Masochist's Dictionary: Let Battle Commence

Re-iteration: n. Here we go again.

Readers with long memories may recall that, way back at the start of December, my feeble attempt at commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Rosa Parks' courage was to write to my MP. Once any new readers have recovered their composure after learning of my elan, they may be interested to learn that he finally responded at the end of January, and only needed prodding once.

The salient points in his response are quoted below. In the spirit of this slow paced correspondence, it has taken me until now to set finger to keyboard, but the reasons he cites, in conjunction with some newly proposed legislation that has even got two of the motorcycle lists I subscribe to in a lather, I had to contact him again. Come back in a couple of months, and I might have posted something else. There's about as much chance of that as of Mr Battle replying. Watch this space.

26 February, 2006

Dear Mr Battle

Thank you for your letter of January 25, 2006. In that letter, you write that “I am not sure setting up a select committee to look into the government’s actions would be a helpful or appropriate exercise.” Could I ask you to expand upon that statement, as I, like many others, am extremely anxious to understand the process by which we went to war, and believe that enough information has come into the public domain to cast real doubts over the validity and indeed legality of that decision. Given that the Inquiries Act 2005 has effectively drawn the teeth of judicial inquiries, surely a select committee would be a more robust method of investigation? You also write “I think there are probably more constructive means of improving government decision-making in the future”. Two points arise from this: firstly, I believe there are many more pressing reasons for wanting an enquiry to be held into the decision to go to war in Iraq than simply improving decision-making.

Secondly, that statement appears to presuppose that efficiency in government decision-making is necessarily a good thing. I am sure you are aware of, and deplore the concept behind, the phrase ‘elective dictatorship’. Can I ask whether you share my concerns that the current Labour administration appears to be strengthening the executive at the expense of the judicial and legislative branches in ways that gravely affect the health of our democracy. In particular, I am gravely worried by the implications of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill which appears to place great powers in the hands of ministers whilst removing the requirement for parliament to vote on same, all apparently in the name of increasing efficiency. Could I also ask, then, what is your view of the bill, and whether you intend to support it? I would urge you to oppose it.

I look forward to receiving your response as my constituency MP to the points raised in both the above paragraphs.