Democracy Threatened
Lembit Opik MP explains
The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill - It sounds dull - but it could be the greatest threat to democracy of our time, especially for minorities like us. Lib Dem MP and MAG member Lembit Opik MP is in no doubt.
TR - What is driving this legislation?
LO - It's driven by an appetite for accelerating the legislative process using 'orders in council' rather than the normal political process. The people who find parliament an inconvenience are trying to close down the democratic process.
TR - Is the terrorist issue behind it?
LO - Yes, the government are getting frustrated by the time taken to get things through and this is another example of the tactics this government uses when it gets frustrated by anyone of anything that holds it up. At present when you want to change laws or take people's rights away you have to go to the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Bills go back and forth and that takes months or years because it requires debates in both houses and debates in committee then more debates in the Commons and Lords.
This government seem intent on speeding things up at the expense of democracy. They are circumnavigating the checks and balances that have protected this country's citizens from bad legislation for centuries.
TR - Is there any precedent for a move of this significance ?
LO - The Northern ireland assembly has been suspended for some years and many important changes are made there through Orders in Council on the strength of a half hour debate followed by a vote.
The government packs committees with a majority of people who side with it, so they tend to win. If you're a rebel who can't be relied on to vote with the government then you don't get picked for committee. A lot of the time all the parties are opposed to the changes the government is making but the government gets its way.
TR - How do you think it might affect MAG, will we be excluded from all debate?
LO - There will be some provision for limited debate in parliament but there won't be time for lobbyists to get involved because things will just move too fast.
The Government will be able to get through measures which on the face of it might seem reasonable to the majority of people, things like leg protectors or the helmet law or a motorcycle power limit. The government will be able to defend it as sensible law making but any critic will see it for what it is, which is fast track authoritarianism.
It's a profoundly serious threat to our liberties, it isn't just an academic piece of detail it will make a practical difference to anyone who follows an alternative lifestyle, anyone who does anything dangerous, anyone who needs protection against the tyranny of the majority. The government has forgotten that it is there to serve the people not just rule them. If this goes through it'll be a dark day for democracy.
TR - How do you rate the prospect of this bill becoming law?
LO - Realistically, 50/50.
TR - Where will most of the opposition come from?
LO - Liberals and democrats for sure, I have no doubt many Labour backbenchers will be uncomfortable about it.
TR - What should MAG do?
LO - Highlight the issue to your MPs in your own words. Write to your MPs and ask them to give you an assurance that they won't back a bill that is going to dismantle our democracy.
TR - Is there no point in asking them to suggest amendments ?
LO - No, ask them to reject it, there is no good aspect to this bill. We don't need democracy speeding up, I would like to slow it down as there will be fewer stupid rules that can get on to the books.
Since the government speeded up the working of parliament I haven't detected the slightest improvement in the quality of decisions made. What I have detected is the speeding up of bad decisions being made into law.
TR - Why do you suppose something so important is not making headlines?
LO - It sounds too boring, look at the title.
MAG has contacted its email army to write to MPs now. MAG urges all its members to do the same. The address is :
House of Commons
London
SW1 OAA
To identify your MP and to email him go to www.locata.co.uk/commons
Just key in your post code or constituency and your MP's name will pop up and in most cases an opportunity to email him or her.
This issue isn't specific to biking but it threatens the very mechanics of the system which enables us to join the political process.
If bikers swing the vote on this it will be our greatest victory ever. Let's do it.
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