A Blow To Democracy

Over the next day or so  the proposed boundary changes will be announced, which will result in a reduction in M.P.'s from 650 to 600.  And given the general antipathy there is towards our M.P.'s, particularly since the expenses scandal, I suspect there will be very few tears shed in sympathy.  Indeed I suspect the hard of thinking will positively rejoice in a reduction of what are perceived to be a bunch of free loading politicians.

Quite apart from the fact that there has been a General Election since the expenses scandal, and rules have been tightened to prevent history repeating itself, there are a vast number of new M.P.'s who should, in all fairness, be untarnished by the actions of their predecessors.

In the past, I too, may well have been equally as pleased to see less M.P.'s, but having spent quite a bit  of time with M.P.'s  over the past six months, I have come to realise there are a large number of thoroughly decent hard working M.P.'s, and whilst they are never going to be able to please everybody, we should take comfort in knowing that they are doing their best.

There is indeed a much bigger issue at stake here, because I firmly believe a reduction in M.P.'s is a major dent in what, in my opinion, is already a fragile democracy, and let me tell you why.  Boundary changes resulting in a reduction of M.P.'s obviously means the remaining incumbents have a larger area to cover and more constituents to represent.  Now, we get the M.P.'s we deserve, and those of us who take more of an interest in what our elected representatives are doing than the latest goings on in the tv soaps, will both expect and want our M.P. to have enough time to attend to our problems, and the issues we feel strongly about if needed.

Make no mistake, I am no apologist for M.P.'s, in fact I used to say  they are all the same, they have all the answers when in opposition, and all the excuses when in power.  But like I said, I know different now, and whilst, just as in every other profession there will be a few bad apples, we should not make the mistake of tarring them all with the same brush.

I no longer judge politicians along party lines, but rather by the sincerity of their actions.  Like I said, we get the M.P.'s we deserve, and it's down to us to keep them on their toes by taking more of an interest in what they are doing.

Tony Russell