Parliament - A new golden age?

The period between the first and second reform acts in the nineteenth century is often described as the golden age of parliament. This was because both houses were characterised by shifting parties and factions, with many other radical MPs thrown in so that every vote was hard fought over. Party discipline was weak and no administration could feel itself secure in securing its legislation. Furthermore it was an age of great orators, men who were capable of influencing a vote through the sheer force of their argument and the quality of their rhetoric. The result was that governments were forced to seek a consensus over each individual issue. This model of parliamentary politics can also be frequently seen in the USA, though it often results there in deadlock rather than consensus. Perhaps it is not too fanciful to suggest we are now entering a new golden era. It may, of course, turn out to be short lived, little more than a mini-era, , but we can hopefully enjoy it while the going is good. Two examples illustrate this. The first was the Lords’ rejection of the reduction in working tax credits, a decision that was confirmed in Osborne’s latest spending review. By the way, on that subject, the normally sure footed Osborne missed a trick, I think, by not accepting that he had been persuaded by the force of argument rather than claiming that he had accidentally discovered more money he didn’t know he had. It would have been more politically astute, I feel. The second was, of course, the Commons debate on intervention in Syria. Maybe we have become too cynical about the behaviour of MPs (with good cause in many cases). To hear some of the excellent speeches, Benn’s in particular, and, to see members visibly moved by the debate and the issue, was indeed striking and heart warming. We live in an age of a perfect parliamentary storm, I suppose. A government with a fragile majority, leading a party that is in garrulous mood with splits over foreign policy, Europe and austerity, a fragmented opposition and a completely hung House of Lords which is in the mood to defy the government if it feels like it – witness the recent amendment to allow 16 and 17 years olds to vote on the EU referendum, against government policy. The cabinet may have the devil of a job to overturn the amendment in the Commons, even if it is in the mood to try. Consensus building is an art form and it looks like the government is going to have to learn it fast. They did, however, make a very good start over the Syrian issue.