This is a blog that is keeping up with British Politics, up-to-date issues as well as historical facts.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Is there a democratic deficit?
Voter turnout at General Elections may be lower than they used to be, but the last two General Elections show an increase in turnout:
- 1979 - 76% turnout
- 1997 - 71.4% turnout
- 2001 - 59.4% turnout
- 2010 - 65.2% turnout
Membership of political parties may be declining (in 2008 only 0.95% of the population were members of political parties, compared to 4.12% in 1980) but membership of pressure groups is increasing dramatically - the RSPB, for example, now has over 1,000,000 members. Furthermore, growing discontent has been visible through protests and the General Strike of 2011. So is there really a democratic deficit in Britain?
(Source: lyingisthemostfunagirlcanhave)
Ed Miliband on the Andrew Marr show complaining that the cuts make it harder to borrow. Surely, with a £170.8 billion deficit, borrowing is the last thing the government needs?
He has also said he is sure he will win the next general election. This is despite the fact that Labour supporters have condemned him, saying they don’t think he’s doing a good job. Perhaps if he created some actual policies that would give the party some direction, faith might be restored in him. After 18 months as Leader of the Opposition, the Labour party should have more direction that it does.
