The death of democracy?
Monday, May 10, 2010 I was 14 when the Conservatives lost the February 1974 election to Labour and Ted Heath spent the next three days trying - and failing - to patch together an alliance with the Liberal party.
Heath had asked the country a simple and, in hindsight, politically suicidal question: who runs the country - the government or the miners? If you have to ask the question, the electorate responded, you probably shouldn't be in government.
Even Conservatives found it hard to stomach the party leader trying to hang on to power. But compared to Gordon Brown and Labour in 2010, Ted Heath and the Tories had two things going for them:
(1) They had just four fewer seats than Labour
(2) They had the largest number of votes
In contrast, in 2010 Labour has 48 fewer seats than the Conservatives (having lost 91), while the Tories (having gained 97 seats) attracted two million more votes than Labour.
Despite this, Gordon Brown is still in No 10 and following today's statement (which some people described as "statesmanlike" but I would describe as undemocratic and dictatorial) he could be there for a further five months before handing over to his successor.
That person could then assume the mantle of prime minister without having fought an election as party leader. Remind you of anyone?
I honestly can't believe I am writing this. This is supposed to be a democracy, for Christ's sake. Are you listening, Gordon Brown? Read my lips. You just lost an election. Your party lost 91 seats. You have 48 fewer seats than the Conservatives. And two million fewer voters.
OK, so the Conservatives didn't get the seats they needed to form a majority government, but they are by far the biggest party with the largest number of votes. Morally and ethically, the Tories should have the opportunity to govern this country today. Not tomorrow or the day after that. NOW.
If the two-faced Liberal Democrats join Labour plus assorted nationalists and a single Green socialist in a so-called "progressive alliance", I guarantee that there will be tens - possibly hundreds - of thousands of people marching down Whitehall in protest.
And I'll be one of them.
Simon Clark
21:10 Just been listening to former Labour minister John Reid on Five Live. I think he agrees with me. I certainly agree with him. Nice to know there are still some honourable people left in politics. Or, should I say, on the left in politics.
Reader Comments (40)
Simon - I am on the verge of penning a response to the absolutely disgraceful behaviour of the ex-Labour government in trying to cling on to power when they have been STUFFED in the GE. "All actions taken in the national interest" - my a*se! You have eloquently written my thoughts entirely - when do we march on Downing Street!!! Bill.
Dr John Reid has just said exactly the same as you Simon, in a very statesmanlike interview on BBC NEWS Channel. Wish Reid was labour leader- ... And he might repeal the smoking ban!
Rose, I wrote my update before I saw your comment. Unlike most politicians, Reid has genuine empathy with ordinary people. He also listens, which isn't the same as saying he agrees - and nor should it. Great pity that he is no longer involved in mainstream politics. He's a far bigger and more courageous man than Gordon Brown ever was.
Democracy has had a good run ,lets try something
else,other modern nations have shunned the silliness for a spell
and seem to be doing allright.
Agreed Simon - if the Lib Dems prop up Labour the electorate will hammer them come the next election (which I bet will be within 2 years at the latest - possibly much earlier).
It has been said that people voting for UKIP stopped the Tories from getting the majority they required. Had the Tories said that they would repeal the smoking ban and promised to get out of the EU, there would have been no need for parties like UKIP.
Simon, I am disgusted by the behaviour of Labour and the Lim Dems. I can't understand why two loosing parties are about to basically ignore the electorate in what they class as in 'the best needs of the country'. I thought democracy meant that we the people do that, and I thought that is what happened last Thursday, I must have dreamt it! I have never felt so strongly about politics as I do now, and I hope in a way they do form a 'progressive government' and commit political suicide.
Jo. There were three losing parties not just two. Not only did Cameron not get an overall majority against a hugely unpopular government,but the Tories also lost eight councils on the same day. Labour gained 14 councils and nearly 400 seats so it is clear the population do not want the Tories in.
Only 36% of the public voted for the Tory party and the rest voted against them. If the Lib/Dems do not go into power with Labour it will be a slap in the face for the countless voters who voted tactically to keep the Tories out. They would suffer for that in the future if they hand Cameron the keys to number 10.
The only people who are stamping their feet are Tories. The rest of the voters will be pleased to see a centre left coalition united in getting the country out of recession. The public did not want Gordon Brown and he has now said he is going. They also demonstrated that they do not want Cameron either.
