Comments on: The nationalisation of politics http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 24 May 2012 20:42:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: ManicBeancounter http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19266 ManicBeancounter Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:43:24 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19266 Some useful numbers appear on the BBC at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8147353.stm The cost of our councils , Commons, Lords, MEPS and assemblies in Wales, NI & Scotland comes a whisker below £500m. These figures are understated by a long way (Security and buildings maintenance are absent, as are the travel costs for MEPs and government ministers). However, even if the true cost is £2bn, that is a trivial issue. It is the difference that a government can make to the country it serves that matters. Wise regulation, proper control of public finances, effective and timely decision-making and promoting the best institutions of the market economy can make the difference of hundreds of billions of pounds a year. This is especially true of the current crisis. Some useful numbers appear on the BBC at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8147353.stm

The cost of our councils , Commons, Lords, MEPS and assemblies in Wales, NI & Scotland comes a whisker below £500m.

These figures are understated by a long way (Security and buildings maintenance are absent, as are the travel costs for MEPs and government ministers). However, even if the true cost is £2bn, that is a trivial issue. It is the difference that a government can make to the country it serves that matters. Wise regulation, proper control of public finances, effective and timely decision-making and promoting the best institutions of the market economy can make the difference of hundreds of billions of pounds a year. This is especially true of the current crisis.

]]> By: DBC Reed http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19265 DBC Reed Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:19:11 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19265 I used to have dealings with an old-school politician (Conservative).He used to answer his own phone (his home telephone number was in the local telephone directory) and when I met him occasionally to discuss things like Land value Tax which he was amazingly open-minded about (and very quick on the up-take),he made his own mind up and committed everything to memory. However becoming more "professional",he acquired a typical middle-class "gel" as a shield between himself and the public and who decided which phone calls got through. and yet other advisers and researchers came in tow.Later he got into quite a lot of trouble with parliamentary expenses. I can never understand why an MP needs a staff at all.I have been involved in some professional jobs where I have done all my own answering the telephone,letter writing, filing and developing my own ideas with no administrative support whatsoever. The modern trend of technology towards personal computers, telephone anwering systems etc was meant to liberate "thinkers" from back-office interference and encumbrances . You cannot tell me that politicians cannot work on their own anywhere in the country with a personal computer for communication and storing personal files and net Access for doing their own research and checking out political theories (like LVT!), plus a mobile phone.The parliamentary expenses scandal showed politicians trying to re-create the 1950's office (like the one in Revolutionary Road) when modern technology (perhaps because of a lot of it was developed by hippies) favours the free-standing free-thinker. I used to have dealings with an old-school politician (Conservative).He used to answer his own phone (his home telephone number was in the local telephone directory) and when I met him occasionally to discuss things like Land value Tax which he was amazingly open-minded about (and very quick on the up-take),he made his own mind up and committed everything to memory.
However becoming more “professional”,he acquired a typical middle-class “gel” as a shield between himself and the public and who decided which phone calls got through. and yet other advisers and researchers came in tow.Later he got into quite a lot of trouble with parliamentary expenses.
I can never understand why an MP needs a staff at all.I have been involved in some professional jobs where I have done all my own answering the telephone,letter writing, filing and developing my own ideas with no administrative support whatsoever.
The modern trend of technology towards personal computers, telephone anwering systems etc was meant to liberate “thinkers” from back-office interference and encumbrances .
You cannot tell me that politicians cannot work on their own anywhere in the country with a personal computer for communication and storing personal files and net Access for doing their own research and checking out political theories (like LVT!), plus a mobile phone.The parliamentary expenses scandal showed politicians trying to re-create the 1950′s office (like the one in Revolutionary Road) when modern technology (perhaps because of a lot of it was developed by hippies) favours the free-standing free-thinker.

]]> By: Mike Stallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19264 Mike Stallard Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:07:50 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19264 A most inspiring and excellent read! A most inspiring and excellent read!

]]> By: alan jutson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19263 alan jutson Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:13:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19263 John You assume that the programme will be accurate and balanced with regard to its financial, and other forms of content. I will wait and see with interest. In the meantime let us hope that the truth and the sheer scale of Government will come out. John

You assume that the programme will be accurate and balanced with regard to its financial, and other forms of content.

I will wait and see with interest.

In the meantime let us hope that the truth and the sheer scale of Government will come out.

]]> By: Paul http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19262 Paul Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:43:24 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19262 The FOI that the BBC put in whilst researching this program came back with the unbelievable figure that politicians and their direct assistants are costing the taxpayer half a billion pounds a year !!!! The question that also needs to be asked and I suspect will be an even bigger figure is what all branches of government including quangos are spending on propoganda ( communication) I have just arrived home to find 3 magazines on my doormat. Borough Council, County Council and Police Service, all hype and fluff about diversity and equality and targets in full glossy format. My County Council even runs it's own TV station at the cost of over half a million a year, sole purpose communication, also has a massive website, sole purpose communication. On the questions of parties, manifestos, voting and democracy these are my thoughts. Parties funded purely by membership fees House of Commons to grow some ba**s and start to challenge the executive Direct elections for the executive Seperate elections for constituency reps in legislature, this overcomes to some extent the manifesto clash mentioned above and minimises greatly the power of the whips. The FOI that the BBC put in whilst researching this program came back with the unbelievable figure that politicians and their direct assistants are costing the taxpayer half a billion pounds a year !!!!

The question that also needs to be asked and I suspect will be an even bigger figure is what all branches of government including quangos are spending on propoganda ( communication) I have just arrived home to find 3 magazines on my doormat. Borough Council, County Council and Police Service, all hype and fluff about diversity and equality and targets in full glossy format. My County Council even runs it’s own TV station at the cost of over half a million a year, sole purpose communication, also has a massive website, sole purpose communication.

On the questions of parties, manifestos, voting and democracy these are my thoughts.

Parties funded purely by membership fees

House of Commons to grow some ba**s and start to challenge the executive

Direct elections for the executive

Seperate elections for constituency reps in legislature, this overcomes to some extent the manifesto clash mentioned above and minimises greatly the power of the whips.

]]> By: Stuart Turner http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19261 Stuart Turner Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:54:52 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19261 I agree with Cynical Middle Englander, there are far too many people making money out of telling us how to run our lives...and not for our benefit but to further socialist planning. I think one practical measure for reforming our local government would be to return to the pre-1997 arrangement of not paying back bench councillors allowances...only giving them travel expenses. That way we will have fewer party apparatchiks standing because they see it as a 'good career move', and more independently minded citizens standing for wards they care about. I agree with Cynical Middle Englander, there are far too many people making money out of telling us how to run our lives…and not for our benefit but to further socialist planning.

I think one practical measure for reforming our local government would be to return to the pre-1997 arrangement of not paying back bench councillors allowances…only giving them travel expenses. That way we will have fewer party apparatchiks standing because they see it as a ‘good career move’, and more independently minded citizens standing for wards they care about.

]]> By: NigelC http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19260 NigelC Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:31:51 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19260 The cost of allowances at district council level can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds The cost of allowances at district council level can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds

]]> By: David Hannah http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19259 David Hannah Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:33:29 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19259 John, I assume that you have obtained and read a copy of "The Plan", co-authored by Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell. As a very succinct manifesto on direct democracy, can you tell us whether you agree with its contents? Apologies if you have already commented on it, as I am an irregular visitor. Reply: Yes I commented on it when published John, I assume that you have obtained and read a copy of “The Plan”, co-authored by Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell. As a very succinct manifesto on direct democracy, can you tell us whether you agree with its contents? Apologies if you have already commented on it, as I am an irregular visitor.

Reply: Yes I commented on it when published

]]> By: Acorn http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19258 Acorn Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:04:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19258 Stephen, are you ready for your first lesson, we will start off gently. Your list shows some knowledge of the mess; but, concentrate on the underlying EU Structure Plan, previously rubber stamped by JR and his mates at Westminster. Superstate apparatchics will tell you that NUTS is purely for statistical purposes, don't believe them. This IS the plan for administrative and political purposes, EU wide. Start with this link:- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/nuts.asp Notice that the 12 NUTS 1 Regions are already in place (European election areas / government regional offices, for now). Pick a region (NUTS 1 level) at the bottom to see where your patch will end up. There will be some deviation getting to the final solution, just to fool us. Wiltshire for instance, has this year, become a Unitary County on its way to having four LAUs. Notice also that there are currently 443 LAUs. Can I suggest one MP each? So, if a politician tells you that they will do away with regional government, just say NUTS. Can I put this forward for the conspiracy theory of the year award? reply: As someone who has fougth federalism at every turn I disagree with the reference to me. Stephen, are you ready for your first lesson, we will start off gently. Your list shows some knowledge of the mess; but, concentrate on the underlying EU Structure Plan, previously rubber stamped by JR and his mates at Westminster. Superstate apparatchics will tell you that NUTS is purely for statistical purposes, don’t believe them. This IS the plan for administrative and political purposes, EU wide. Start with this link:-

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/nuts.asp

Notice that the 12 NUTS 1 Regions are already in place (European election areas / government regional offices, for now). Pick a region (NUTS 1 level) at the bottom to see where your patch will end up. There will be some deviation getting to the final solution, just to fool us. Wiltshire for instance, has this year, become a Unitary County on its way to having four LAUs. Notice also that there are currently 443 LAUs. Can I suggest one MP each?

So, if a politician tells you that they will do away with regional government, just say NUTS.

Can I put this forward for the conspiracy theory of the year award?

reply: As someone who has fougth federalism at every turn I disagree with the reference to me.

]]> By: Beacon http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/13/the-nationalisation-of-politics/#comment-19257 Beacon Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:46:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4039#comment-19257 I agree with most of what you say with one exception; "fewer elected officials." I remember as a young man in the early eighties making the same statement to the then newly elected John Major's agent. She paused and told me, and I paraphrase; "one should never seek to water down democracy." I saw the light. Whilst I don't support fewer elected officials, on the contrary I think there should be more as with the police where they answer directly to the community they serve, I can support time limits in office. On party funding I fear little will change even under a 'compassionate Conservative' government. Only a strong Tory leader would deal with Labour and it's union pay masters. I agree with most of what you say with one exception; “fewer elected officials.”

I remember as a young man in the early eighties making the same statement to the then newly elected John Major’s agent. She paused and told me, and I paraphrase; “one should never seek to water down democracy.” I saw the light.

Whilst I don’t support fewer elected officials, on the contrary I think there should be more as with the police where they answer directly to the community they serve, I can support time limits in office.

On party funding I fear little will change even under a ‘compassionate Conservative’ government. Only a strong Tory leader would deal with Labour and it’s union pay masters.

]]>