Democracy and responsiveness

Let's go back to that pledge the Conservatives made to have for 'a listening council'. The statement was as follows: 'We want true democracy and will run an open and accessible Council where everyone can contribute.'

The nearest the world has ever come to true democracy is probably the Icelandic Althing of the early Middle Ages (or even earlier, whatever that period is called), when all citizens could gather together on the plains of Thingvellir. It is clearly impractical for everyone to gather physically in the council chamber at the town hall but an electronic town meeting is eminently possible. It just needs to be set up. Easy peasy.

An 'open' council presumably means one that works transparently. An 'accessible' council is presumably one in which all the members are easily and readily contactable. But the final part, 'where everyone can contribute', is almost certainly at best a pious wish, at worst a blatant deceit. Anyone with experience of civic activity knows that things don't work like that. Even well organised lobbies and pressure groups—even people with official positions, such as school governors—often fail to make an impact or even to be heard.

Imagine the Conservatives win a majority at the election and start to implement a car-friendly policy. Thousands object, preferring to see money spent on cheaper and more efficient public transport for all. Which are the Conservative councillors more likely to say: 'We agree. We'll change our policy' or 'We are pursuing our declared policy and see no reason to change, however strong the opposition'? Remember Tony Blair, rebuked by the courts for failing to run a proper consultation about nuclear power, saying there would be a new consultation but it wouldn't change the policy?

In a way, it is not unreasonable for a political party to stick to the principles and plans declared before an election (assuming they are clear and precise). Once upon a time, especially in the days of two-party politics, the choice could be broadly characterised as, say, right or left, capitalist or socialist, elitist or plebeian. In these days of diversified interests we are moving towards a political structure in which the voters have more interest in individual policies than factions with comprehensive packages, take it or leave it. More and more we leave it, which consequently means leaving the elected-by-a-minority bunch to screw things up as often as they get things right.

Councils can make easy pledges about being open and accessible, but how often can they claim to be flexible and responsive? Which will be the first to give up (some) power to let citizens in? Don't hold your breath.