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New Statesman
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Compulsory voting can save British democracy
The July 2024 general election produced one of the most fragmented results in British history: while Labour won a huge majority, it did so on only 34% of the vote. Amidst a falling combined vote share for the two major parties, we saw the entrance of Reform MPs into Parliament, and the victory of historic numbers of Greens and independents. Since then, this fragmentation has only accelerated: Reform is now surging, while ex-Corbynites moot the formation of new challenger parties on the left; the two traditional parties of government both languish in the polls, commanding less than 50% support between them. With the first-past-the-post electoral system increasingly failing either to keep the old party-system in place, or to force the electorate into new coherent blocs, the traditional calls for proportional representation (PR) have grown louder. Electoral reformers argue that we need a voting system in which the public's true preferences can be given free rein, and the party system allowed to naturally evolve. While its advocates may be right that PR is an inherently fairer system, the political diagnosis behind it feels outdated. British politics is not so much defined by an institutionally-thwarted re-alignment, as by an ever more widespread phenomenon of de-alignment. Old party loyalties may be falling away, but they are not being replaced by anything new. In other words, what we are witnessing is not simply the senescence of a particular party system, but rather a more general breakdown of the relationship between citizens and the state – a breakdown that is perhaps most starkly reflected in the rising number of citizens who no longer bother voting. This is the phenomenon that the Irish political scientist Peter Mair famously diagnosed as the 'hollowing out' of democracy, in which the collapse of traditional mediating institutions, and a 'mutual retreat' of politicians and voters from the public sphere, leaves citizens disconnected from political elites, who in turn find themselves presiding over a socio-political 'void'. In the context of the Mair-ian void, PR loses its radical edge, and risks doing little more than accelerating political fragmentation, re-arranging the distribution of seats between flimsy and hollow parties, all of which struggle to mobilise voters and fail to command lasting loyalties. Those looking to remedy the crisis of UK democracy should therefore begin looking to an alternative (or perhaps complimentary), less-discussed approach to electoral reform: the introduction of compulsory voting. Currently used in 22 democracies across the world, compulsory voting works by making voting a duty, legally obligating eligible voters to cast a ballot, and issuing those who fail to do so with a small fine. In the UK, compulsory voting saw a flurry of advocacy in the New Labour years, when then-unprecedentedly low levels of general election turnout saw politicians like Peter Hain, David Blunkett, and Tom Watson turn to it as a potential solution. More recently, it has been advocated by right-wing journalists like Tim Montgomerie, centrist podcasting behemoth 'The Rest is Politics', and prominent left-wing politicians like former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford. Last week, a new cross-party Campaign for Compulsory Voting was established, bringing together politicians, democracy activists, and academics from across the four nations of the United Kingdom. Advocacy for compulsory voting is based on two fundamental premises. First, that the fashionable minimalist conception of democratic citizenship as consisting of nothing more than a bundle of individual rights is insufficient. The idea of compulsory voting draws instead on older notions of civic responsibility, active citizenship, and democracy as a system of mutual obligations. It is our duty as citizens to help ensure the healthy functioning of the democratic system from which we all benefit, and that means participating in elections. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Second, the case for compulsory voting is based on an understanding that within a democratic system, elections based on universal suffrage provide the central mechanism for linking individuals to the state, for aggregating public preferences, and for ensuring that governments are incentivised to serve the interests of their citizens. When voter turnout ceases to be near-universal, and instead falls to low levels, elections cease to be able to perform this function, and democracy slips into crisis. Here in the UK, we are deep into that crisis territory. The last election saw barely more than half of eligible voters participate. Within that, data from Ipsos suggests that turnout was over 10 points higher amongst white voters than ethnic minorities, over 20 points higher amongst upper-class voters than working-class voters, and over 30 points higher amongst over-65s than under-65s, and amongst homeowners than renters. The result is an unrepresentative electorate – richer, older, whiter, and more secure than the UK public at large. This in turn creates warped incentives for politicians, who are pushed by cold electoral logic to disproportionately prioritise the interests of an older, economically-insulated minority at the expense of the wider public. We have seen this play out in practice as pensioner benefits have been protected at the expense of working-age welfare, and as soaring asset-price inflation has gone unaccompanied by either GDP or real wage growth. Crucially, such outcomes only exacerbate the initial problem: stagnation and inequality drive disillusionment with democratic politics, pushing more and more voters into the arms of either extremism or abstention, and leaving