Ironically I am rooting for a Lib/Lab pact as of 1974. 1-2 years of that and people will be begging for a Conservative government.
Also, again ironically, I would like to see PR as opposed to AV. Under PR the anti European vote based on the 2009 elections would mean 53.07% of the electorate would vote for mildly or strong Eurosceptic parties. I.e. UKIP get a load of seats.
Michael, You wouldn't happen to vote Labour would you? As only someone who can say that 'not anyone won' has to have the same 'I'm in denial' view demonstrated by Brown. As far as I understood 1st, 2nd, 3rd, the person that got the most actually does 'win'. Granted, I too believe that they should have won outright, but as for not deserving the keys to No. 10, more people voted for them as a single party and therefore should the largest percentage be ignored? Obviously so, lets have an unelected government, pushing an unelected voting system with an unelected prime minister. How can you defend that democracy? It's certainly not foot stamping!
I wouldn't hold your breath whilst waiting for a sensible or reasoned reply Jo.
We have a political system entrenched in this country, that allows double dealing, unlected crooks like Mandelson to dictate the rules on how and who should govern our country, irrespective of who the electorate voted for. We have Gordon Brown, a self motivated moron, who acts more like an African dictator than an ex-prime minister, and we have Nick (two faced) Clegg, the prime loser of the General Election, holding court, and telling us, who he will pick to run our country for us.
And do you know why we are lumbered with such a burden of deadbeats and crooks? Because of the politically undead. The me..me..me generation, who don't give a damn for our country and our future generations, who care only for their themselves.
Are you still going to wait for an answer?
You know, Peter, I really take umbrage at being called one of the 'politically undead' because I did not vote Tory. How dare you suggest that only those who voted Tory have principles and are unselfish. Those who voted Tory, even those who did so tactically, were no less motivated by self-interest. It could, in fact, be argued that those who voted for a minority party were just as motivated by principle as those who voted positively for the Tories.
Peter, Thank you!! How very well put.The very generation we are trying to kick start into looking further than themselves. Hard when the party they vote for love their dependancy and can't act with any sort of dignity.
I do believe also that not all Tory voters do so out of self interest. I realise that things are going to get tuff, but I don't want that to be our childrens problem.
A government that acts in such a selfish, undignified way that claims to want the best for the counrty is disgraceful and can't be defended at all. It is so obviously self obsessed and has a true resentment of democracy and its electorate.
I agree with John Reid on the subject of a lib/lab pact and handing out the lolly pops. I was always totally against devolution for Scotland and Wales; It would have been better to offer a straight take Westminster or leave Westminster choice. Now, we have more people
making more laws on more areas and more horse trading. Maybe the only good thing that will come out of a lib/lab pact would be more resentment in England and hopefully the end of devolution - one way or another. I would prefer a United Kingdom but England going it alone would be far more preferable to HMG having to consult people who don't even want to be in the UK just to make a UK budget.
You shouldn't take umbrage at what I said Joyce, as I was not referring to you at all. I was referring to Jo's post, and her reply to someone else, which most definitely wasn't you.
What has happened here is simply the hung parliament thing has illustrated perfectly the cracks that are appearing in Britain due to the total mismanagement by the ghastly incompetent control freak big state Labour failed experiment.
Our society has become more polarised than ever.
The gap between rich and poor has widened.
There are no incentives for the low paid to work.
The inner city population has nothing at all in common with the rest whatsoever.
We are left with a huge debt burden and again the do'ers will be asked to pay for their mistakes.
Huge cracks are appearing in the UK union as people feel they have less in common, and who started this process of devolution ,you guessed it bloody incompetent Labour again.
We had Iraq we still have Afghanistan .
I do not want to see Labour anywhere near the reigns of power again.
I am not the only one .
Only the uneducated and the lazy support Liebour now.
This is turning into a constitutional crisis I believe.
The only good thing that will come out of it is the politicians may ask themselves where it went wrong as if they don't their bubble will go ,pop.
I too resent being called 'one of the politically undead' especially since I have been forecasting a hung parliament for months. Others on this site had been confidently predicting sizeable Tory majorities right up to election day which shows a total lack of political awareness.
The facts are that there is no government and Labour have to remain in power until a new one is formed. They have a right to try and form an alliance with similar parties and the Tories have a right to try and form a minority government or coalition. The Lib/Dems hold the balance of power and will squeeze the best deal for them and those who voted for them. That is democracy as it was the decision of the people, clearly mandated.
