Achieving the Goals of Unified Democracy
To recover from the 40 years of politically-driven decline and to start to rebuild a Better Britain with world-class infrastructures and public services now presents the UK with an enormous challenge. In particular, given the necessity for investment in credible and effective National Defences given recent huge geopolitical Power Shifts – with the possible exit from NATO of a USA seemingly more aligned with Russia than with Europe.
A challenge of this magnitude requires more than just tinkering with our electoral system – nothing less than a complete Democratic Evolution. Upgrading our Representation and our methods of Policy Development and Legislation Formation to ensure Government always works in the most efficient way for the ongoing benefit of The People Driving National Unity – rather than the top-down propagation of social division. Maximising socioeconomic benefits and minimising risks (whatever Party is in power) and importantly, ensuring sustained public confidence in government.
Democratic Evolution in Representation
Unified Democracy is evolved from the system we have – enabling relatively straightforward, risk-free transition. Each Constituency still represented in The Commons by the MP with its highest vote. However, the Governing Party is elected by the Highest Popular Vote and (because policy is established by informed debate – rather than driven top-down) no longer needs an Overall Majority. The key to refocussing our politicians from inwardly-facing politics towards meeting the needs of The People.
In order to retain our popular system of Constituency Representation, whilst ALSO delivering the benefits of PR, Unified Democracy draws a distinction between MPs (those representing Constituents) and Politicians (those more senior that form and represent Party Policy). These now becoming two separate roles – although usually performed by the same individuals. Ministers (Politicians promoted by the PM) therefore now only manage policy – rather than inventing it themselves and imposing it top-down.
Altogether, the UK would have 260 Politicians (an average of 20 for each of 13 sectors) assigned by Proportional Representation. For example, if The Greens achieved 10% of the Popular Vote, they would have 26 Politicians – their Candidate MPs winning the highest percentages of their Constituency votes – whether or not actually elected as MPs.
Democratic Evolution in Policy Development
It key difference under Unified Democracy is that policy shifts from being thinly -informed, short-termist and politically-based (for votes and to appease the MPs of the Party-in-Power) to be properly-informed and of both short and longer-term socioeconomic benefit to The People as a whole (cognisant to their proportional views).
To achieve this goal, Unified Democracy, can be thought of as a coordinated structure of sector-based Cross-Party Select Committees (called “Sector Management Groups”), each managed by a Minister and heading the associated Government Department from a policy perspective. Thereby enabling best-policy to be established separately in each sector – effectively removing our current “take it all or leave it all” voting constraints.
Each Sector Management Group would be resourced by an equal number of PR-represented Politicians and appointed Sector Representatives from associated advisory, regulatory & representative bodies. Ensuring policy is set fairly and for the short and longer-term benefit of society as a whole. No longer politically-skewed to appease the ruling Party’s MPs – such as for socialist taxes on assets people have worked to obtain.
For example, there would be a team of at least 40 individuals assigned to a Health & Social Care SMG – planning its ongoing strategic development, monitoring its service efficiency and heading-up Department of Health policy. A Police SMG working out coordinated National Strategies against Narcotics, Knife Crime, Shoplifting etc. Similar SMGs for Citizenship / Immigration, Business, Water Supplies, Energy Infrastructure etc.
The Structure and resourcing of the of Sector Management Groups would be coordinated by an upgraded Cabinet Office in accordance with each Parliamentary Agenda. The two types of of Representatives deployed asynchronously – to drive essential strategic continuity. Thereby giving government both the necessary knowledge and bandwidth for essential concurrency of policy formation.
The overall structure would operate under the Budgetary Management of a new Fiscal Office (headed by the Chancellor) that would now incorporate OBR and other economists in forming sound and fair taxation policies, ensuring market confidence in our economy.
Democratic Evolution in Legislation Formation
Policy proposed by our Sector Management Groups would be informed, not only by the appointed Sector Professionals, but by our MPs in conveying the views and needs of their Constituents. MPs will be empowered to form Citizen’s Assemblies at their request, in collaboration with Local Government, towards an effective, joined-up democracy.
Conversely, Policy proposed by the Sector Management Groups (Draft Bills etc.) is then debated and voted-on by our MPs in the House of Commons to form legislation in the same way as today. The exception being that the influence of all MPs would now become equal (regardless of the Party in Power) and the Party Whip system abolished – all votes becoming “free votes” – made in the best short and long-term interests of Constituents.
Driving-Up the Competence & Trust-Worthiness of Government
Because Unified Democracy returns to the essence of democracy (policy by competitive, properly-informed debate), the better performing Parties become apparent to the public. Thereby making “empty pledges” detrimental to their future (rather than rewarding them with political power) and properly informing future voting intentions.
Thereby encouraging the formation of new Parties with new ideas and widening our voting choice. Constantly driving-up competence and trust-worthiness of government – growing our economy and maximising opportunities for current and future generations.
The Unified Democracy Party (UK) 