The problems with EU democracy are echoed at home

There is indeed a lot wrong with the "democracy" of the EU, but then there is also a great deal wrong with the "democracy" of this country. We have a government which claims it has a mandate for its ideologically driven dismantling of the welfare state when in reality less than 25 per cent of the electorate said they wanted them to be in power.


Every year thousands of statutory instruments come into effect with little or no scrutiny by our elected representatives. Anyone who doubts the insidiousness effect should remember that they are not all tweaks to how much insulation you should have in your loft. Significant new laws have been introduced using them such instruments, including benefit cuts which were not in the Conservative manifesto, and so cannot be said to have a mandate from even 24 per cent of the electorate.


A bit of reading about the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act and "skeleton Bills" should chill the blood of anybody who believes in democracy. A problem with democracy in the EU is no more of a reason to leave it than the problem with ours is a reason to emigrate.

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