Dear Editor,
Your recent article by Russell Jackson ‘Our government is killing democracy by a thousand cuts‘ is absolutely spot on. This government is certainly not acting in the interests of the British people but only in the interests of the British establishment and their wealthy sponsors.
Unfortunately, this country has become an anachronism in the 21st century and the country’s institutions illustrate this fact.
For example, we have an unelected Upper House of which has nearly 800 members, many of whom are ‘chummy’ or political appointees. Dare I say that also, in this year of the Queen’s platinum jubilee, I feel the monarchy in its present form illustrates the archaic state of the nation’s institutions. The royal family is no paragon of virtue as recent events show; their ties to slavery, Andrew’s recent court case and Charles and his charity’s cash-for-honours.
The honours system, having had a whiff of corruption about it for many years has become blatantly farcical and somewhat meaningless as a result.
One area that I feel has had a profound impact on our democracy was the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners by Cameron. It was the first step in the politicisation of the police. As recent events regarding ‘Partygate’ and ‘Beergate’ have shown, the process continues.
Under our present voting system of FPTP, there is no democratic accountability when, like me you live in a safe seat. Mid Suffolk council used to have the slogan ‘Every Vote Counts’ at the top of the voters register form. This was nonsense as I noted every time I returned one.
My MP, Dr Daniel Poulter, is so secure in this constituency that he rarely bothers to acknowledge receipt of my emails. He just doesn’t care. In my last email I asked him as a doctor could he please let me know his opinion of the state of the NHS and in particular the mental health provision and also the ambulance service. I asked if he could enlighten me on whether it’s government policy to slowly privatise the NHS and where the 40 hospitals promised by the prime minister were. I asked about other subjects too, but acknowledgement of receipt, let alone any answers, came there none!
Unfortunately, the lady trying to contact Poulter regarding her school transport problem as reported in last week’s Pecksniff’s Diary does not surprise me. I wish her luck with her problem.
My attitude to this country now is one of disillusionment and shame. Instead of modernising and looking to the future, it is looking more and more to the past in a vain attempt to enhance its prestige and influence on the world stage.
I really do despair.
David Withey
Suffolk