vast swathes of the public both alienated and disconnected from the democratic political process. The central challenge British politics faces today is thus how to reconnect citizens with the state. The answer is unlikely to be purely constitutional – changes in how political parties, public services, and the media operate are all no doubt necessary. But political reform nonetheless has its part to play: above all, elections must once again become effective means of democratic linkage, and credible expressions of public will. For this to be the case, turnout must be both high and demographically even. With turnout as low as it is today, compulsory voting is the only reform whose impact would be on the scale necessary (in countries such as Australia where compulsory voting is used, turnout rates regularly reach over 90%). Critics will surely object that compulsory voting is illiberal, or that it represents an unacceptable imposition on personal freedom. Such arguments should quickly be dismissed: coercion and civic obligation are an inevitable and necessary feature of democratic life. We happily accept them in the form of taxes, jury duty, or the obligation to fill out the census, so why not apply the same logic to voting, the most basic democratic act of all? Citizens would still have the option of actively abstaining by spoiling their ballot, and fines imposed on non-voters are unlikely to be onerous (in Australia they are slightly under £10). Ultimately, such reservations should be seen as trifling in the face of the scale of the democratic crisis we face. What compulsory voting offers is a means of breaking the vicious cycle of low turnout, warped incentives, bad policy, and rising political disaffection. If compulsory voting feels like a muscular measure, so be it – it is simply what the moment demands. Related
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-Welsh trade union leader George Wright dies aged 89
Former senior Welsh trade unionist George Wright has died at the age of was a key figure in setting up the Wales TUC, the umbrella body for Welsh unions, in the 1970s, later saying it was "the first act of Welsh devolution".He led calls that resulted in the creation of the Welsh Development Agency (WDA), to encourage business development and investment in Wales at a time when traditional heavy industries were leader of the Unite union Andy Richards said Wright was "an icon" for trade unionists while ex-Labour cabinet minister Lord Peter Hain called him a "giant of the Welsh trade union movement". Originally from Birmingham, George Wright became a trade union official at the British Leyland Longbridge car plant before moving ranks through the Transport and General Workers Union (now Unite) and being promoted to be the union's regional secretary for Wales in at Transport House, just off Cardiff city centre, he set about bringing together several trade union committees to establish a unifying trade union body in faced opposition from within the union movement outside Wales but successfully set up the Wales TUC in 1974, becoming its first general was an early advocate of devolution, campaigning in the 1979 poll, when Wales said "no", and in 1997, when the result was "yes".Wright said later: "I'm a firm believer that the creation of the Wales TUC was the first act of devolution in Wales. We put Wales on the map." Andy Richards, former leader of the Unite union in Wales, said Wright was "an icon of the trade union movement and one of the key figures in creating a Welsh identity for movement in Wales"."As a young trade unionist myself in the 1970s, I was so in awe of this man who would come to our meetings and always speak to us in Welsh a bit - and remember he was from Birmingham – and create an incredible buzz by saying that we should have our own union structures made and designed in Wales."You would think he was a Welshman – he was pushing Welsh identity all the time."George was the prime mover in setting up the Wales TUC and was supported by thousands of members working in engineering, the steel industry, the coal mines and car manufacturing across the country." 'Passion' Richards explained that Wright was also a strong supporter of inward investment and worked with the former Labour prime minister, Jim Callaghan, and the WDA to bring the Ford car plant to Bridgend."George Wright had a passion for the Welsh Development Agency and you cannot under-estimate the benefit that the WDA brought to Wales and the Welsh economy in the 1970s and 80s – and George played a major role in that."Created in 1976, the WDA was scrapped 30 years later with its functions absorbed into the Welsh government. Former Labour UK government cabinet minister Lord Hain also paid tribute."He was a giant of the Welsh trade union movement in its heyday. "I'll always be grateful for his support when I sought to be the Neath Labour Parliamentary candidate in 1990, even though he was on the right of the labour movement and I was on the left."George Wright is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Jackie, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour figures urge recognition of Palestinian state at UN conference
