Bill and coup
More on the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill - if you’re not a fan of democracy look away now.
Remember, the Government say this bill is to reduce the burden on business: to cut red tape. As the Minister for Incipient Totalitarianism and sponsor of the bill, Jim Murphy says:
The real danger is what happens if we don’t introduce a bill of this sort. We are trying to do all we can to maintain UK competitiveness, business competitiveness, economic growth, employment levels in a global economy where we face challenges from the emerging economies.
That being the case, take a look at this list of Acts or Parliament (via Nosemonkey) that will not be exempt from part one of the LARR Bill - the part that allows government ministers to change whatever law they like without arguing their case and putting it to a vote in Parliament.
Doesn’t look good, does it? The Identity Cards Act 2006 isn’t even law yet. If the Government don’t want it to be a burden on business, why not draft it properly right now? You know, to save on all the fannying about later. And the Habeas Corpus Acts 1679 to 1862 is a real hindrance to business is it? The Succession to the Crown Act 1707? Magna Carta 1215? What about the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989? “Well, profits wouldn’t be down by 50% if it wasn’t for that meddling Official Secrets Act”.
Everybody knows Digby Jones and the CBI are interfering porkers worried about the contents of their troughs but I don’t remember them saying the Church of Scotland Act 1921 is a threat to jobs and economic stability.
I think it’s now clear what Jim Murphy meant when he said, “But our ambitions are wider than that!” This list gives lie to the insistence that the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill is merely a device to cut the red tape supposedly throttling British business’ ability to compete with Far Eastern sweat shops. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that this constitutes little short of a coup d’etat.
Kill the bill.
Posted on March 16th, 2006 at 10:16 am
| See also • The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill: Not dead yet • Is the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill back? • Chain of command |
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I’m absolutely gobsmacked!
I took your advice and wrote to my MP (a Tory). If his reply is any guide to how the Bill is being opposed in Parliament, I would say we’re fucked already. See Tony and Jim tremble at this:
“Conservatives have been dominant in the debates in Parliament about this Bill. Oliver Heald MP, Shadow Constitutional Affairs Secretary, has called for clear safeguards, so that the Bill concentrates on deregulation and only allows Ministers to use the powers in the Bill for non-controversial changes. Mr Heald has described the Bill as “a major move away from primary legislation towards Government by Ministerial edict”. That is why our Team has put forward dozens of amendments to the Bill and argued strongly for their inclusion.
I believe the Bill must be amended to provide the necessary safeguards to protect from bringing in such measures as the EU Constitution and ID cards through the back door. Firstly, order-making powers should only be used for specifically deregulatory purposes. Secondly, the powers should not be used to push through important or controversial changes, particularly those with constitutional implications. Finally, it is important that a procedure whereby Committees or either House of Parliament can veto an order is built into the legislation.
Following concerted pressure from Oliver Heald in Committee, the Government has agreed to amend the Bill to write in a clear veto for the Regulatory Reform Committee over any order. This was described by the Minister in charge of the Bill, Jim Murphy MP, as a “great concession”, and certainly goes some way towards allaying my concerns. Unless further safeguards are built in, the Bill would have profound implications for democracy and would be a move towards government by Ministerial fiat.”
My Tory MP basically says that we have to rely on the Lords to sort it.
My Lib-Dem MP has so far had fuck all to say about it.
My Tory MP says:
I agree with you. It is symptomatic of a Labour govt who always seek to
bypass the will of the people (Parliament).
Rest assured, there are many of us who are opposed to this creeping
government by Order and Secondary legislation!
Great, That’s my mind at ease then.