We accept that nowadays, we live in a country where a sense of general apathy towards politics and the ‘political class’ could hardly be greater. Where the vast majority of the British electorate- let alone many of us youngsters- struggle to feel involved or wanted in the business of making decisions that have a very real effect on our everyday lives.
Let me use an example that I believe would clearly demonstrate my point. Ask yourself why in 1974, a time of Miner Strikes and national debate, the voter turnout across the UK shot up 8.8% to an impressive 78.8%? And then in 1987, two years after another Miner Strike, the turnout was up 2.6% on its own preceding election?
I am, of course, not advocating another national union dispute and certainly not the hordes of violence that went with it to boost voting figures, but it is interesting to note the increase in interest from our electorate when they are, en masse, personally engaged in an issue that they felt strongly about. The consequences of the Coal Board’s decision to close several mines and devour 20,000 jobs provoked anger, distress, but above all, engagement in politics. People knew which side of the argument they would weigh in for and they voted accordingly. And although the Conservatives won that 1987 general, I’d say that the ‘working class’ vote will have been a great deal smaller without this intense political interest on their part. Political engagement must be sought after from our electorate again.
As it stands at the moment, many British voters, including those cherished ‘first time’ voters of whom I was a part this June, cannot even be bothered to register a cross on a few pieces of paper once every five years (overall turnout G.E. 2010- 65.1%). Even many of those who voted don’t see the relevance of domestic politics on their daily lives in any way. I mean to them, why should a flock of middle age, suit-wearing chaps chatting in a green-seated London hall concern a 35 year old Yorkshire care worker, a 23 year old call centre worker or that 18 year old University applicant desperate for a secure future being either of the above- or, well, anything?...
The big problem is that at the present, they don’t. For the political class, this is not a problem at all. Our highly centralised government are more than happy to go about business behind our back both here and in Brussels without us, the average British citizen, ever being really engaged, involved or even informed. We risk being governed entirely by the powerful few, with no input coming from the average taxpayer lining our streets.
The only solution is wholesale change. This isn’t for the sake of a catchy sound-bite to line a new set of billboards, but for the sake of freedom, ambition and, naturally, democracy: the three things I would love Britain to embody. We need a change of our constitution. With UKIP’s Swiss-inspired ‘Direct Democracy’ (a system whereby petitions and common-sense regulations permitting, national and local binding referenda can be initiated by any citizen either to challenge existing or create new legislation), we have an idea that should be seriously considered. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a real start.
I feel that the de-centralised nature of ‘Direct Democracy’ would surely instigate more interest in domestic politics- and policies- as the individual will have the chance to participate in their own society, and help create the society that they would like to live in both through their voice and through the ballot box. An idea like this is just the kind of thing to help transform the popular idea that politics is an entity only to be touched for a few minutes once every five years. And you never know, it could even start to shift the balance of power away from Whitehall and gradually closer towards the average individual.
