Will the Democracy Task Force recommend democracy?

I’ve just finished reading through the findings of the Democracy Task Force headed up by Ken Clarke. Some interesting and laudable suggestions such as abolition of the grotesque £10,000 re-election budget ‘communications allowance’ for sitting MPs. Interesting to see that the MPs pension scheme will be closed to ‘new members’.

The report is called ‘Restoring Trust in Politics’. But I can’t help but wonder if the answer to the problem actually lies in the name of the Task Force: Democracy. It has often struck me that the reason people increasingly are turning away from politics is that they think that voting doesn’t actually make much of a difference. So many powers have been given over to unaccountably bodies: the EU, Regional offices, local Government officials, Agencies and Quangos that often elected politicians have very little scope for real decision making.

Take just one example that used to dominate my door step conversations – in-fill development or garden grab.  At every local election all the parties would pledge to put a halt to garden grab that puts extra pressure on local infrastructure yet after the election the development would continue regardless. Why? Because despite a democratic mandate councils are powerless to set their own planning policy. Developers appeal declined applications and Government inspectors give the go ahead.

Maybe the real answer to the problem is restoring the transparent link between votes and power?