Too Important for Democracy

I've only seen this online but I imagine it's on the front page of today's Independent. It looks like another presidential decision has been made by the Neo-Labour cabal. This time it's about spending billions of pounds on new nuclear weapons systems. As usual the party isn't exactly being encouraged to add their voices to the debate.

Last week, Mr Prentice met the chairman of the parliamentary party, Ann Clwyd, who urged him to drop the idea of forcing a vote [at a meeting for Labour MPs], fearing that it would give an impression of a divided Labour Party. She also warned them that they would probably be defeated, and that even if they won, they would not alter government policy.

Even the pretense of democracy is being abandoned on this one. No votes for you, it's far too important to let mere MPs have a say. I mean, you give these people an inch and they take a mile. What next? If we started giving MPs a say it'd surely only be a matter of time before people started demanding that we take the views of the public into account as well. I mean, where would it end? The notion is absurd, a danger to everything this nation stands for.

I remember we used to have this thing we called democracy. Looking back now I don't think we really knew how lucky we were. We were like spoilt children. Happy days. But who needs nostalgia at a time like this? In these days of ever increasing danger to our national security (still not sure where from exactly but I'm sure they'll tell us when they're good and ready), democracy is a luxury we can no longer afford. Still, what price freedom, eh?

And, as we're asking about the price of freedom, why don't we ask Sir Jeremy Greenstock. What's that Sir Jeremy? I'm sorry, I didn't hear that, could you say that again. Oh this is no use. Wouldn't this be easier if you took the gag out of your mouth? What? Not allowed to? Says who? The ovenmint? Who's that...