When did Britain become a Democracy?

[Electerrific]

We like to think that we in the UK have leapt forward in massive bounds in every way since the medieval age, that our 'recent' human rights - hard-won in history- are respected. Somewhere between the age of serfs and ceorls and today we have undergone a massive social change?

 

Those brave boys that died ''for King and Country'' in WWII didn't even know the Welfare State or the National Health Service, set up by the Labour Government to help drag the working classes out of the slum housing and Tuberculosis age?

 

The 'enlightened' Victorian era saw intense misery and extreme poverty for most working class people, usually with several desolate families crammed into one sewage-infested sub-basement, even though the 'gentlemanly' classes were pushing various acts through Parliament to help them?

 

We only get one major General Election vote every 4/5 years, yet never get to vote our collective opinions about, ie war, our currency, penal system, etc (the elected elite are supposed to be trustworthy enough to be delegated these responsibilities by proxy).

 

So when in history did our nation become a Democracy? Or is it yet?

[aliceBB]

23rd February 1950? First general election with a free, fair, secret ballot in which all adult citizens had one vote.

[Electerrific]

Quite sad and hypocritical considering that we like to brag about our two-millenia+ old history, which funds our Tourism industry?

[erebus]

It tried, it was a good idea, but now its maters little who we vote for as politicians treat politics as a stepping stone in a career path.. If they are good and toe the line then the world of money awaits.

 

We see civil servants and ministers go from one position into the corporate pool, where the rewards for services rendered to their masters is rewarded. Blair took this to a new level, and never before has this pathway been so publicly shoved in the faces of the voters.

 

So you can vote, its celebrity choice for ugly greedy, self serving people, but what you vote for, war, cuts, efficiencies, continuous privitisation, and the other covert words, hiding what is actually, the ransacking of our economy by corporate raiders is another matter.

 

If you voted for chickens, the results on the economy, cuts privitisations etc. would be the same, We have a chancellor whose understanding of simple maths, does not exist, but he can remember a script and act the important part, but where are the exports, where is the value added? We have a prime minister, who knows nothing but P.R. Public relations was a term invented by a relation or Freud, to replace the word propaganda, as that word was regarded at the time, after the world war, as unacceptable. So we have a propagandist leading the country, and a second class history graduate, running the economy. Nether of them has had a proper job, ever worked, and both have enough money never to have had to work. It would be a very funny joke, if it were not true, making anyone with any sense both laugh and cry simultaneously.

 

We no longer have a democracy, we have a voting system in which the choices are made for us, by political parties with vested interests, and they decide on the candidates. Its a sham, of a show, and its all for entertaining the concept of democracy, pretending people have choices. Sadly its no choice at all, and everyone's vote are for corporate puppets, put up as front, to mock us all, and steal our wealth, enslaving us in a form of corporate debt that is inter generational.

 

Talking of turkeys voting for Christmas, that is what we have all be turned into, and just fail to realise such a con trick.

[ronthenekred]

It tried, it was a good idea, but now its maters little who we vote for as politicians treat politics as a stepping stone in a career path.. If they are good and toe the line then the world of money awaits.

 

We see civil servants and ministers go from one position into the corporate pool, where the rewards for services rendered to their masters is rewarded. Blair took this to a new level, and never before has this pathway been so publicly shoved in the faces of the voters.

 

So you can vote, its celebrity choice for ugly greedy, self serving people, but what you vote for, war, cuts, efficiencies, continuous privitisation, and the other covert words, hiding what is actually, the ransacking of our economy by corporate raiders is another matter.

 

If you voted for chickens, the results on the economy, cuts privitisations etc. would be the same, We have a chancellor whose understanding of simple maths, does not exist, but he can remember a script and act the important part, but where are the exports, where is the value added? We have a prime minister, who knows nothing but P.R. Public relations was a term invented by a relation or Freud, to replace the word propaganda, as that word was regarded at the time, after the world war, as unacceptable. So we have a propagandist leading the country, and a second class history graduate, running the economy. Nether of them has had a proper job, ever worked, and both have enough money never to have had to work. It would be a very funny joke, if it were not true, making anyone with any sense both laugh and cry simultaneously.