The Tories can throw their dummies out of their prams all they want but ultimately the public did not back them. That was down to Cameron, Osborne and their campaign. Say what you like about Mandelson but he did a much better job in attracting voters than the Tories did with their Ashcroft millions and their Cameron cuties.
Jo. For the record I did not vote Labour because being a voter in N Ireland means that I cannot vote for any of the main parties. This does not mean that I cannot have an interest in politics and the fact that my views are left of centre does not disentitle me to an opinion or a vote.
Peter.The reality is that I work in insolvency and would be undoubtedly better off and much busier with a Tory government given the fact they will decimate the economy and create another Thatcheresque slump. However, I also have a social conscience and do not want majority of the country to suffer for the benefit of the few.
"Only the uneducated and the lazy support Liebour now"
Well said Specky!
"Are you listening, Gordon Brown? Read my lips. You just lost an election. Your party lost 91 seats. You have 48 fewer seats than the Conservatives. And two million fewer voters"
Well said Simon Clark.
"the absolutely disgraceful behaviour of the ex-Labour government in trying to cling on to power when they have been STUFFED in the GE"
Well said Bill C
The reason I have posted the 3 posts above is because certain posters on here are trying their best to paint me as the villain of this piece. They try to make out that I am on my own here in condeming what is happening.
I think the 3 posts above, prove beyond a doubt that the general consensus on here says just the opposite.
"Only the uneducated and the lazy support Liebour now"
Hmmm... I think we're in danger of getting into "All smokers are stupid and stink" territory here. Specky, I agree wholeheartedly with the vast majority of your posts on here, but this comment is OTT.
I didn't vote for Labour myself, but I know some intelligent and hardworking people who did. I tried to talk at least one of these people out of it, without success - but I still respect their decision to vote that way, even if I don't agree with it.
They'll be the uneducated then.
A smart person knows the smell of propaganda.
The left have always touted the Tories will leave you out for the vultures line.
Ask the 1,000,0000's in sink estates ,they fall for that one every time.
Pity they don't realise Labour actively encourages that situation.
Pity they don't realise the rich poor gap has widened under Labour simply because their reckless spending damages economic growth.
That's because on paper their economics work, but in reality it just equates to a highly costly and highly inneficient public sector thaat does not create wealth it merely wastes 1,000,000,000's of pounds.
People on guaranteed money don't have to try too hard do they ?
@ Rick S - I agree with you. Is it not possible for folks here to agree to disagree without trading insults? People who voted a different way than you or I did aren't stupid or selfish or lazy or uneducated ... they just have different views.
Crumbs, you can see how wars start.
Amazing! In no time at all, Peter Thurgood is busy getting up people's noses again. Here's Joyce:
You know, Peter, I really take umbrage at being called one of the 'politically undead' because I did not vote Tory. How dare you suggest that only those who voted Tory have principles and are unselfish.
And Michael Peoples:
I too resent being called 'one of the politically undead' especially since I have been forecasting a hung parliament for months.
Poor Peter. I think he just can't help it.
And I don't know what the normally level-headed Simon is fussing about. If Gordon Brown is to step down as Prime Minister, who is going to take his place? We need to have a government to run the country from day to day. As things stand, nobody can form a government, so there is no government-in-waiting to step into Brown's shoes. In that circumstance, it seems perfectly reasonable that Brown should stay in office as a caretaker Prime Minister, and consults other parties about what he'd doing (which I believe he has been doing). As I understand it, Brown is doing the constitutionally correct thing. Furthermore, neither David Cameron nor Nick Clegg have called upon Brown to step down as P.M. So presumably they think he's doing the right thing too.
Or can somebody explain why I'm wrong?
What arrogance!!
The pensioners who voted Labour so as to have the link restored between pensions and earnings are uneducated... The Tories abolished that link and put countless pensioners into penury. The pension credit introduced by Labour at least meany these millions of elderly could heat their homes and feed themselves.
People who worked all their lives and paid taxes believed that they would receive their entitlement on retirement. Thanks to Thatcher and the Tories they were robbed. Yes Specky they do not have to work for that money but that is because they already have worked and it is their own money.
Many educated people have voted for Labour or hold left of centre views. To dismiss them all as the some sort of 'great unwashed' is highly offensive and the sort of patronising attitude that has kept the Tories out this long.
People fought and died for the right to vote and are entitled to use it as they see fit. Some protest, some blindly follow a party and others make up their mind after weighing up the pros and cons.
