Musings on faith, society and whatever else gets me going from one of a tradition of turbulent clerics.
I think I come from a generation that takes democracy for granted. Sadly we can no longer do so. I invite you to go to the Save Parliament site to read of the real threat to democracy posed by the "Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill."
posted by Paul Martin at 5:37 PM
I am a 52 year old Methodist minister based in Nottingham having served as a layworker on Isle of Man and a minister in Bideford. Married to the long suffering Andrea for 22 years, we have two great children. James is 18 years old and Kaye is 16 years old. I am theologically a liberal evangelical. I believe that faith influences political judgements so I am a convinced believer that it is imperative to support the poor and the powerless and to seek to promote their interests above all others.If this puts me on the left so be it. The views on my personal blog are mine alone and do not represent those of the Methodist Church or any of the congregations that I serve.
4 Comments:
Hi, this sort of thing raise my hackles slightly, I must admit.
Hysterical Times Article
This article is one of those referenced on the site, which cites the human rights acts as this bill's evil predecessor, and then tells us - wait for it...
Already there is legislation going through Parliament to set up state nurseries - "children's centres" - for under-fives.
As it happens I work for a Children;s Centre, and there is nothing even slightly treatening about them. They are indiviualu entities, that the Govenment is now moving over to local authority control, which will provide a service to the commnuity, as well as, we hope, a high quality daycare service.
Suddenly this commentator has the Labour Party making nursery compulsery and effecting death for all babies bron with imperfections.
It's this sort of nonsence, which leads me to side every time with the moderate middle voice, rather than the scare-mongering.
The bill is a concern, but articles such as these are nothing if not irresponsible?
This times article seems to add a little more perspective, not mentioned once as far as I can see on the Save parliament site itself.
Before exercising the powers, ministers must consult widely, and any proposed order must be laid before Parliament for possible approval or disapproval.
This seems to imply that while parliament will not have the same normal time to examine the details of bill, the will have the power to block any proposal in it's entirety. This would mean that any of the legislation as proposed in so many of these articles, inlcuding any involving these threatening 'Children's Centres' (of which the first author obvously knows nothing), would be rejected, as they would be if they were a law, and have to go through parliament in the normal way.
It may limit the review of parliament in some matters, but in light of this, does the site really ring true, or come up as yet another scaremongering excercise.
Times Article
8:31 PM
One problem with this Bill however is its continous reference to "as the Minister thinks appropriate"... Now, think of Blunkett and what he thought was appropriate (ID Cards/indefinite detention without trials/the right of the Home Secretary to overrule the courts on everything) and you can see the problems that are going to arise if this Bill is passed.
8:43 PM
Hi Gavin,
I take your point, but it does seem as if, with Parliament to approve or disaprove, any controversial legislation would be voted down and have to go through proper channels. I find it astounding that so few articles mention the parliamentary checks...
7:16 AM
Hallo - I'm just surfing blogs and found this. I couldn't believe how dangerous people were saying the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill was so I looked up someone I'd known 30 years ago when I was a student - now an eminent QC who represents the government on occasion. He is really worried about the Bill and constitutional law is his field. When numerous lawyers - including lawyers with no axe to grind - point out the flaws and dangers in the Bill, I think we should all get worried. I've read the Bill too. The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill is beginning to arouse worries from people across the political spectrum. I think the legislation is sufficiently risky to warrant an alliance between people of all parties and people (like me) of no party at all.
Incidentally, there is no provision saying who ministers should consult, and the kind of orders now formally "laid before parliament" (statutory instruments) aren't necessarily read by MPs, who are busy with other matters, and are hardly ever discussed. There is already some concern about measures that can be slipped through parliament as statutory instruments.
Anyway, I'm glad to see discussion of the Bill on your very interesting blog.
k
5:10 PM
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