Democracy In Action (or should that be Democracy inaction?)
Villagers in East Stoke near Wareham have voted in favour of a national referendum on the new European treaty in the country's first official poll on the subject. The electorate decided by 90% that the nation should be surveyed on the new legislation.
However before people rush down to their local MP's Saturday surgery I should point out that only 80 of 333 on the electoral roll turned out - 72 voted yes and eight no.
The vote was called when John Barnes, a supporter of the UK Independence Party (Ukip) used an obscure provision of the 1972 Local Government Act. It states that if 10 members of a parish call for a vote on any subject then the council is obliged to carry out the request. Thursday's vote was on the question: "Do you want a referendum on the proposed new EU treaty?".
Mr Barnes said he hoped the result would lead to further polls being held across the country to put pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call a referendum on whether to accept the treaty. "We have to send a strong message to the government that we want our say on the future of our country."
Well as Lao Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
4 comments:
This little demonstration has cost the local parish council £500, which judging by the atate of their viullage hall could have been better utilised elswhere. Democracy is a great and wonderful thing that we enjoy, but the stupid man tha called this should be made to bear the costs himself. You are not going to get an informed debate when there is only half a dozen folks involved.
You should see East Stoke's post office - it makes me smile everytime I drive past it.
I agree about democracy I think the turnout must be a new low, in many ways.
What apair of misery-guts you are! This IS democracy. If it's in the 'rule-book' and it's agreed on then how can anyone complain? Your last line was the best comment - if he had written to his MP or had a local petiotn signed or something else do you think it would get a nanosecond of publicity?
grr
anyway...I'm off out!
Span, 'anyone' can complain if the cost is one borne by a small local parish council that deals with small local parish matters and not subjects of national importance for which there are appropriate avenues. This was just an ego trip for someone who thinks he's a big fish in a small pond and is in reality plankton due to the lack of brain cells!
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