Thoughts after reading today's paper

When I was younger there was a belief that we had learned the lessons of (then) quite recent history. We were turning our backs on the abuses of the past, where minorities were persecuted just because they were different; where state officials (officers and employees) abused arbitrary power to get vulnerable people to confess to things they didn't do - or beat them up. Where justice was denied, on an industrial scale. Never again. The UN had a charter for human rights. A European Convention on Human Rights was enacted, and made legally enforceable.

But, we don't seem to have progressed - in fact we are going backwards. This summer we went to Hamburg & were moved by a statue remembering the Kindertransport, which saved thousands from the gas chambers - and the many, many, many plaques in the pavement noting the site of homes From which real people were taken away - many to their deaths because they were Jews, homosexuals, political activists, or had just helped a neighbour or work colleague. Yet the report in today's paper records what happened this week, We see newspapers propagating lies and inciting hatred. People who will face Election in the days & months ahead will gain millions of votes despite the ugliness of the hateful rhetoric they use.

History can, does & will repeat itself. We need to recapture the optimism - and take the actions required - to stop it.

( The article which prompted this - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/27/calais-camp-minors-children-abandoned-uk-france-human-rights?CMP=fb_gu )

Brexit - and the death of the UK Parliament

Despite the rhetoric about reviving "parliamentary sovereignty" should Britain vote to leave the EU - it seems that Parliament is now to be relegated to being a mere advisory council - which isn't going to be listened to. The last time we saw that was prior to the civil war of the 1640s!

The Government is insisting upon its (questionable) assertion that triggering Article 50 is solely a matter for the Royal Prerogatative - a claim which is challenged (for a summary of the arguments see the House of Lord's Constitution Committee Report) - http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201617/ldselect/ldconst/44/44.pdf

So, if the Prime Minister insists on this, Parliament will be locked out of THE key decision. (And in a worrying sign, the Indication of when Art 50 will be triggered was NOT given to Parliament, but revealed in an interview given to coincide with the Tory Party conference.)

But more bad news is on the horizon - Le Monde is reporting that there will be "un vaste chantier législatif aboutir à un divorce définitif au printemps 2019" (roughly translated - a huge legislative task needed for springtime 2019.) That suggests to the British mind - lots of parliamentary bills leading to primary legislation. But think again, will it be secondary legislation? Pushed through with minimal opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny? (The supposedly weaker French parlement has had to put up with a limited role in legislation - because their Constitution specifically gives the Executive the power to legislate). By a sleight of hand is the Westminster Parliament about to be similarly neutered?

These are questions that need urgently to be answered.

A progressive future?

There's a lot of gloom around concerning the future for the parties of "the Left". The Conservatives seemed to be entrenched in power in Britain. Many wonder whether they will see another Labour government in their lifetime. Right wing nationalism has had an excellent year - Despite their own internal weaknesses UKIP had much to celebrate with the referendum result, the AfD has had its successes in Germany, Many think that Le Pen will be in the second (& final!) round of the French presidential election next spring - and Donald Trump is the Republican candidate in the US Presidential Election.

Does anybody expect (or want) Hollande to win in France? Hillary seems to be attracting votes, not for what she is or would do, but because she is NOT Donald Trump. What do progressives have to offer?

This is the key question that we must face. Working harder to get Labour/the Democrats/le Parti socialiste/ the SPD elected isn't the answer. My colleagues/comrades HAVE worked very hard. Effort is not the problem, but our ideas are. We need to adopt and articulate ideas which can win the enthusiasm of a MAJORITY of the electorate. (OK, enough of the electorate to be able to enter government).

And actually we are doing that. I'm writing this in Manchester -  where Labour has 95 out of the 96 seats on the City Council. There is a Labour Police & Crime Commissioner (& last year Labour won 3 more across the country - including Willy Bach's spectacular win in Leicestershire).

To move ahead we have to get closer to the people we seek to represent. We have to give power back to people - NOT hoard it at Westminster. We should be championing decision making at the local level (and not draining it away by stealth - as the Tories have done with schools and the Regional Schools Commissioners).

But we also need to be talking & working with our neighbours. Rallies are fine - but have nothing to do with enthusing the currently uncommitted. Handing out or delivering leaflets is no substitute for listening to what our neighbours say (and think).

Following the ins and outs of national politics may be interesting (I am an addict), but the problem that requires our greatest attention is how we engage with the only people that will make a Labour/PS/SPD/Democrat Election victory possible - our neighbours.