 

We no longer have a democracy, we have a voting system in which the choices are made for us, by political parties with vested interests, and they decide on the candidates. Its a sham, of a show, and its all for entertaining the concept of democracy, pretending people have choices. Sadly its no choice at all, and everyone's vote are for corporate puppets, put up as front, to mock us all, and steal our wealth, enslaving us in a form of corporate debt that is inter generational.

 

Talking of turkeys voting for Christmas, that is what we have all be turned into, and just fail to realise such a con trick.

 

Have we ever?

[Stoatwobbler]

One nice thing about the British constitution is that it has evolved. Britain has become a democracy slowly, with a number of acts of parliament such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 slowly increasing the number of people who can vote.

 

My great concern is that with fewer people voting and politicans becoming more detached, we may be about to see demoracy being slowly eroded, with the weakest groups in society slowly disenfranchised by the rich and pwerful.

[WeX]

23rd February 1950? First general election with a free, fair, secret ballot in which all adult citizens had one vote.

 

Democracy does not mean everyone can vote, just those who are eligible. Prior to this date we still had a democracy. The first official election was back in 1802 but there was a parliament prior to this but they were not elected as such.

 

However the Blackadder quote "... take Manchester for instance. Population: 60,000. Electoral roll: 3" conveys the concept of democracy at the time.

[esme]

After taking part in several discussions about politics, politicians, voting systems and democracy on this forum over the years, usually in the run up to elections, I have arrived at the conclusion that very few people actually want a democracy.

 

What most people seem to want is the party they most agree with being in the majority in parliament and on a few key issues that party should agree 100% with the person so on those issues that persons view is the one that wins.

 

Very few people, at least based the discussions on this forum, are prepared to change their minds through debating an issue.

[WeX]

After taking part in several discussions about politics, politicians, voting systems and democracy on this forum over the years, usually in the run up to elections, I have arrived at the conclusion that very few people actually want a democracy.

 

What most people seem to want is the party they most agree with being in the majority in parliament and on a few key issues that party should agree 100% with the person so on those issues that persons view is the one that wins.

 

Very few people, at least based the discussions on this forum, are prepared to change their minds through debating an issue.

 

But what has that got to do with the OP's question?

[mjw47]

It is highly debatable as whether we have a democracy.

 

No elected Government since the Second War has obtained 50% of votes cast.

 

Harold Macmillan achieved most with 49% Tony Blair was elected with the least, 35%.

Because of the iniquities of our electoral system Blair had a majority & was able to form a Government but Cameron with 36% had to go into coalition with the Liberals.

 

How can a system where more people vote against the elected party than for it be regarded as democratic?

 

We have an unelected Upper House where the method of entry is either hereditary,being a Bishop or Rabbi, contributing money to a particular party, or being famous in a sporting or showbiz sense so that the party in power at the time think they will be liked by association.

This House has an influence in & on legislation.

How can that be regarded as democratic?

 

We have an unelected head of State who is supposed to remain aloof & neutral in all political matters.

A lot of us never believed that boloney to begin with. Earlier this week an article in the Times reported how the Queen intervened in a political situation whilst on a State visit.

The tone of the report was that this was a good thing, maybe so, but as no one voted her in to allow her to give her two pennorth hardly democratic.

 

And just wait til Charles gets in!

 

We have an unwritten constitution which is absolute nonsense but absolute brilliant in providing wiggle room as & when required.

If the ordinary citizen cannot read, comprehend, refer to or challenge this non existent document how can it be regarded as democratic?

 

So in answer to the OP I would say it hasn't yet.

 

And given the disinterest & general lethargy of the great British public in political matters, I would say it never will.