The current esteem in which Parliament is held by the British electorate has not been so low for decades, if not centuries. The malaise has its roots in far deeper and longer term problems than the various scandals and debacles that reach the news. Given the state of disillusionment and the problems inherent in the current system, the tasks ahead are mountainous. Could Michael Mansfield restore faith in the government’s legal credentials?
The current esteem in which Parliament is held by the British electorate has not been so low for decades, if not centuries.
The malaise has its roots in far deeper and longer term problems than the various scandals and debacles that reach the news. In essence the problem lies in the erosion over a long period of time of the separation of powers between executive, legislature and judiciary (as well as civil service and Fourth Estate of the media) that was identified by Montesquieu in the Enlightenment as being the hallmark of the British constitutional system.
Neil Parpworth’s recent dissection of the rapid passage of the Parliamentary Standards Act raises the apposite
