The Sylvan democracy in the UK debate considered the following motion:
This house believes that democracy is declining in the UK.
The debate took place on Monday 3rd June. Rodrigo Aguilera proposed the motion and Alfie Walley opposed it.
The proposition arguing that democracy is declining
The proposer framed the debate by pointing out that the question hinges on the trend in democracy, not its current strength or weakness. He focused on the last 30 or so years to assess this trend. We have seen no improvement or some decline. The first-past-the-post voting system leads to weaker representation. UKIP got 12.6% of the vote yet only one seat, and parties win without a majority. The alternative vote (AV) referendum of 2011 failed, scuppering appetite for reform of a system the two large parties benefit from. The parties often choose the PM, including five out of the last six, chosen by 100,000 Tory members. Keir Starmer reformed the Labour party voting to make it less democratic. Labour want to reform the un-elected House of Lords, yet need 90 more lords to do it.
Boris Johnson equals a human political scandal. He illegally prorogued Parliament, broke covid rules and yet British democracy tolerated him, shockingly. Brexit gave politicians a licence to lie. We’ve had no major trade deal, and no £350 million for the NHS. Right-wing moguls own the media, which is anti-democratic. We have seen immoral if not illegal behaviour. This debate centres on the direction – yes, we still have a strong democracy, but less than in the recent past. The last few governments have lower competence than those of Thatcher or Blair.
The opposition against the democracy debate motion
The opposer pointed out that the debate is not about whether we are as democratic as we could be, and it hasn’t declined in recent years. We have pluralism, unobstructed elections, the rule of law, public participation and a free press. Our 18th-ranked democracy rating has stayed constant. We do have problems and limitations – they are not new. We had unlected PMs throughout the second half of the 20th century including Callaghan, Douglas-Home, Macmillan, Major. Voter turnout has increased recently, and we have had nine referenda since 1997, with governments honouring the results. Devolution has given Scotland, Wales and mayors more power, and the Lords have fewer hereditaries. The House of Commons has more women and minority members.
Boris tried and failed to prorogue Parliament and protect his allies. He paid a fine for breaking the rules – a ringing endorsement of our democracy. It is easy to be conscious of recent scandals, yet look at the sleaze of the Major years. Scandals don’t mean less democracy: in a dictatorship, fewer would hear about them. Fewer people read newspapers, making Rupert Murdoch less powerful. Brexit itself has caused many of the problems we face, which resulted from a democratic referendum.
Floor speeches from the audience of the democracy debate
Floor speakers considered all aspects of the topic. State power should vest in the people, yet I don’t feel it. The government want data on everyone. What we do here in Sylvan is part of democracy – we vote and change a few minds. The AV referendum would have allowed for more parties and campaigning, and gerrymandering hurts democracy. The wealthy use the party political system as a tool. Thatcher’s legacy delivered Blair, and now we have another Blair in Keir Starmer. Jeremy Corbyn offered progressive domestic policies yet the press and Labour establishment hammered him. All parties are driven by big business, the City and arms manufacturers. The independent vote has increased, without any seats.
Floor speeches continued
Are we really a democracy? The Magna Carta gave rights to Norman occupiers, and the 1688 freedoms only applied to freeholders (land owners). Parties control Parliament and tell MPs how to vote. We have a democratic mob rule, even as politicians say they represent all. There is a growing disrespect for politicians. First past the post does produce a majority – we need to stick with the system we’ve got, but keep talking about it. We do not have democracy, it’s fake with the impression of choice. There used to be a difference between the parties. With the Gaza situation, no one calls for a ceasefire even though the population supports it. Ordinary people can no longer understand the economy – how can they effectively vote? The alt right is on the rise, and liberalism is declining.
More floor speeches
Plato rated democracy as the fourth out of the five best systems. Citizens’ ability to make good decisions is limited. Do we want politicians to lead or follow us? Parliamentary sovereignty means we do not have democracy, and we don’t have a written constitution. Boris won the election, yet the quality of candidates continues to decline.
The opposer’s rebuttal
In rebuttal, the opposer pointed out that in the 1940s-70s, we had a lot of political consensus. In the 80s and 90s we had a clear division, and post 2000 it reverted to closer to consensus. We have gone on to a new model, and can’t hold on to the same old ideologies. Corbyn’s leftward Labour tack was democratic, yet he lost the election. Starmer has moved Labour to the centre which will lead to a majority. Ask someone living in a dictatorship whether we have democracy here. Social media is more democratic than old media. Many of the arguments tonight have centred on the problems modern Britain faces. Everything democratic is in place and isn’t getting weaker – we have devolution and representation. The system endured Boris.
The proposer’s closing speech
In closing, the proposer argued that the limitations on our democracy are getting worse. We have more and more brazen corruption, with ineffective punishments. Could Boris have succeeded Thatcher? His Partygate fine was only a slap on the wrist. The Brexit referendum itself was democratic, but led to decline. Britain is a democracy; for instance, Mexico has a better voting system, but we have a stronger rule of law. Local democracy has improved. Democracy performs better when boring, such as in Switzerland or Norway. Social media leads to undemocratic outcomes. We have worse political discourse and less influence.
Result: the democracy debate motion did not carry
In the final vote, the Sylvans concluded through the debate that democracy in the UK is not declining.
Please see summaries of earlier Sylvan debates here.