Democracy When It Suits

I see that certain people in the Labour Party are getting nervous about direct elections for members of local police authorities. They're worrried that the BNP might win some seats, and have been lobbying the government to abandon the idea.

The theory behind the elections is that they would help increase police acccountability and bring about the kind of policing people actually want, and it strikes me as being worth a try.

But Sir Jeremy Beecham, Labour chair of the Local Government Association, says that direct elections could open the door to extremists and that "the process is open to populism". Oh, Heaven deliver us from populism !

It's fascinating how these guys proclaim to support democracy until they're faced with the prospect of a result they don't like, at which point they immediately try and rein it in. I reckon Beecham should have more faith in the people he serves to make sensible decisions. It will be interesting to see if Jacqui Smith has the courage of her convictions or caves in.

By the way, it seems to be the norm for bloggers who mention the BNP to feel they must distance themselves from them. Well, I'm not going to bother. Regular visitors to this blog will know how I feel about a powerful State and the coercion that comes with it. They'll know my faith in the free market and they'll know how I long for the break-up of the United Kingdom. Now have a look at the BNP's polices and draw your own conclusions.