6th July 2007

Martin Whiteside challenges Gordon Browns' sleight of hand and window dressing around democracy.

Gordon Brown's plans for 'greater democracy', while welcome in some instances, are based on sleight of hand and window dressing (Echo report 4/07/07). He may be giving up a long list of 'decorative' powers like choosing the Poet Laurete and Bishops, but we will lose under his proposed changes in planning law the right to a public inquiry into an incinerator or nuclear power station on our doorstep.

It is shocking that investigations into scandalous arms deals will continue to be blocked. Gordon Brown made it a priority to boost corporations during his times as Chancellor and encouraged moves to privatise our public services. He has now appointed the former head of the Confederation of British Industry, Digby Jones, as Minister for Trade and Investment along with a slew of other corporate-related figures (i). This further undermines our democracy.

Furthermore his previous decisions as Chancellor will affect local services more than anything he does now as PM. The annual rate of growth in public spending will decline from an average of 5% (in real, inflation-adjusted terms) to 2% from next April. Education and health are set to be higher than this but it means emergency services, transport and the environment will be squeezed despite increasing pressures to fund care for older people and find more social housing.

What we need is real devolution so that communities can make their own decisions about local services like Weavers Croft,  Holly House and a host of other local issues. Also, if Gordon is really committed to 'greater democracy', he should make sure each of our votes actually count - by giving us proportional representation.

Martin Whiteside
Hillside, Claypits Lane, Thrupp, Stroud
Stroud Green Party Parliamentary Candidate


Notes:

(i) http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2992