Elected dictatorships
Michael Heseltine (Conservative) suggested directly elected mayors, the Labour Government introduced them and Michael Heseltine has now suggested there should be more of them with increased powers. This looks suspiciously like leapfrogging to local dictatorships, albeit elected.
The bottom line is that power exercised by one person is, by definition, less democratic than power exercised by a council or committee. In particular, one person cannot be split to represent differing political views; one person cannot be elected by proportional representation. Directly elected mayors should at the very least be elected by Alternative Vote (known as the Instant Run-off in the USA) so they represent at least half the voters but this would still be less representative than most councils.
Local councils need more democracy, not less. They need to be elected by Single Transferable Vote (Choice Voting in the USA) to become more representative than they are.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely: Lord Acton, 1887.
The bottom line is that power exercised by one person is, by definition, less democratic than power exercised by a council or committee. In particular, one person cannot be split to represent differing political views; one person cannot be elected by proportional representation. Directly elected mayors should at the very least be elected by Alternative Vote (known as the Instant Run-off in the USA) so they represent at least half the voters but this would still be less representative than most councils.
Local councils need more democracy, not less. They need to be elected by Single Transferable Vote (Choice Voting in the USA) to become more representative than they are.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely: Lord Acton, 1887.
Labels: Electoral Reform
posted by Anthony Tuffin at 23:40
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