How modern British politicians avoid responsibility

Ever since the 1980s when Thatcher began the practice of creating
"agencies" - Child Support, Benefit etc - British politicians have
increasingly attempted to evade what little responsibility is left to
them after the massive transfer of power to the EU. Stand alone
agencies mean that the minister in charge of the policy area is no
longer directly responsible for operation failures. The growing use of
PFI contracts is a way of even further distancing the politician from
responsibility.

Another favourite trick is to lean on "expert advice" to introduce
unpopular measures. The foot and mouth fiasco is a good example of
that, where ministers insisted that the slaughter policy was only
engaged in because it was the "best professional advice", although this
flew in the face of immunisation programmes used by other countries. (
It should be remembered that scientific advice to the government is
ultimately given by the Chief Scientific Officer, a career civil
servant
not an independent scientist.)

A current and serious use of the "expert" ploy is Blair's claimed
reliance on police advice to keep on introducing ever more draconian
laws. Blair introduced the latest terror law Bill with " I am not
saying that whatever the police say we have got to do [we have to
do]...that's not my case. If the police, charged with fighting
terrorism
in this country, say to me and to MPs 'this is why we need it' and
that
case is a good and compelling case - as I find it is - then my duty is
to do it, unless someone can come forward with a very good argument
why
their case is unsound." D Tel 12 10 2005.

Politicians are elected to use their judgement one the broad
implications of legislation. As Thatcher said: "advisers advise,
ministers decide." That is how it should be. RH
--
Robert Henderson
Blair Scandal website:  http://www.geocities.com/blairscandal/
Personal website:  http://www.anywhere.demon.co.uk