Questions for those in power

I paraphrase five principles of democracy put forward by Tony Benn some time ago.

1) How much power do you have?
2) Where does it come from?
3) In whose interest do you exercise it?
4) To whom are you accountable?
5) How do we get rid of you?

It is interesting to apply these questions to different levels of Government.

a) Local Council
The answers are 1) some on small matters, but much is doing the will of central Government
2) from electors
3) the electors - there is some discretion - Tories feel that they are best serving electors by operating efficiently, Lefties feel that they are serving electors by creating a particular kind of society - equality, environment, etc.
4) the electors, who are well able to see how well things are being done
5) by voting every four years

b) Parliament
The answers are 1) significant in terms of tone, but much now comes "down" from Brussels
2) electors and your political party
3) own electors partially, but also general society - ideologically
4) to electors, but they may be ignored until election time
5) At set intervals, unless there is an advantage to call an election earlier by the incumbent party of government.

c) Quangos (especially regional agencies which act increasingly as the instrument of central government.)
The answers are 1) considerable and increasing, in terms of budget and influence
2) from nominating body, especially central government
3) not clear - probably central government
4) central government
5) "we" don't - safe from removal so long as serving central government and are able to conceal your and their mistakes

d) Brussels
The answers are 1) European parliament - very little, Commission and ministers - extensive
2) from national governments
3) not clear - the European Union as a whole?
4) no-one directly
5) "we" don't - only at end of stipulated period, or change of national government.

I have tried to be fair, and I have to admit to preferring power to be as local as possible, exercised by local representatives who are answerable to voters are able to see what has been done in their name and remove administrations which do not serve the local community.

The categorisation above suggests that the higher the level of decision-making, and the larger the units, results in a lack of accountability and an arguable over-influence of minority views or the preferences of the decision makers over those of the community. The European Union is particularly undemocratic in the location of power. Members of the European Parliament are elected, but have not much more than a rubber-stamping power. In addition their constituencies are so large, - hundreds of thousands of voters, so there is little direct contact with most voters, who have voted for party rather than candidate.