Reporting News and opinions
One of the most persistent slogans of Britain’s political far right is the claim that “the people did not vote for mass immigration.” It is a phrase repeated endlessly in television studios, social media posts, and political rallies. It sounds persuasive. It sounds democratic. It is also fundamentally wrong.
In the fearful months and years following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, Western democracies faced an unenviable dilemma. Their citizens demanded protection from an enemy that recognised no borders, wore no uniforms and deliberately targeted civilians.
The War of Independence followed on from the unsuccessful Easter Rising in 1916. While the Rising had little support from the Irish population, the British crackdown hardened public opinion against British rule. Subsequent events such as the Conscription Crisis helped Sinn Féin, an Irish nationalist party, to a landslide victory in the 1918 general election. Establishing their own parliament, Dáil Éireann, they declared independence while the Irish Republican Army (IRA) fought a guerrilla campaign across the island.
The genius of constitutional democracy is not merely that elections are held. It is that power is divided. Every institution is expected to possess enough independence to say “no” when necessary.
When Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for a cross-party "consensus" on social care, you could practically hear the collective sigh of relief from Westminster’s pundit class. “Ah, marvelous,” they purred. “The grown-ups are finally taking their seats.”
Centre for Nigeria Progress 