Can you imagine living in a country where the government is totally honest, and the word politics is redefined to purely reflect the differing beliefs held by individuals representing the public in governing a country. There would of course be a few allowable exceptions such as details of defence that could be damaging to our safety. It seems outlandish, but why should honesty not be expected and not be in our best interests.
We listen to politicians of all parties and persuasions lying to us, they know they are lying but it is all part of the political game and we have grown to expect their dishonesty. We tell our children not to lie but we just shrug our shoulders when the leader of our country, leader of the opposition and their cohorts blatantly lie to us.
This is so basic, so fundamental, this is not a grey area, we deserve the truth even if that truth is not one we agree with. So for the purposes of discussion let's pretend that Mr Jones is the Prime Minister.
It is clear to me that the vast majority of people would like to hear the truth and really understand the beliefs of the people we elect to run the country on our behalf. I would therefore hold a weekly press conference, or more frequently if necessary to detail what the government has been doing and plans to do over the next few days. Behind me would be a list of the items that are of greatest concern to the public and progress on each would be described. The press and members of the public would be able to ask questions and receive totally honest answers, even if those answers showed that mistakes had been made. 'To err is human to forgive is divine'
How would this work in practice? Well let's choose a difficult and controversial subject that could be a question asked by the press or member of the public
'Will the Uk achieve Net Zero by 2050?'
Mr Jones would respond that it is an important target, but the wellbeing of UK citizens is paramount. Keeping the lights on, food on the table, health care, looking after the elderly and disabled etc is even more important, and we should not damage our country slavishly trying to achieve a particular date. The UK should be a world leader in green energy and set an example on the world stage, but be honest that the vastly bigger emissions of other countries means that we can set an example but not directly make a significant difference to climate change. I would stop kicking the energy can down the road, allow exploitation of whatever oil and gas we have left to provide energy security, reduce dependence and pollution caused by shipping it from the other end of the world, order mini nuclear power stations from Rolls Royce immediately in order to keep the lights on whilst renewable energy storage is being developed. Damaging our country whilst major countries rely on cheap dirty fuel and slave wages to dump products on our markets is not a way forward and only empowers them to continue building coal fired power stations. Mr Jones would name and shame those countries.
The above would not be popular with certain sections of the public, but that is where total honesty allows democracy to function. You will know exactly what Mr Jones is going to do and can vote for or it or against it without all the pre election lies that inevitably end in broken promises.
The current political party system where Whips try to force MP's to vote in a certain way, even if it is against their beliefs, would have to stop. Yes there can be parties of like minded people, but they do not have to buy in to all aspects of a party manifesto, especially if they feel that it is not in the best interests of the public and the country. A vote in parliament will be in the best interests of the country and not the vested interest of a political party.
How would Mr Jones push through the urgently needed changes quickly? By standing in front of the public and naming and shaming departments, and individuals that are interrupting or delaying the wishes of the people.
If Mr Jones had his time again, he would love to start an honesty movement and change or more likely drive out the expensive bunch of lying, scheming MP's that pretend to look after our interests but in reality only want to cling onto power no matter how much damage they do to our wonderful country.
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