This is the text of a letter I sent to the i today. The government’s announcement that it would ease restrictions (de-regulate) the Finance sector makes me so cross. It’s a classic example of this government legislating in the interests of a privileged and ‘entitled’ elite, claiming and half-believing it is serving the great god: THE ECONOMY. And it seems to me that it is flying in the face of public opinion too. Of course, there are many good and thoughtful people working in this sector (and they will be a key way in which God’s Spirit is at work) but the overall culture is shamelessly driven by profit.

I believe that Nicholas Shaxton, in his book The Finance Curse is right when he informs us how the Finance sector, which is necessary to the good functioning of the economy, has become vastly overblown and is milking the economy for the benefit of the powerful and wealthy. It hides the vast damage behind its manipulative and threatening trumpeting of the large amount of tax and employment it creates. But that’s maybe another article!

Here’s the letter:

Dear Sir,

It is not enough to reform the House of Lords (though it does desperately need reform). Our whole system of democracy needs reforming, to end the immense power of the very few who control government policy and decision-making.

Public rating of democratic processes is at an all-time low since universal suffrage, and it’s now commonplace to characterise the system as broken.

From our elected politicians we need mature, informed debate, not populist one-liners and dishonest use of statistics. A commitment to the common good not kow-towing to powerful interest groups. Long-term stability, not see-sawing to radically different agendas from different parties or the perceived moods of public opinion. Respect for, and development of, the expertise of the Civil Service not ill-qualified politicians bullying through their pet policies.

Every form of parliamentary democracy is flawed, but we have a responsibility to find the one which best reflects the broad make-up and views of the people it represents.  Some form of Proportional Representation is urgently required.

Yours sincerely

Graham Buttanshaw