Letter: ‘You Don’t Defend Democracy by Trashing Democracy’

Published on: 31 Aug, 2019
Updated on: 31 Aug, 2019

Prorogue protestors at the Guildhall. Photo Mandy Millyard

From Fiona White

deputy leader of GBC and Lib Dem borough councillor for Westborough

In response to: Guildford Lib Dem Candidate In Prorogue Protest at Guildhall

Thanks to Zoe Franklin for organising a protest against the shutting down of Parliament at such short notice. It gave people who feel strongly that the decision to prorogue is more designed to prevent MPs debating the issue of a “No-deal Brexit” than to prepare for the Queen’s Speech.

Historically, it only takes a few days to prepare for a Queen’s Speech. In 2016 Parliament was closed for only four days in the run-up. The Hansard Society, an independent group that has studied parliament for more than 70 years, said that the length of time involved for the suspension of Parliament was “both unnecessary and beyond the norm”.

To quote Chancellor Sajid Javid when making his leadership bid, “You don’t defend democracy by trashing democracy”.

In the situation the country faces at the moment with the potential damage of leaving the EU with no deal, it would make more sense to limit or even cancel the party conference break to give MPs more opportunity to debate the attitude of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration and hold him to account.

The crowd, initially around a hundred, almost doubled in size during the 30-minute protest. Photo Mandy Millyard

Responses to Letter: ‘You Don’t Defend Democracy by Trashing Democracy’

John Perkins Reply

August 31, 2019 at 4:58 pm

Complaints about the prorogation of Parliament might be more convincing if Remainers hadn’t hijacked the Commons agenda earlier in the year in order to force the government to delay Brexit.

Not one Remain supporter objected to that “constitutional outrage”.

They should not be surprised if the new government resorts to equally underhand tactics to try to ensure it can conduct its legitimate business.

As for democracy, only a week ago they were openly plotting to bring down the elected government and replace it by a “temporary” administration. Meanwhile, they continue to pretend to be opposed to “no deal” when in reality they oppose Brexit – the result of a democratic vote.
Kevin Dewey Reply

August 31, 2019 at 6:31 pm

As a Remainer and a Conservative Party member who did not vote for Boris, I am now concluding that the time has come for firm leadership and delivering what the people voted for. What do those calling leadership a “coup” think our useless political class will do with more time to waffle? Boris is actually trying to lead the EU to a deal for the first time in three years. What’s wrong with that? They should keep quiet and let him try. And then, if he does it, cheer.
Robert Shatwell Reply

September 1, 2019 at 9:45 am

You do not defend democracy by ignoring democratic results. The people of the United Kingdom voted by a majority to leave the EU. Just because the Liberal Democratic Party does not like that democratic decision is no reason for it not to be implemented.

The argument that the government does not have a mandate to leave with no-deal does not hold water. We, the people of the UK, gave a mandate to the government to leave the EU. The Liberal Democratic Party should accept that.
- Jon Askew Reply
  
  September 2, 2019 at 9:25 am
  
  The government has a mandate to leave the EU with a great deal, as described by the Leave campaigns (“No-one is talking about leaving the Single Market” etc). That they’ve never properly considered staying in the Customs Union or Single Market, with a Norway or Swiss-style deal, is due to the Conservative party’s self-imposed “red lines” which were never mentioned before the referendum and for which no-one vote. No-deal is a bait-and-switch, where people were told they were voting for a deal, then told they meant no-deal all along.
  
  So why not put no-deal to the people via a second referendum to see if that’s what they really want?