BEAU DONATELLA –
I am sick and tired of hearing people whinging about Brexit. “Oh we shouldn’t have voted out” and “I wish I could change my vote”. Well the vote happened three years ago and if you had problems with the system you should have complained then, not now when it is too late. Albeit small, there is a democratic mandate for Brexit to occur. The UK Parliament also voted to invoke Article 50 (which triggers the two year countdown to withdrawal) with a substantial majority. Now, we will enter a week in which they will try to do anything to stop this process.
The Cabinet have been recalled early, the Opposition Leader is committed to the motto “Rebuilding Britain” and thousands are marching on the streets – it is fair to say “s*** is about to hit the fan”. You may think that the Brexit vote was that moment, and you would be mistaken if the prorogation of Parliament announced last week was as well, but it is this moment that will define the future of British democracy and test the will of the people.
PROROGATION
Last week, the Prime Minister asked the Queen to prorogue parliament from 10 September to 14 October. Prorogation is the formal suspension of parliament. This is a set period in which the government prepares for what is colloquially called a new ‘Queen’s Speech’. This is because all outstanding legislation in parliament expires and a new legislative agenda is adopted which is presented by Her Majesty at a speech from the throne in the House of Lords.
Prorogation is common for a few days before the start of a new parliamentary session, but not in September and October, and especially not before the 31 October deadline for a Brexit deal. Nevertheless, let us look more closely at this timing because many think prorogation is the end of the world. This order made as Order in Council only adds four days to the parliamentary recess, with parliament already absent for three weeks due to the regular conference season. Four days! Yes, protests are happening over four days.
Now in all fairness, what can happen over an additional four days in parliament? Westminster has had over two years to debate and vote on a deal and they tried and failed three times. Will four days really solve anything? No it won’t. The added recess will give PM Johnson the time to negotiate privately with individual MPs and European representatives, free from the pressures of politicians utilising Brexit to benefit their own political careers.
There is also historical precedent for such a long prorogation. In 1997, the Westminster Parliament was prorogued from 24 March till an election on 1 May which say Tony Blair take office. This was due to then-PM John Major avoiding debate on the cash-for-questions affair. Another utilisation of prorogation for political purposes was by Labour PM Clement Attlee in 1948 when there was a session of parliament lasting from 14 September until 25 October so that reforms to the House of Lords could be made.
So the public and politicians can call Johnson undemocratic and unfair, but he is doing what Conservative and Labour MPs have done in the past to avoid contact with the legislature.
ELECTION
The Cabinet met Monday in unusual circumstances in preparation for Tuesday. What does that mean? An election is afoot. Depending on the actions of the other parties, Boris Johnson may head towards a Brexit election, following his predecessor in attempting to get a mandate from the people to enact his own Brexit plan. It is predicted this will be held 14 October, just over two weeks prior to the Brexit deadline. This will occur if the House of Commons passes legislation that makes a no-deal approach by Johnson’s Government illegal.
“I don’t want an election. You don’t want an election…”
Boris Johnson
2 September 2019
Jeremy Corbyn is already preparing for an election. At a speech on Monday, it seemed like the weak leader, who is divisive in his own party, is on a war footing and showing off a campaign. Standing in front of a banner which was emboldened with “Rebuilding Britain”, Mr. Corbyn has played the system to try and get what he wants – the prime ministership. What his action has shown is a disregard of Brexit and instead selfish ambition to take power. Even when suggestions of an alternative leader comes up do we see the fury in his face and an immediate disregard for other possibilities.
An election at this time will just annoy a population already infuriated with voting. Since 2015 there has been three national votes: two general elections and the EU Referendum. Let’s make it a fourth and just annoy the population more. Yes they demonstrate democracy and the will of the people, but the voters should not be able to change their mind at the drop of a hat. If you could change your mind every time you didn’t like something the world would be in a constant state of flux.
THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY?
The media cycle has shown protester after protester demanding Johnson does no prorogue parliament or that he does not proceed with a no-deal Brexit. There are criticisms that he was not properly elected and HM’s Government are not entitled to proceed with a no-deal. Well let me break it to you – too bad, it’s democracy.
As long as the PM maintains the confidence of the house, he will retain any chance of a no-deal. It is also moronic to say that he should not be allowed to prorogue parliament. Any other PM would be able to do so and it is poor form for any politician to use this situation to gain political brownie points. Democracy is being threatened not by Boris Johnson but by a desperate opposition who are hungry for the taste of power. It is sad that instead of trying to solve the current impasse they use the situation for their advantage.
It was Walter Bagehot that called British governance a “fusion of powers” – a combination of the legislature and the executive. This consolidates a lot of power in a prime minister. While this may be criticised for accountability, it has existed without many hiccups since the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when Westminster attained parliamentary sovereignty with the overthrow of James II.
Winston Churchill did not think it was perfect either, stating:
“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.… “
However, when there is one hiccup in the system, one testing moment, we shouldn’t begin to dismantle it. Brexit was voted for by a majority of the voters who took part in the referendum and that is that. Johnson, through representative democracy, is PM and leader of the government. If the opposition parties force the UK into an election over halting Brexit, then democracy can be overturned at a drop of a hat.
Yes, you can make arguments that voters didn’t know enough and that we have learnt new things since the vote in 2016. You may also say that the Conservatives do not have a majority in the House of Commons. But such criticism is always going to happen, especially during this divisive period. If a no-deal is made illegal on Tuesday, an election subsequently called, and Brexit delayed once more, then s*** will hit the fan and democracy will be severely weakened for a prolonged period.