8.6 million people voted Labour and according to the posters here they are all stupid, dirty and living in sink estates. I may not agree with the current Tory party, their leader or their policies but I will never abuse someone for exercising their legitimate right to vote for them.
You should be ashamed.
"Only the uneducated and the lazy support Liebour now"
I shall try to inform my left voting friends that they are lazy and uneducated but I think they may find it a little risible!
I think we all agree that everyone is entitled to vote for whichever party they chose. But in that same light, shouldn't we also be entitled to speak out against any party we oppose?
There are many reasons why I do not like the Labour Party, and I voice my reasons with as much clarity as I can. I do not tell lies about them, and I do not make personal attacks upon them or their supporters. I attack their policies, which I believe to be my right to do so.
Britain has had five hung parliaments since the beginning of the 20th century. The first being in 1910 when the Liberal Party were elected and governed as a minority. When they went to the polls again later that same year to seek a bigger mandate, they ended up with an almost identical number of MPs as they had previously.
In the general election of 1923, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin's Conservatives had more seats than the Labour Party in a hung parliament, but he stepped aside (in the National Interest) for Labour Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald. Baldwin was rewarded for his honesty when he his party was returned to power in a landslide victory less than a year later in 1924.
There have been others of course, the most recent being in 1974, when both Labour and the Tories were short of an overall majority. Edward Heath attempted to form a minority government but this collapsed in days as he was unable to strike a deal with the Liberal Party or Unionist MPs. Labour leader Harold Wilson, who had been Prime Minister between 1964 and 1970, was then invited to form a minority government by the Queen.
What I am getting at here, is the political parties of their day, acted with respect and in the National interest. Can you imagine our recent Labour government winning more votes and more seats than the Conservatives, and then stepping aside, as Stanley Baldwin did in 1923? They won't even step aside now after receiving less seats and less votes than the Conservatives. Even Harold Wilson waited to be asked by the Queen before he attempted to form a government.
This is just one of the reasons so many people are sick to death of New Labour. They are dishonest and put themselves before the people of this country, and we are supposed to sit back and take that are we? We mustn't speak out against these people in case we offend some of their supporters?
I would guess that the majority of people on this site are smokers, and hate the smoking ban. I ask those people to tell me, who introduced the smoking ban to this country? Yes, it was your precious Labour Party, who said in their manifesto that they would not introduce an all out smoking ban, that they would only implement one in places that served food? Now tell me your precious Labour Party are not liars, now give me one reason why we should ever believe them again, or worse still, vote for them?
Having read through all of the above - what about the introduction of common sense? People can be intelligent, well educated, badly educated or whatever they may be - but what about common sense? My common sense tells me you cannot make everyone 'equal' because everyone is different. We are all individuals. Unfortunately the New Labour party has attempted to drag most of us down to some level where we do not want to be. This is illustrated by the blanket smoking ban. We have been bossed around, bullied, nannied and harassed and, frankly, I, for one, am sick of it. I am sick of being governed by people who have ruined my working and social life. The people who support the left have a vested interest in doing so - (power,jobs or benefits or whatever that may be). It is their right to vote for whoever they want to. Simultaneously it is my right as an individual who have experienced being st*ffed by this rotten past government to vote in an alternative way.
I think the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have now agreed something and Brown is set to resign. My the Good Lord help us all and let us hope that something better can come before millions more are added to the dole queue and more nasty legislation is passed!
Apologies - in my penultimate paragraph it should read 'It is my right as an individual who HAS experienced being stu*ffed...' I was rather emotional there, however!!
@ Peter
"I do not make personal attacks upon them or their supporters. I attack their policies".
@ Peter:
"And do you know why we are lumbered with such a burden of deadbeats and crooks? Because of the politically undead. The me..me..me generation, who don't give a damn for our country and our future generations, who care only for their themselves".
Errrrrrr? Who exactly were you attacking then, Peter? :-)
YES! 7.20 and the ba****ds have gone!
In reply to Rose, the policically undead Rose, are exactly that, their ghastly leader who has just resigned and his motley crew that have also seen the last of the free handouts from us..the elctorate.
"Ironically I am rooting for a Lib/Lab pact as of 1974............."
Dave A's sentiments echo my own - and for the same reasons.
The imminent (or so it appears) Lib/Con alliance is a potential disaster for all freedom-lovers, and a DREAM for all the Fabians out there.
