“Because we are serious about redistributing power, we will restore the balance between the government and Parliament”
Conservative Party Manifesto 2010
When in opposition the Tories would routinely denounce Labour for failing to respect Parliament. Indeed the words above, taken from their most recent manifesto were echoed again and again in their rhetoric.
Sadly, they now seem to have given up on Parliament and democratic scrutiny altogether.
On the day Danny Alexander (re)announced the government’s plans for infrastructure spending – making infrastructure the story of the day – Lord Deighton – the Tory infrastructure minister was apparently “too busy” to attend the debate on Investing in Britain’s Future (or infrastructure to you and me).
But Lord Deighton wasn’t the only Parliamentarian unwilling or unable to face scrutiny today. It seems that the Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling wasn’t in the Commons this afternoon to respond to the debate on the highly controversial changes to Legal Aid.
When they fought for power, the Tories were offering us all an Invitation to Join the Government of Britain. It seems the invitation of actual Parliamentarians may have been lost in the post.
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