Comments on: Can Ming Campbell break Britain’s ‘cosy consensus’? http://www.libdemvoice.org/can-ming-campbell-break-britain%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98cosy-consensus%e2%80%99-1357.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:55:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vanessa Pine http://www.libdemvoice.org/can-ming-campbell-break-britain%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98cosy-consensus%e2%80%99-1357.html#comment-29949 Vanessa Pine Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:50:23 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/can-ming-campbell-break-britain%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98cosy-consensus%e2%80%99-1357.html#comment-29949 Hmmm surely he meant duopoly?Although the point he makes is nevertheless valid. When it comes to some issues of national importance, the funding of political parties for example, both Labour and the Conservatives have shown a disregard for the public's right to enter into the debate. Prefering a cosy chat about a settlement between the two organisations with the greatest vested interest in maintaining the status quo. See the following from the terms of reference for the Phillips review "Sir Hayden Phillips will work closely with stakeholders including, especially, the political parties and the Electoral Commission. He has been asked to aim to produce recommendations which are as much as possible agreed between the political parties with a view to legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows." Recommendations should be agreed with political parties in advance?! With a view to a speedy rubber stamp by Parliamentarians (who whilst technically representing public opinion would here surely be conflicted by their party memberships). If these were two industry groups or companies that were being legislated for, such a requirement would never be acceptable to policy makers. It would restrict their ability to make an independent judegment about the best options. And whilst public engagement was part of the work, the Hansard Society (no doubt highly effectively) ran an online forum, this hardly constitutes a national conversation. If you missed it and for an update see: http://www.partyfundingreview.gov.uk/htms/news.htm Hmmm surely he meant duopoly?Although the point he makes is nevertheless valid.

When it comes to some issues of national importance, the funding of political parties for example, both Labour and the Conservatives have shown a disregard for the public’s right to enter into the debate. Prefering a cosy chat about a settlement between the two organisations with the greatest vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

See the following from the terms of reference for the Phillips review
“Sir Hayden Phillips will work closely with stakeholders including, especially, the political parties and the Electoral Commission. He has been asked to aim to produce recommendations which are as much as possible agreed between the political parties with a view to legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.”

Recommendations should be agreed with political parties in advance?! With a view to a speedy rubber stamp by Parliamentarians (who whilst technically representing public opinion would here surely be conflicted by their party memberships). If these were two industry groups or companies that were being legislated for, such a requirement would never be acceptable to policy makers. It would restrict their ability to make an independent judegment about the best options. And whilst public engagement was part of the work, the Hansard Society (no doubt highly effectively) ran an online forum, this hardly constitutes a national conversation.

If you missed it and for an update see:
http://www.partyfundingreview.gov.uk/htms/news.htm

]]> By: Rob Fenwick http://www.libdemvoice.org/can-ming-campbell-break-britain%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98cosy-consensus%e2%80%99-1357.html#comment-29945 Rob Fenwick Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:24:03 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/can-ming-campbell-break-britain%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98cosy-consensus%e2%80%99-1357.html#comment-29945 Hmm. Nice sound-bite, but rather reminiscent of "rattling the cage of British politics" - when's it going to happen? Hmm. Nice sound-bite, but rather reminiscent of “rattling the cage of British politics” – when’s it going to happen?

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