Why ?
Because when the economic malaise deepens, who will get the blame ?
When the nasty medicine is prescribed, who will be hated for forcing it down our throats ?
And if the forthcoming 'Parliament' runs a full term (give or take), to whom will a disgruntled electorate look for 'change' ?
Once, that is, the selective amnesia kicks in (as it always does).
This is not just A perfect result for the Fabian Fantasists.
It's THE perfect result.
And for freedom-loving conservatives of ALL previous hues, it's a disaster.
And one scarcely mitigated by the political demise of Old Gordo.
Especially with the creepy Milibands waiting in the wings.
Sorry to sound so glum....................
(And I should have said 'Fabian Realists': THEY, at least, know what they're doing).
I've just been on a LD site with people saying it's a disaster, and now here you are Martin saying the same. sheesh, do you guys LIKE being in opposition?! Don't Worry. Be Happy!
I heard earlier the LD's statement about the breakdown of the Lib/Lab talks which asserted that certain Labour cabinet members appeared to want proposals to fail. I could well believe that Mandelson's engineered the whole thing: set Gordon up to make overtures to the LD's (knowing that they'd demand that GB stands aside); his resignation being the objective, ensure a Lib/Lab deal fails and take time out to elect a new leader for presentation to an electorate which now loathes the Lib/Con government.
It'll be interesting, too, if the new coalition plays good cop/bad cop. If the LDs spin themselves into the position of good cop then the prospective electoral reform might result in a future, permanent Lib/Lab government.
When I was 16 years old I started my working life in a Steelworks I woke at 6:00 left at 6:30 to start at 7:00.
I lived in Britain.
Britain was the Sparta of Europe and they knew it !
I lived in a country that had an identity.
How times have changed.
I, now at 50 years old work in IT.
I got off my arse and did something while everyone else just got pissed and moaned and expected everyone else to sort it out.
I'm not saying I don't (get pissed),but I exercise self control ,well most of the time.
I now at 50 years old (starting to become a time traveller) have an understanding of political comings and goings.
What is happening to you is that you have all been conned into giving up your strategic industries in favour of your part as mindless consumers in the new UN world government.
I am sure the rest of the world appreciates the way you have sacrificed your childrens future for an easy life.
We owe 1000,000,000's of pounds to the industrious nations ,you know the ones that make the tele that the fat buttocks sit in fornt of.
Your politicians have sold your butts down the river.
Well world guv's must have some "interesting openings"especially for politicians career paths.
You think that your crappy public sector jobs are any use to this country ?
Wrong.
Wealth is .
Manufacturing.
Farming.
The land itself.
The quality of the population.
Your own self worth.
Your ability to create.
Lets look at self worth shall we.
Self worth is ,self confidence.
I don't see much nowaday's everyone waits for someone else or the state to solve their problem don't they ?
Can you imagine a 16 year old now going to work in a steelmill.
Oh no how horrible a child ooooh how horrible.
Wrong
That is what made us strong.
The boys in the third world....
They get on with it.
Here they come .
No actually they already have.
No actually they own us.
No more leftly crap please.
C'mon eberybody !!!!
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving.
Ye Jackos right, all be it a bit dodgy if you know what I mean.
The interesting thing though is how the elite ,yes that includes the Fabian society type have deemed that the working classes of the UK are now chav's untouchables and worthless.
And worse ...smokers .
A differnet race altogether.
Deemed surplus to requirement and dumped.
They are waking up to the threat are they not ?
Errr no they just keep voting Labour.
The ubber rich sold Britain 30 years ago.
You are well and truly owned.
I thank you .
ps
Britain is cold ,because it is cold the life expectancy of someone living outdoors is probably lower than the third world.
Just a thought.
Now maybe that was the original impetus, work or freeze ?
Rose asks:
" do you guys LIKE being in opposition?!"
Sheesh, Rose - we STILL are.
And now we've nowhere to run.
And if we see the enfranchisement of 16-year olds (whose wisom, experience and deep insights the Country badly needs), the Acne Revolution will be complete.
It'll be like going to a Live Earth concert every day.
Still, ANY surprises from now one will be PLEASANT ones.
Until then, I hope you don't mind if I keep the Obama-style hysteria on hold.
And the NEXT time someone says 'New Politics'.............
Specky -
Abso-bloody-lutely !!!!!
Abso-bloody-lutely right there Speky!