Discussion Thread: Strengthen Parliamentary Select Committees

This is an archived discussion thread for the "Strengthen Parliamentary Select Committees" voting page. Voting, and this discussion thread, have now closed. 

jessicaasato 1 month ago

I was delighted that Power 2010's deliberative forum chose the strengthening of Parliament as one of the key reforms they would like to see take place in Britain. While it isn't as sexy as determining MP's pay, it is one of the ways in which we could rapidly change the culture of politics by providing MPs with incentives to stick up for their constituents rather than simply
toe the party line.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with MPs sticking to party policy - after all, the public elect political parties on manifesto pledges. If everyone went back on those pledges once in power, there would be an outcry. But it's gone too far in this country - unthinking loyalty, a fear of the
whips and unadulterated ambition, have rendered Parliament redundant. The only way up in politics is through blind obedience, remaining silent and cosying up to the leadership, whether in government or in opposition. 

We need to plough a different path so that politicians can break free from the whips without being consigned to a life of unrecognised penitence on the backbenches. Beefing up Select Committees are one way to achieve this. Let Members have a free vote on Committee Chairs, let Committees propose Bills, and give them powers to hold both Government ministers and heads of public bodies to account. We need leaders in the executive office of Government, but we need fearless truth-tellers in the legislature. Please vote to strengthen Parliament!

Esteban Clarke 1 month ago
I would very much like to see this as a key reform in government. One of my biggest bug bears about recent and current government is the sheer amount of ridiculous, knee jerk legislation that gets thrown at us constantly, very often not being researched and therefore not really making a difference. We need a way to counter-act that from continuing, and then of course an ongoing method of making sure new legislation means something (and of course clearing out the old rubbish from the statute books).

I'm torn though, I think the top five are also some of the most important.... arrrrgh!

barrykn 1 month ago
I also voted for having a written constitution. It seams to me that the link between the MPs you vote for (or back bench MP grouping you voted for), has little to no say in how the front bench MP's in the elected party (In effect the government) do things. There seems to be a diiferent agenda for those in government, and since once you start to climb the slippery pole of career advancement, your forced into making choices in line with what the government wants to hear. 

Thus having more powerful select committees, seems common sense, and the fact that they can make common sense decisions of what is a sensible way forward for the government to go, should mean better decisions are made.

My big problem is that I cannot understand why better decision making is not already in the makeup of government and why good decisions and better (guided) economics is not the aim of government. Is it that once in government, the main aim of a political party is to stay in government and all the rest is of secondary interest.

mike ilett 1 month ago
 
TREGRAHOW liked this.
democracy is the key to a stable, healthy country, we have seen the total lack of respect for the people shown by this government, and the dictatorial pressure put on it by the european union to ignore public opinion and bulldoze eu policies through. we desperately need committees to represent the people and bring the government back into line so they truly represent those who voted them in

Prester John 1 month ago

1 person liked this.
This is absolutely fundamental and I am shocked that it is not in the top 5.

It is one of the ideas that represents a real undrestanding of how government works.

Jenefer Joseph 1 month ago
 
1 person liked this.
I once had to report to a Select Committee on an aspect of education. The Report came out, in hundreds of pages, & was then put on the 'shelves' & never heard of again!! So strengthening the powers of Select Committees to try to ensure action/notice is taken of reccommendations is very important, & will save money & unnecessary time-wasting.

Leila 1 month ago

1 person liked this.
I would like to see this taken further and members of the public invited to attend as 'witnesses' For example Simon Heffer's Armed Forces article shows some dispair at Liam Foxe's naivity and Stirrup's lack of form. As he says, its vital the forces are revised ( cost)and it is a generational chance Call in the opinions! This should be the norm for any radical proposition. eg tackling the NHS (waste,cost, failing hospitals) The NHS was of course tackled admirably by Lord ---? whose findings were ignored by Gov Even Frank Field thinking the unthinkable as requested by Blair was ignored then demoted.

scrutoneer 1 month ago 

1 person liked this.
Anything which facilitates more profound examination of legislative proposals gets my vote. There must surely never have been a time in history when so much bad legislations has been enacted. Politicians' territories have been expanded without restraint: they even have their tanks parked on the lawns of the major professions; a situation which has led to these professions being "de-professionalised". Only dentists have called the politicians' bluff; it is about time that the other professions did so too.

Reactions

Emma_Hoddinott 5 days ago

From Twitter via BackType

Just voted for strengthening select committees to make the #POWER2010 Election Pledge, do the same at http://tinyurl.com/yd5bfzv

Jessica_Asato 1 week ago

From Twitter via BackType

Yay! Just seen that the idea I advocated for Power 2010 (strengthening select comms) has over 1000 votes! http://bit.ly/9aaRLn

mikesmith82 1 month ago

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One more retweet from GLGabriel
RT @Jessica_Asato: Please vote to strengthen select committees which I advocated in Power 2010's public poll! http://is.gd/6fm8s

Jessica_Asato 1 month ago

From Twitter via BackType

Please vote to strengthen select committees which I advocated in Power 2010's public poll!http://is.gd/6fm8s