose support they seek? Second, where I criticise MPs from both sides of the political divide it is justified as in each and every instance they exhibit a lack of knowledge about that upon which they pontificate.
The other points that must be considered are these: do we not all “rail” against the fact we consider we have too much government; do we not all accept that, outside the 5-year period, our “control” of MPs is non-existent, in that it is retrospective; do we not all accept that membership of the EU is dictatorial in that we have no electoral control over those who take decisions that affect our lives; do we not all accept that our present system of democracy is well past its sell-by-date?
In other words dear reader the subjects of this country’s membership of the EU, our system of democracy and the ideas of The Harrogate Agenda are inexorably entwined – whether you like it or not. How can the ideas encapsulated within The Harrogate Agenda be adopted while this country remains a full member of the EU? What is the point in leaving the EU unless the principles behind The Harrogate Agenda are adopted? How can we change a system of democracy that is well past its sell-by-date unless the ideas behind The Harrogate Agenda can be introduced, debated and, hopefully, accepted? Chicken and egg?
I can but repeat a question recently posed, namely that were we to leave the EU – and retaining our present system of representative democracy – where is the logic in reclaiming powers from one set of dictators only to hand them to another set of dictators? With regard to that last point, can anyone tell me the difference twixt the proposals of Ukip and those encapsulated in “The Plan” authored by Carswell and Hannan? Are not both based on the present system of representative democracy? Do not both promise to “license” some powers to the people – and cannot licenses be withdrawn at the whim of the licensee?
In my humble view The Harrogate Agenda is not – and does not have – an “action plan”, for to so have would mean that it differs not from those it abhors; that that would mean it was a political party, something it most definitely is not and has no intention of becoming. The Harrogate Agenda offers an alternative suggestion how our democracy should be structured, one that does indeed return democracy to its roots, namely “people power”. At this point let me repeat another question that I have posed. To whom does a country belong: its people or, in the case of the UK, just 650? Either the ideas being promoted by The Harrogate Agenda will “catch on” or they will be rejected – and that choice, as in all matters where democracy is practised, will be for the people to decide. If The Harrogate Agenda gains “traction” with the electorate then from within its adherents will no doubt come candidates standing on Conservative, Labour, LibDem, Green, or Ukip tickets; but all of whom will accept the principles enshrined within the 6 Demands of the Harrogate Agenda – namely they will all believe in the principle of “people power” and direct democracy.
Because those that would govern us have not the slightest idea on that which remains for them to govern and thus have not the slightest idea on just how much power they have ceded; who have no interest in those that they are supposed to represent; who have no interest other than their personal careers and thus an allegiance to the party of their choice – is it not time that the people asserted the sovereignty that is, by right, theirs?
Perhaps those who have been critical of me and my thoughts need to reconsider their criticisms and their thoughts? Those to whom those questions are directed need not be named as I am sure they will easily identify themselves. Because there are three elements which are intertwined and all of which have an effect on the future of our country, to “pick on” The Harrogate Agenda in being a tad slow in coming forward is, perhaps, a tad unjustified? That is not to say that said criticism is not justified – but perhaps, yet again, I digress? Just, you understand, asking…….
As with anything that is published on this blog, the foregoing is open to comment and thus debate. Over to you, dear reader.
