A very British revolution?

Having had a few days to consider the implications of the Parliamentary and Constitutional crisis, is it now time to completely reform the way that British democracy works? Douglas Carswell, the Conservative MP who tabled a motion of no confidence in the Speaker said that there is a widow of 12 months in which MPs can decide to reform our peculiar democracy. Some of the current proposals, in which relatively speaking seem revolutionary include,

• Proportional representation • Fixed term Parliaments • A written constitution (including a Bill of Rights) • A fully elected upper house • Fixed terms for MPs • Boosting the power of select committees • Constituency primaries

Of course, some are more controversial than others. The perceptive Vince Cable voiced on Question Time yesterday that Parliament, and not the Government should decide on public spending. This is essentially a reversal of the abolition in 1967 of the Committee of Ways and Means. I believe that this would be a progressive move to empower Parliament because it is too weak to hold governments to account.

I was also impressed by Health Minister Ben Bradshaw. Having to defend what is now an inept government (partly because of the Parliamentary situation) he did well to voice the need for reform. I have meet Ben before and he was very open to ideas and perceptive in how they might apply to government policy. Whether he considers them or not is another matter. After the next election, I think (and hope) he will be a strong advocate for change.

Although I am miserable about the state of politics at the moment, this issue has raised public interest in the political classes and I hope this new momentum will be a driver for a more citizen centred democracy. Sometimes, we can all be a bit too British and value tradition above anything else. Our democratic system at every level, the inadequacies of our Parliaments and Assemblies and the castrated local authorities need a complete change.

I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of primary elections, a bill or rights and other reforms. Of course, the current political system has to drive these reforms, so we have a duty as citizens to put pressure on all our politicians, leaving any tribalism at home. Maybe, just maybe, everyone can feel part of the political process that millions have fought for over the years.