2015 Election and The ‘Blackna Carta’

The General Election can’t come soon enough for some as we are subject to the longest political campaign in history.  Of course, for political geeks (and I confess I’m one) this election represents a critically important moment for the nation.

As Britain becomes increasingly diverse in the range of its political opinions, so the Palace of Westminster and the electoral system that elects people to sit there have become utterly anachronistic and archaic.  For Black and minority ethnic communities whose votes will determine the outcome of the next general election, this is the time to use that huge political leverage to make a once in a lifetime change to the nature of British democracy.

The first-past-the-post method was designed to deliver stable government from one of a two-party system.  But the old ideologies are dead and with them the loyalties that go back generations, replaced by fragmented and diverse political opinions expressed by an even more diverse electorate having to deal with more complex social, economic and cultural issues.

The current electoral system is now incapable of representing the expressed view of the people.

Our current system, first-past-the-post, exaggerates political differences, giving the impression that parties are doing better or worse than their actual number of votes suggest.  For example, the SNP will with around 50% of the vote win every single parliamentary seat north of the border, leaving other parties with substantial numbers of votes but with no representation whatsoever.

On Thursday, our obsolete voting system will deliver a result that fails to reflect the true will of the people and will produce, as in 2010, a contested and controversial outcome.

The reality of coalition government means that what is promised during the campaign can quickly be abandoned, because ‘coalition’ is not getting what you wanted, were vaguely promised or frankly even voted for.

With public trust in politicians at its lowest level, such an outcome can only add to the widespread view that politicians are utterly untrustworthy.

The equality of citizens, the fight against racism, the failure of Westminster to represent women, black and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities can only be addressed through fundamental constitutional reform.

Key to these reforms are questions such as the basic economic, social and constitutional rights to be enjoyed by all British citizens and the distinct devolved arrangements for the regions.

The maturation of Britain’s black and minority ethnic voters is another factor driving a demand for major democratic reform.  Operation Black Vote is leading that debate by explicitly linking the growing rates of racial discrimination and the lack of representation in public life, with the need for democratic reform and greater citizenship rights.

We believe the fight for race equality will only be won once democracy delivers real political accountability.

We have outlined our position on our manifesto document ‘Reforming Democracy - Fighting Racism’.

We don’t believe there is a crisis of confidence in democracy.  The fact is British democracy lives in the hearts and minds of the people, and while the British public of all backgrounds are fed up with our current election arrangement they remain passionately interested in politics. That’s why constitutional reform is now an irresistible force.

The task ahead is formidable, particularly as electoral reform must be linked to greater devolution of power, local government reform and stronger economic, social and political rights for all citizens.

Political parties will have to move from representing narrow sectarian interests and push for policies and philosophies that meet the challenge of a Britain that is becoming increasingly ethnically and politically diverse, complex and sophisticated.

Ruling such a country won’t be easy and it will require politicians of a high calibre who deserve our votes because they understand and address our issues.  We need to trust their credibility and their honesty, which is not the case now.

David Cameron said recently that we need to move towards a ‘post-bureaucratic age democracy” and he is right. Our democracy is, contrary to most reports, alive and well, but like the prostrate Leviathan in Lilliput, is tied down by the chains of an outdated constitution.

The notion of a grand coalition of Labour and Conservatives may seem laughable.  However, if both could rise above the narrow confines of party politics, they could unite to support a constitutional settlement that gives this country the democracy it needs and deserves.  Both parties united to defend the Union during the Scottish referendum, both must do so again for the good of the country.

Constitutional reform offers the only way to restore trust and confidence in the democratic process. But can the current generation of politicians see the democratic wood for Westminster trees?

Lee Jasper