Ministers are under pressure from inside and outside Labour to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN conference next month, with party grandees arguing it would bolster prospects for peace and demonstrate moral leadership amid escalating tensions. Alf Dubs, the veteran Labour peer and Holocaust survivor, said the symbolic recognition of a Palestinian state would offer Palestinians 'the self-respect they'd have if they had a proper state,' and provide them a stronger footing in any future peace negotiations. 'Even if it doesn't lead to anything immediately, it would still give Palestinians a better standing,' Lord Dubs said. 'Symbols matter.' The former cabinet minister Peter Hain echoed the call, warning that 'delaying recognition until negotiations are concluded simply allows Israel's illegal occupation to become permanent'. Lord Hain argued that formal recognition should be 'a catalyst, not a consequence' of peace talks. At the first preparatory meeting in New York before a UN conference on a two state solution due to be held between 17 and 20 June, Saudi Arabia urged countries to recognise Palestine as a state, saying that 'recognition should be seen as a precondition for peace, and not its product'. The conference is seen as a potential moment when states such as France and the UK that have yet to recognise Palestine take what would be a momentous diplomatic step. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, indicated last month that Paris may recognise Palestine, joining 147 other countries, but said he wanted to do so at a UN conference in New York in June as part of a wider process. The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has confirmed to parliament he has been in discussions with the French about recognition, but also said he would not simply support a gesture with no practical impact. The Guardian reported last week that the British view is that France was very likely to decide the time was not right to make the announcement. The UK's official position is that it will recognise a Palestinian state, but only at the point of maximum impact. The pressure has been building within Labour's parliamentary ranks as 69 MPs and six peers earlier this month signed a joint letter urging the prime minister to seize what they described as a 'unique window of opportunity' to recognise Palestinian statehood. The Guardian understands that the letter – which was coordinated by the chairs of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, Sarah Owen and Andrew Pakes – was also signed by several serving ministers. In a concept note for June's UN conference, France and Saudi Arabia, the two co-chairs of the conference say the ambitious aim of the international conference in June 'would not be to 'revive' or to 'relaunch' another endless process, but to implement, once and for all, the two-state solution'. The call to implement the two-state solution has become even more urgent in the context of illegal settlements and other illegal unilateral measures, violence, hate speech and the ongoing plans and actions undertaken for the forcible displacement and dispossession of Palestinians. With eight working parties covering all the issues surrounding a two-state solution, each nation has been asked 'to highlight the actions they are willing to undertake, individually or collectively, in fulfilment of their obligations and in support of the international consensus on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the two-state solution'. Alex Ballinger, a Labour backbencher and member of the foreign affairs select committee, said it was time for the UK to 'show principled leadership,' adding: 'We can no longer speak in platitudes about two states while blocking the very steps that could help make one of them real.' Afzal Khan, a former shadow minister and longtime campaigner on Palestinian rights, said Labour must act on its internationalist values. 'Recognition would now be a positive first step towards securing a peaceful two-state solution, end unlawful settlement expansions and blockades, and unlock the diplomatic and humanitarian pathways to lasting justice,' he said, warning that the UK risks 'dragging its feet' while 147 other countries have already recognised a Palestinian state.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Selling out loyal Gibraltar could be Starmer's next great betrayal
On a flight back from a summit in February 2002, Tony Blair turned to Labour's then Europe minister, Peter Hain, and remarked we should 'remove' Gibraltar as 'an obstacle to relations with the EU'. He was 'insistent' on making a deal and 'contemptuous of Gibraltarian attitudes'. In his memoirs, Hain wrote Gibraltar was 'a little bit of England trying, eccentrically, to cling on to Spain'. He sneered at the Gibraltarians, whom he described as 'rigidly wedded to their idea of Britishness in a totally artificial sense'. Together they hatched a plan to compromise Gibraltar's sovereignty and place it under joint control with Spain. It was only stopped by the Conservatives then in opposition and the Gibraltarians themselves. Two decades later and we are again in a similar position. Jonathan Powell, then Blair's chief of staff, is back as national security adviser, fresh from orchestrating the surrender of the Chagos Islands. We have a new Labour prime minister who similarly views our overseas territories as an imperial hangover that must be offloaded at the first opportunity. And Spain continues to make provocative moves that are designed to intimidate and harass. This week Spanish foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, came to the UK to say we need to solve the issue of Gibraltar to have a full UK-EU relationship. Well, no way, José. Gibraltar is British. End of. Gibraltar does not need to be part of a reset. There can be no deal that compromises Britain's sovereignty, no deal that compromises the UK's military base, and no deal that Gibraltarians do not consent to. Starmer has been unable to shut down speculation of yet another surrender. His loyalty has always been to the EU, the European elites he rubs shoulders with in Davos, and the international legal community. He is not politically stupid enough to commit to rejoin the EU formally, so he is determined to do it by stealth. Thus far he has been willing to make concession after concession to achieve that. Take the security and defence deal he is set to sign later this month. The EU desperately wants this given its chronic underinvestment in security. A prime minister ruthlessly pursuing the UK's