Monday, January 16, 2012

Major public appointments

When the political party in power also has a large majority in the House of Commons, the power of the Prime Minister is almost unlimited.   Why should one person be able to exercise so much power?   If Parliament fails to be the centre of democratic legitimacy its main function has been lost.   Only parliamentarians themselves can re-assert this function.   If they fail then the decline of parliament is inevitable.   They could begin to reverse this decline by insisting that the heads of executive agencies and Quangos and many other public bodies should be confirmed in their jobs by parliamentary committees.   Those confirmed should only continue to hold the positions subject to parliamentary approval.
 This is done in many other countries including the United States of America.
                Major public appointments should be confirmed in their jobs by parliamentary committees, and hold them subject to parliamentary approval.
               

1 comment: