It's been a very long time since there was any party that actually represented the common man.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely and politicians are the best example of that. How long since any party followed through on their campaign promises?
I'd like to see a system where the incoming party have to fulfill the [e.g ] 10 campaign promises within a limited timeframe. Something along the lines of fulfill 3 in year 2, 3 in year 3 and 4 in year 4. Failing to do so triggers an election.
Something like that to keep them honest rather than this all too common rhetoric of "now we're in power, the situation is worse than we realised so we can't do what we vowed we would do if elected". What bullshit, you sat in Parliament for X years berating the current incumbents for what you think they should be doing. There's no freeking way you didn't know what the state of the economy was and if you really didn't then that's on you because you had every opportunity to find out.
There's a saying here in Oz that suits politicians very well: shit cunts.
Apologies for the language.
Agree with much of this. In terms of the 10 promises I've always wanted a system where our governments to focus on the 10 or so biggest issues / problems. Some exampleswtb here:
Improve UK workforce skills - aligned with vocational and industry needs (not simply to university or college itineraries but where the future jobs market will be)
The health of the nation - a set of strategies that will make everyone stronger, fitter, less obese and ergo less in need of health services (certainly to relieve emergency services). Prevention is far better / cheaper than cure.
Defence - build up our armed services - the best in Europe
Energy security - has been covered in part in another thread.
Water security. Re-nationalise and upgrade infrastructure based on health not shareholders.
Technology/ communications - investment in innovation
Immigration - we're an island and we cannot keep absorbing. Needs to link with other strategies above
Home care / social care - we have to pay for an ageing society
Local and regional services improved - at present a geographic lottery and biased against former industrial areas (north v south debate is one example)
Travel - network improvements (e.g. west to east not just south to north and London centric)...rail, canal, sea, etc
Agriculture - to be able to feed ourselves. Garlic from China? Jesus. (A daft example I realise but that's what supermarkets offer)
Towns / cities / places - need a purpose, a specialism - they need investing in
I realise this is a list of 12 and there's many more issues. Probation and prison services is another, as is education, as is tourism. The list goes on. The list is for illustration only
I would like it if there could be a national debate (ongoing) on what is most important to people - in that way everyone gets more understanding of the issues involved, the complexities, the trade offs, the cost, the long term planning needed. One could almost see a revised Beveridge Plan coming out of it - where national priorities are understood and governments have to try and deliver them. They could be measured by a number of indicators - hard data and not the shitty sound bites we hear from politicians about growth (whether Reeves or Hunt). Our governments should be making the country a better place and not merely serving who funds them. Scoop is right about the 'common man'
We need a national plan for the 2030s at the very least. We need politicians who collaborate with each other (which is why arguably a form of PR is not a panacea) and with industry, scientists as well as what's really important to the general public. There may well be regular referendums though they have been a scarcely used resource.
Not exactly a Utopia though but it would make a start for me. I suppose far too idealistic an idea in the first place too. Too many interests involved for such a thing to ever happen.