self-interest would have tried to get something in return – like a commitment from the EU to take back illegal migrants from France. Starmer has conceded it for nothing while offering fishing grounds and extra powers for the EU court. The fact Starmer's EU negotiations are shrouded in secrecy is a sure sign that this EU reset will break plenty of promises. For months Number 10 fragrantly lied about its secret plan to negotiate an EU-wide youth mobility scheme (free movement-lite) – only to be caught red-handed by the UK press. This is in sharp contrast to the transparent approach taken by the then Conservative chief negotiator, David Frost, where the UK Government was clear about its aims. Gibraltarians are right to be concerned. Starmer has proven himself completely incapable of putting Britain's interests first. Everywhere you look he has folded under pressure. He was outmanoeuvred by the Mauritian government (hardly the most powerful negotiating party), folded to India's tax demands and has been bullied by Trump into lowering tariffs while US tariffs increased threefold. He is the archetypal citizen of nowhere, governing to further the global good – not the nation's needs. The Conservatives will oppose every handover of our powers, every step of the way.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tidal electricity plan branded 'expensive cop out'
A tidal lagoon should be created in the Severn Estuary to generate electricity, according to a report. The Severn Estuary Commission rejected proposals for a large barrage spanning the Severn. Instead, it said the UK and Welsh governments should back plans for a smaller project to harness the power of the tide on the England-Wales border. The proposals were criticised by former Labour Welsh secretary Lord Peter Hain, who said lagoons were a very expensive "cop out". The commission said a tidal lagoon demonstration project – the first in the world – would boost the economy and provide a better understanding of tidal power. Demand for electricity in the UK is likely to more than double by 2050, the commission said. The Severn Estuary has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, offering "a rare opportunity" for the UK. Tidal energy plans 'must have nature in mind' Can the UK's tides help wean us off fossil fuels? £60m port revamp aims to create 1,800 jobs There have been several proposals to build a barrage across the Severn, but without formal government support they failed to attract funding. Environmental groups oppose building a barrage in the estuary – a highly-protected wetland of international importance. Lagoons are formed by building a wall around a bay or on the coast to capture water when the tide comes in. At low tide the water is released, turning turbines to generate electricity. There have been proposals to build a lagoon in Swansea Bay. One plan, which had the backing of the Welsh government, was thrown out by the Conservative UK government in 2018 because it did not offer value for money. The Severn Estuary Commission report said the UK and Welsh governments should set up an organisation with the private sector to create the lagoon as a "commercial demonstration project". It would show the potential for tidal power and measure the impact on the local environment. They should also look at ways to compensate for any loss of habitat, it said. The report added: "A lagoon project would provide both engineering experience and real-world monitoring of environmental effects. "Development of a tidal lagoon therefore offers a positive alternative to a barrage." Commission chair Andrew Garrad said if work began now a lagoon could be up and running within 10 years. "It is a big thing and it's going to last for 120 years," he said. "We know how to build a sea wall and the big turbines have been operating in hydro plant all over the world for decades. "The commercial challenge is not engineering – it's logistics and money." But Lord Hain, who quit as shadow Welsh secretary in 2012 to back proposals for a barrage between south Wales and Weston-super-Mare, called the lagoon proposals "very underwhelming, disappointing and confused". "Lagoons do harness tidal power but as the Swansea project proved they are very expensive and are a cop out which won't harness the ginormous but untapped natural power of the Severn Estuary," he told BBC Wales. "You'd need 50 lagoons cluttering up the estuary to rival a barrage which remains by far the best option: delivering cheap electricity with new bi-directional turbines which are fish friendly and generate baseload electricity because its lunar based and therefore predictable and almost constant." RSPB Cymru previously urged the Seven Estuary Commission to strike the right balance in a location "globally important for wildlife, providing vital habitats for tens of thousands of wading birds and water fowl, and for rare fish species that migrate from the sea to spawn in our rivers". Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds called on UK ministers to revive the plans, cancelled in 2018, for a Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. "Tidal power offers huge advantages to Wales, not only in generating electricity but in its potential to create well-paid jobs," she said. "The UK government seems perfectly happy to spend large amounts on infrastructure in the south east of England, its time they made some investments in Wales." Welsh government Economy Secretary, Rebecca Evans, said: "We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal technologies, and the Severn Estuary is a source of immense potential energy as one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. "I welcome the work of the Severn Estuary Commission and I look forward to working with the UK government and the Western Gateway to make sure that we can harness its potential whilst also protecting this unique asset."
