The Guardian keeps the readership excellently apprised of the (mis)behaviour of some of our ministers and MPs. Surely the time is right to bring politics closer to the lived experience of more voters. I suggest two changes that could contribute to this.
First, rather than MPs being able to tell us proudly that they are accountable every five years at the ballot box, what if they were required to participate in an annual independent appraisal process that would be published in the spirit of transparency?
This is a common way of monitoring performance and encouraging personal professional development. Among other things, any new paid positions would be declared and discussed, plus how the appraisee contributes to life in the House of Commons in terms of committee work and speeches, as well as a record of constituency activity.
Second, to attempt to counter some of the misleading statements made in session or at prime minister’s questions, there should be a rapid fact-checking facility to try to make ministers and backbenchers more careful in their use of language and statistics both in the House of Commons and in interviews.
Feedback would be delivered by the Speaker or in the media as soon as possible after the event, with a requirement for the person responsible to issue a correction.
Gradually, it may become possible to have more confidence in our representatives, some of whom could state an aspiration to be better acquainted with the truth at their annual appraisal.
Dr Andrew Bates
Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
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