Transport Minister has no democratic accountability
Discussion
article from DA said:
Following the cabinet re-shuffle last week, Geoff Hoon has been replaced as transport minister by Lord Adonis.
As a member of the House of Lords, Adonis does not have a seat in the House of Commons and is therefore not an elected representitive of the public.
The Lords are mostly appointed by the government of the day and are not subject to the scrutiny of the electorate. We do not get the opportunity to replace them in an election if we disagree with their policies or performance.
In addition, an opposition minister cannot question a Lord in parliament as they do not sit in the House of Commons, this means they are effectively immune to democratic accountability.
If for instance, the Department for Transport decide to reduce speed limits to walking pace and legislate for someone to walk in front of your car with a red flag, Lord Adonis who is now the minister responsible, cannot be questioned in the House of Commons and cannot be ousted as an MP because he is not an elected MP
k at any time now.
unrepentant said:
What's new? Who elected Peter Mandelson, the business secretary? Or Genys Kinnochio? Brown has filled his government with unelected ministers because he can't find enough MP's who are A. Competent and B. Support him. It's a disgrace and makes a mockery of democracy.
this is the most serious challenge to this country's democracy in our lifetimes.Is he really unaccountable? AFAIK statements have to be made in the Lords just as they are in the Commons, which is presumably why there's often at least one Lord as a junior minister in each department. Meanwhile, one of the junior ministers who is an MP will make the statements and answer questions in HoC on behalf of the department.
Did being a Lord make Peter Carrington any less accountable for the failure to foresee the Falklands war? The way I see it whether the Cabinet minister is an MP is irrelevant along as the department is held to account by the HoC, HoL and Select Committees (the latter could do with more power though).
Did being a Lord make Peter Carrington any less accountable for the failure to foresee the Falklands war? The way I see it whether the Cabinet minister is an MP is irrelevant along as the department is held to account by the HoC, HoL and Select Committees (the latter could do with more power though).
Zod said:
unrepentant said:
What's new? Who elected Peter Mandelson, the business secretary? Or Genys Kinnochio? Brown has filled his government with unelected ministers because he can't find enough MP's who are A. Competent and B. Support him. It's a disgrace and makes a mockery of democracy.
this is the most serious challenge to this country's democracy in our lifetimes.ninja-lewis said:
Is he really unaccountable? AFAIK statements have to be made in the Lords just as they are in the Commons, which is presumably why there's often at least one Lord as a junior minister in each department. Meanwhile, one of the junior ministers who is an MP will make the statements and answer questions in HoC on behalf of the department.
Did being a Lord make Peter Carrington any less accountable for the failure to foresee the Falklands war? The way I see it whether the Cabinet minister is an MP is irrelevant along as the department is held to account by the HoC, HoL and Select Committees (the latter could do with more power though).
Carrington was one of few and was chosen on merit, not as somebody shoehorned into the Lords in a desperate bid to fill a Cabinet.Did being a Lord make Peter Carrington any less accountable for the failure to foresee the Falklands war? The way I see it whether the Cabinet minister is an MP is irrelevant along as the department is held to account by the HoC, HoL and Select Committees (the latter could do with more power though).
Jasandjules said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this Govt have no respect for the democratic process. Nor convention. Nor anything.
Check out Brown's support of the Legislatory and Regulatory Reform Bill of 2006 - which luckilly for us - was defeated.The contents of that bill were disgraceful and sent shivers down my spine. This is the way Brown would love to operate. He is a very dangerous man and needs to be removed at the earliest opportunity.
I was so incensed that I actually wrote to my MP - who very graciously replied
Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 13th June 09:18
Zod said:
unrepentant said:
What's new? Who elected Peter Mandelson, the business secretary? Or Genys Kinnochio? Brown has filled his government with unelected ministers because he can't find enough MP's who are A. Competent and B. Support him. It's a disgrace and makes a mockery of democracy.
this is the most serious challenge to this country's democracy in our lifetimes.I have to admit that the way UK politics is going is depressing. A week ago, I was convinced Labour would get the message loud and clear from the voting British public, but we no longer seem to matter – it seems Brown and his orcs can get away with anything, and yet again, the British voter grin a bear it – helped in no small measure, I suspect, by the relationships between the media (most notably the BBC – they must have searched long and hard to find that ‘representative’ audience on the latest QT!), and Labour – they have certainly made a mammoth effort to put positive spin on Labour.
Looking back at Gordon Brown’s time as PM, I can only conclude that labour wish the UK to be some kind of communist mark 2 country, when most other democracies are seeing the light and turning centre right.
Short of a proper revolution, we will allow ourselves to be shat on by this government – we obviously no longer have a say, and we have a biased media fooling us into thinking we have – it is shameful, and we’re governed by self serving hypocrites who have absolutely no shame whatsoever.
Looking back at Gordon Brown’s time as PM, I can only conclude that labour wish the UK to be some kind of communist mark 2 country, when most other democracies are seeing the light and turning centre right.
Short of a proper revolution, we will allow ourselves to be shat on by this government – we obviously no longer have a say, and we have a biased media fooling us into thinking we have – it is shameful, and we’re governed by self serving hypocrites who have absolutely no shame whatsoever.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff