British Democracy: Its Restoration and Extension

British Democracy: Its Restoration and Extension

Modern parliamentary democracy first developed in Great Britain. Britons also played a major role in spreading democracy around the world – for example, through the Commonwealth.

However, at the start of the 21st century, Britain itself was no longer a independent democratic country. As part of the European Union bloc, unelected and immovable foreign authorities determined a large part of its laws, policies, and taxes. Domestically meanwhile, extra-parliamentary bureaucratic lawmaking, curbs on local autonomy, moves from direct to indirect representation, and anti-competitive restrictions on political funding and advertising had diminished democracy. 

This book provides a detailed account of the main political independence and constitutional reform requirements for restoring and extending democracy in present-day Britain.

Coverage:

1. Restoring and extending British democracy: major requirements

2.  National political independence and democracy: withdrawal from the European Union

3. The reform of parliament and central government

4. Judicial independence and the rule of law

5. The legal protection of democracy and freedom: the case for a new written constitution and bill of rights  

6. Restoring local democracy

7. Electoral system reform: increasing competition and voter choice and influence