Thread by @newpaulhearn

At least Brexit has got many people thinking more about how democracy works or doesn't. I'll be honest, I never gave it a lot of thought before but I found this definition and have pondered it: 1/

"DEMOCRACY: A system of government by the WHOLE population or ALL the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."

That got me thinking about the term 'representative democracy' 2/

I won't say too much about how we elect our representatives (MPs) in the UK. The system could be improved but it does have the merit that all seats in the House of Commons get filled, so we have a full assembly of representatives. 3/

Now, ask yourself a question. Who does that assembly represent? Is it just the people who voted for them or is it all citizens of the UK?

I think that they must represent all citizens of the UK. That includes children, citizens abroad & anyone who could not or did not vote. 4/

Surely that must be right because the primary duty of an MP is to act in the best interests of the 'nation as a whole'.

They have a special duty to 'their constituents' too. That must be all constituents and not just those who can and do vote. 5/

Now, our representatives are there in the House of Commons with a clear understanding (I am assuming here!) of their duties and the scope of their representation. They are in control and empowered to do what is in the whole nation's best interests. 6/

Why is it then that they are collectively acting as though they do not represent all UK citizens but only those who voted? There is no doubt that most who are asked why Brexit is essential (even if they admit to voting Remain) will respond with it's "the will of the people". 7/

Now, I will set aside further discussion of whether a 52/48 margin and a vote by 37.4% of the eligible electorate (c.26% of all citizens represented) can be taken as the 'will of the people' but will go back to the definition of 'democracy' above. 8/

It's clearly impractical to get the WHOLE population to vote. Just managing the transient effects of births and deaths would be a challenge.

Getting ALL eligible voters to vote is a challenge too. Some would say that mandatory voting denies the right not to vote. 9/

Anyway, for the results of a population or electorate vote to be considered truly democratic the result would need to be voted for by >50% of either the WHOLE population or >50% of ALL of the electorate. 10/

So, I now much better understand how, over a very long time, the UK (and most other democratic countries) have arrived at systems to elect representatives into assemblies that act democratically in the best interests of the whole nation. 11/

Some countries allow referenda to provide information on public opinion (or even give decision making power) but these normally have voting 'pass mark' levels that aim to ensure results can be defined as 'democratic'. 12/

So, after pondering all of the above for many months I am sharing my thoughts here simply as a UK citizen, not a politician, academic, activist (despite my Twitter name) or anarchist. I will be honest, I want the UK to Remain in the EU and do think 'We Can Stop Brexit', but 13/

... I do not think that there has been a truly democratic vote on whether the UK should exit the EU and I am certain that Parliament has not represented the whole of the UK so far. I write this in full knowledge of the A50 vote based upon "the will of the people". 14/

So, until all MPs are given a free (of Party whipping) vote and allowed to express their judgement of what is in the best interests of the UK, I do not think that our representative democracy has worked as intended. Party interests seem to be dominating over National. 15/

MPs should all want the vote that I think is necessary to restore democracy. All UK citizens have a right to be represented. We have not been so far and a dangerous precedent is being set. 16/16