The Constitution Unit Blog

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Coronavirus
  • Brexit
  • Parliament
    • House of Commons
    • House of Lords
    • All
  • Elections and referendums
    • 2019 general election
    • 2017 general election
    • EU referendum
    • 2015 general election
    • All
  • Democratic Engagement and Citizens’ Assemblies
  • Government
    • Cabinet manual
    • Coalition
    • Special advisers
    • All
  • Devolution
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Northern Ireland
    • England
    • All
  • Events
  • Other themes
    • Judiciary and human rights
      • All
    • Parties and politicians
    • Constitutions and constitution making
    • Freedom of information
    • Monarchy, church and state
    • International
  • Staff contributors
    • Meg Russell
    • Alan Renwick
    • Robert Hazell
    • Sam Anderson
    • Dave Busfield-Birch
    • Roberta Damiani
    • Lotte Hargrave
    • Lisa James
    • Rebecca McKee
    • Luke Moore
    • Honorary staff
      • Daniel Gover
      • Bob Morris
      • Patrick O’Brien
      • Akash Paun
      • Brian Walker
      • Alan Whysall
      • Ben Worthy
      • Ben Yong
  • Constitution Unit website
  • About the Constitution Unit
  • Copyright

Tag Archives: Geoffrey Co

Why a rhetoric of ‘parliament versus people’ is both dishonest and dangerous

Posted on November 5, 2019 by The Constitution Unit

meg_russell_2000x2500.jpgTensions over Brexit have led some public figures to adopt a narrative of ‘parliament versus people’. Such comments can be seen in the words of Boris Johnson and his ministers, and risk becoming a frame for the general election period ahead. But, Meg Russell argues, this is the language of corrosive populism, designed to exploit dissatisfaction with the institutions of democracy – and points to a dangerous path. In troubled times, it is the job of responsible politicians to seek to rebuild, not drive down, public trust in politics.

In a general election campaign, language can get heated. But words matter in shaping people’s perceptions, and can alter the public mood. One worrying recent development is the move by some senior politicians and campaigners towards adopting a rhetoric of ‘parliament versus people’ in narrating the UK’s Brexit drama. For months, it has been suggested that Boris Johnson wanted a general election based on that narrative, to boost his support as the man who can ‘get Brexit done’. Now that an election is happening, politicians and journalists should resist cloaking it in a ‘parliament versus people’ narrative. First because such language is dishonest, and more importantly because it could have dangerous long-term effects.

To be fair on Boris Johnson, he did not single-handedly create this framing of events – it could be argued that his predecessor kicked it off. Having been defeated twice on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, Theresa May made an ill-tempered statement from Number 10 in which she sought to distance herself from parliament, pledging to the public that ‘I am on your side’. This language was widely criticised as potentially inflammatory. But its tone was mild compared to some recent statements. For example, after Johnston’s attempt to prorogue parliament for five weeks (in itself a divisive and troubling move) had been ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox suggested to the House of Commons that ‘This parliament is a dead parliament… [that] has no moral right to sit’. On another occasion, Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested that, by acting to block a ‘no deal’ Brexit, ‘parliament sets itself against the people’. Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and referendums, Parliament | Tagged 2019 general election, Audit of Political Engagement, boris johnson, Geoffrey Co, Hansard Society, House of Commons, Hungary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ken Clarke, meg russell, Miller and Cherry, Nadia Urbaniti, parliament, Philip Hammond, proroguing parliament, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rory Stewart, Supreme Court, Theresa May, Turkey, Viktor Orbán, withdrawal agreement bill | 1 Comment

Taking Back Control

Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland

Monitor 76: Democratic lockdown?

My Tweets

Enter your e-mail address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail.

Join 2,344 other followers

Unit Mailing List: Sign up to receive notifications of of our events, newsletter and publications

Mailing List

The Unit at 25: celebrating 25 achievements

Parliament and Brexit

Improving discourse during election and referendum campaigns

The Independent Commission on Referendums

Blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×