Palace Revolution

There was a bloodless coup at Westminster this month. My Party found a new Leader. Michael Howard emerged in a very old-fashioned way and he took the place by storm. But will it make any difference – and to whom?

Many will remember the message that appeared on our TV screens in the early years, during those frequent breaks in transmission – ‘normal service will be resumed as soon as possible’. That’s how it felt as the Conservative Party, Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in Parliament, came to terms with the fact that our democratic process wasn’t working properly and we’d better do something about it.

In many democratic countries, government proceeds by coalition or consensus with deals done behind closed doors, favours traded, compromises reached, all well away from public gaze, scrutiny or accountability. That’s not how Westminster works, thank goodness.

Most legislation is proposed by the Government. A little is presented by individual MPs – of which a small percentage makes it to the Statute Book. A tiny amount comes to us as Private Bills promoted by local authorities or companies – and it can be stopped in its tracks if one Member objects. Some of the Government legislation will be sensible, necessary and uncontentious. But lots of it will be seen by an opposition doing its job, as damaging to the country, divisive, partisan, unnecessary, expensive and undesirable.

A good opposition will not only argue against controversial laws, they will develop appealing alternative policies to propose to the electors at the next General Election. But there’s something else, too. Strong Opposition needs to demonstrate convincingly that the current Government is incompetent and its leaders not up to the job. On the other hand, the Opposition must show it is hungry for power and led by competent, battle-hardened, respected and attractive people better able to serve the public interest.

So, our vigorous new Leadership will make a difference to the way the whole process of Opposition works. We are back in business – and that is good for the government of our country. In a funny way, it is also good for the Labour Party. With its huge majority in Parliament, now divided on many big issues, the governing Party resembles a beached whale rather a ship of state. They know that time is short for them to get their act together – or become the Opposition again.

There’s something else important. We have a representative democracy. A well-led Party, doing its job, empowers all those who voted for it. Their representatives, even in opposition, make a difference. During the difficult days leading up to the new start, I made some lonely decisions. Had the time come to seek a change? Yes. Should I keep my decision secret? No. You see, I always had it in mind that this was not just a Westminster issue, not just a squabble in the House of Cards. Nor was it only about the 1400 hundred paid-up Party Members in this constituency and their role in the process. It was also about the expectations of the 24,527 people who voted for me in 2001. It was a matter of judgment.

From the reaction on the street and in the market place, the Opposition has done the right thing and will soon be changing places with the Government!

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Robert Key
15th November 2003