Booked at a panel discussion cum book launch at the London School of Economics. Seats were limited and when we get there we can see why. Possibly eighty seats in what is really a wide classroom rather than a lecture hall. We sit, foolishly, in the back row. Only about six rows back, and it’s fine until a very large, very square man comes and sits directly ahead as the room fills up. The book being launched is the UK’s Changing Democracy, The 2018 audit. It’s a major edited work examining the effects of current events on the democratic character of UK institutions and legislation. Patrick Dunleavy, the book’s editor is on the panel, as is a young academic lawyer and two others. Consensus that democratic institutions and practices need constant attention, and that democratic backsliding is possible and indeed not uncommon. Joelle, the academic law teacher, is concerned that there may be democratic rights that will be vulnerable post Brexit, because when rights are not held to an external agency there is a temptation to reduce them. As in deregulation affecting employment standards. Or devolved powers returning from the EU but not, with any speed - or necessarily at all - being returned to the governments of Scotland or Wales. And, most of all she is worried about legislative power being given not even simply to government (rather than parliament) but to individual ministers who may consider particular legislation necessary. There are some major exceptions, like taxation, and there is a great deal of legislation to be enacted in a short period of time. But Joelle regards the drift from parliament as the legislative body as undemocratic and frightening.
(Mostly) intelligent questions. The executive summary is quite good and includes a couple of interesting graphics, particularly the one on the current divisions in Labour and the Conservative Party. As this is a book launch, it’s accompanied by wine and nibbles after. Very happily, Dunleavy announces at the beginning that the whole book is downloadable free of charge, so there is no need for embarrassment at reluctance to add an extra kilo to the luggage for £21 pounds. No doubt several LSE students similarly pleased.
Further chat with other audience members and panel. Very large very square man embarrasses Patrick Dunleavy by saying he considers Theresa May stupid and mentally ill, as we consider this a good time to drift off toward the nuts and olives. Where we encounter another Brexiteer who claims, largely inaccurately, that Trump has done what he said he would. Where do these people come from? Rest of audience seems quite normal. Excellent evening and new download book. At https://press.lse.ac.uk/site/boo-publishing/ should anyone else be interested. Not only applicable to UK.
Posts
