Thread by @ConUnit_UCL

ON THE BLOG: Unit Director Meg Russell sets out the problems of politicians stoking a "parliament versus people" narrative on Brexit, arguing:

1. It misrepresents the facts.

2. It's a blatant populist device, and populism ends in bad places.

THREAD

constitution-unit.com/2019/11/05/why…

The recent past has seen a growth in the narrative of "parliament versus people" over Brexit.

For months it's been thought that Boris Johnson wanted an election on those terms.

Now the election campaign has started, politicians and media should steer clear of this framing.

Theresa May sought to set herself against parliament (and was criticised for it).

But the rhetoric from the Johnson administration has been more frequent, and far worse.

There are various examples, but to cite just one...

The proposed five-week parliamentary prorogation (ruled unlawful) was in itself worrying and divisive.

When the Commons returned, far from being contrite, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox suggested that "This parliament is a dead parliament… [that] has no moral right to sit".

In his recent campaign video Johnson suggested that he had no choice but to call an election, as parliament had continually delayed and blocked Brexit.

This framing was deeply disingenuous, for two key reasons.

https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1189969508758360064?s=19

First, the Commons actually passed the second reading of Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill, i.e. agreed it in principle.

It defeated the programme motion, but this offered just 3 days scrutiny, which most experts (see below) judged woefully inadequate.

https://twitter.com/ConUnit_UCL/status/1186605470544470016?s=19

To proceed, the government simply needed to offer the Commons more time, but refused.

Instead Johnson demanded the election that he had clearly wanted all along (despite claiming that he didn't).

@PhilipHammondUK put it nicely:

https://twitter.com/BBCr4today/status/1189131799957594117?s=19

Second, suggestions that the long Brexit delays are the responsibility of remainer MPs don't stand up.

Pro-Brexit Conservatives - including Johnson and several others in his Cabinet - repeatedly voted against Theresa May's deal (see below).

constitution-unit.com/2019/10/02/whi…

Theresa May tried for months to get her deal through parliament.

Boris Johnson withdrew his after just three days.

Going into an election on a message of "parliament versus people" is thus opportunistic.

It is disreputable, and even sinister, for two reasons.

First, "parliament versus people" is pure populist rhetoric.

Populism is essentially anti-political, seeking to set people against elites.

Diversity of opinion is ignored, as is the complexity politicians face in responding to that opinion. Political institutions are demonised.

There is widespread concern about the rise of populism around the world.

A key feature is the undermining of democratic institutions, such as parliaments, and checks and balances, such as courts.

Eventually such institutions come under threat, as in Hungary and Turkey.

The UK may be some distance from that happening, but populist rhetoric also cynically drives down trust

A legislature is central to any democracy. In fact, you cannot have a democracy without a functioning legislature.

But to function, the legislature relies on public support.

There are already worrying signs of low trust in our political institutions, including parliament.

E.g. see the @HansardSociety Audit of Political Engagement.

This year's most worrying finding was support for a "strong leader willing to break the rules"
hansardsociety.org.uk/publications/r…

It may be tempting for populist leaders to exploit such findings, but that's a disreputable & dangerous path

In times of crisis, responsible politicians should work to maintain & build trust in political institutions, not cynically drive trust down for short-term electoral gain.

That's a summary, but there are more quotations, examples and links in the blog post itself. A reminder that you can find it below.

@UKandEU @UCL_EI @psa_parl @StudyofParl @PSAAntipolitics @populismPSA @RoryStewartUK @CasMudde

constitution-unit.com/2019/11/05/why…