Emancipation England, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales  Home page    Editorial    Archives    Right to reply    About Emancipation    Contributions & support    Contact Archives February, 2008 Emancipation, the imperative for Britain's renaissance... Emancipation is a process of liberation of people from unnecessary constraints and controls such as the removal of corrupt representation, factional impositions and unjust settlements. A more just society provides space for people to apply their common sense and innovative spirit to decisions while avoiding unnecesary conflict as each makes their way towards their personal obectives. Such a freedom rests upon a spirit of tolerance and consideration for others. In social interaction, the running of communities and the economy, centrally-based controls and impositions designed to make the state "more efficient" have become an anathema, an alien force which, in the name of many causes promoted by political parties, only restrict individual freedom, shun common sense and kill innovation. More freedom, more applied common sense, can help us innovate and drive forward a renaissance of Britain in all fields of human endeavour. The ongoing emancipation of the people remains an imperative. Hector McNeilll     The issue isn't declaring funding it is the funding itself Or are we to assume that British Members of Parliament, as some of the activities of their political parties seem to indicate, are in it for the money? © Church of England The shameful attacks on Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams delivered a thoughtful and constructive lecture as a contribution to a series concerning Islam & English Law. However, most of what leading politicians and the media have reported and commented upon has nothing to do with what Rowan Williams stated and he has been attacked unfairly. Indeed, Rowan Williams has demonstrated an intellectual leadership which has not been witnessed for many years in a religious institution and what he did say is of profound importance to Britain. Some constitutional implications of a lecture by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams pointed out issues facing religious communities but the same applies to the whole population. In fact the Archbishop is referring to the failure of the majority principle but the minority principle offers hope for more accommodation under the law. Why the public sector is working less effectively As public sectors try to centralise activities and data they face self-generated complexity. Sometimes this creates a dangerous level of confusion creating impasses which defy effective solutions because of the lack of relevant knowhow and experience. It is the height of social irresponsibility to permit political decisions impose upon the very professional standards required to uphold best medical practice. It is also equally deplorable to confuse management principles relating to economics and finance with medical ethics. Unfinished business? ... the constitutions of Europe, the United Kingdom & Scotland .... The Parliamentary resolution of the European Treaty - where British liberals are failing No British political party is facing up to the erosion in individual freedoms which is distancing the people of Britain and of Europe from a more resposive representative democracy. A green paper...... Emancipation, the essential unfinished business for Britain's constitution The British government's efforts at constitutional reform are disappointing because they do not address the debilitating constraints on the freedom of expression of the people of the country. Why the Green Paper is not a basis for a constitutional settlement The Green Paper fails to address the debilitating structural defect in the constitution which permits political parties to prevent Parliament from representing the will of all the people. The proposals sustain the denial of a more productive participation of the electorate in decisions of national importance and a scandalous attempt to relegate the practical participation of the people to a dumbed down "wheely bin democracy" at the local level. The people of Britain should not tolerate this insult but should demand changes to establish a more effective participatory national democracy. Closed short-circuited consultations - the case of the Better Government Initiative An ethical pubic service should address policies supported by the majority of the people. Making the imposition of policies rejected by the majority more efficient is unethical and immoral. Scotland's National Conversation Scottish devolution and a constitutional settlement The National Conversation of Scotland, against a background of the majority not being in favour of independence, is a refreshing and open opportunity for the people of Scotland to exercise a welcomed participation in expressing their concerns and suggesting better ways forward. This example is a marked contrast to the British government's restriction of participation in their own national conversation concerning the rest of the United Kingdom. The futility of proportional representation For many years those who oppose the first-past-the post system as serving the interest of political parties have suggested that proportional representation is better. But this "solution" does not solve the main problem that representation remains in the hands of political parties who resist a transparent representation of the people of the country. The issue isnt about proportions but more fundamentally about who is represented - political parties or the people?