A week to go before the House reconvenes and it promises to be a sticky time before the new Session begins after the Queen’s Speech on 18 November.
Before plunging into the hurly-burly of bills and amendments and committees and debates, not to mention the results of the current reviews on parliamentary expenses, let me just finish with the summer break.
I have just (last Saturday) returned from Senegal to which a small group of us (two MPs and two Peers) travelled under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Unit (UK branch). I know that while we were away a critical tv programme examined the value of such visits. Having been on three visits to Africa this year, I do have a view …and it is this:
First and foremost we only go if INVITED by the host country which pays all in-country expenses. The purpose is to learn at first hand how each country fufils its obligations of governance and to look critically at areas which depart from the ideal and practice of democracy. This may sound very grand but areas of concern be it the media, the opposition or the courts do tend to stand out rather starkly, and these are included in reports submittted to the host government, the UK Government and published in annual reviews etc. Let no one, I might add, underestimate the intense dislike that all governments have of any adverse international exposure. Other functions of these visits include building relationships with individual politicians and academics and generally creating the potential for future discussions and action. Talking is always a useful thing to do in these contexts. Return visits are encouraged and thus the UK is subject to a similar time of scrutiny.
Anyhow back to Senegal: We had between us some 25 meetings during the five days we were there. These embraced meetings with Fisheries (major economy – threatened by overfishing and depletion of stocks); Tourism (major earner and threatened due to the loss of the Dakar Rally in 2008); Foreign Affairs; the Opposition both within and without Parliament; Academics and researchers; women’s and conflict resolution groups amongst many others. The main conclusion is that Senegal, a country with an unusually long and noble tradition of democracy, is looking fragile. The President who is 86 years old is seeking an unprecedented third term; there are too many reports of election rigging, the media is often harrassed and drug trafficking, with attendant crime, is on the increase.
In the case of Senegal, a Francophone country, it was unusual to welcome a UK team – but for this very reason, important; we should be talking to Francophone countries and finding out their views on African development especially of the economy.
I realise from previous posts on foreign issues that these are not of major interest to most of those who comment on this blog – but I feel it is useful to point out what we do when on visits and why they do matter.
So no doubt, we end up paying for the reciprocal trip.
Lots of money to be saved here to pay of the trillions of debts
Nick
Yes, Nick, sod democracy – heres a drop in the ocean for the debt-relief.
Baroness D’Souza,
I am a foreigner and appreciate the unique role which Lords can play. As a foreigner obviously htere could be times when my interests and those of the UK might not be identical. However, I think that the Lords are more suited to dialog withother countries than most portions of a sitting legislature would be. I remember when I was in china a couple of American elected officials not in the Executive Branch came over on very brief trips and gave speeches clearly addressed to the folks back home and with no point at all except to offend their hosts as far as I could see. Among my handful of very diverse American friends in country I can assure you that few of us were delighted if any. I would bet your group left behind a bit of goodwill and made those Brits working there more effective and not less. If Lords cannot own to being a bit snobbish who really can? Does the world need more loud, angry and hurried folly so much that none dare rebuke it? I think it might be rather nice to get a visit from listening Lords and Ladies in Lords…
It’s not that they are democratic.
When I get a vote for them, they can be democratic.
In the meantime, its just a club for the boys to get rid of failed politicians like the speaker
And a very expensive club at that
Can’t wait to see what Dennis says to the new Black Rod!
Nick, I don’t intend to go into the ‘democratic’ outcome of an elected House of Lords YET! There will be plenty of time for that when the Labour Party manifesto comes out and more to the point I have written about it many times before. However,I take your point about the expense involved in reciprocal visits. What would be the alternative? Frank Summers believes there is value in making personal contact with parliamentarians all around the world, so do I. What perhaps we should have is greater transparency about what goes on during these visits; and what is the outcome. To take one small example, the UK Ambassador togehter with the Senegalese Government played a major and hugely constructive role in dealing with British hostages in Mauritania recently.Furthermore Senegal provided a refuelling stop for aircraft during the Falklands war – whatever you may think about that war, it was a pretty useful contribution.
Since Senegal is a Francophone country there is relatively little opportunity for dialogue with the UK and these visits do provide a forum which may not have an immediate pay off but is useful for UK interests in the longer term.
Finally on this, Senegal is in the midst of a very volatile region (the Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone amongst other countries)and is increasingly a conduit for hard drug trafficking from South America not to mention the people trafficking. All these affect UK interests and indeed formed a good part of our discussions when there. At the very least greater co-operation will ensue and it is difficult to convey how pleased the Senegalese were to welcome a UK presence.
Kyle Mulholland, who be Dennis?
Kyle means Dennis Skinner surely!
How do you deal with what seems an obvious conflict of interest when the host country pays the costs/entertains etc, you are supposed to write an accurate report based on whatever access, or non access, you are given to whatever you might wish to see. Do both governments have an interest in those selected to go not rocking the boat? I can’t imagine a local ambassador thanking members for a critical report that may make his/her job very difficult for months/years afterwards?
What would be the alternative?
=========================
1. Don’t make the trips.
2. Abolish the house of lords.
3. Cut down MPs by 50%
4. Require all bills and treaties to be approved by referenda. Yes/No vote once per year.
You might have mechanism for early introduction, subject to a no vote meaning it is canceled. If enough cancelations are acculated, it generates a general election.
You need a constitution which says balanced budget and no debt increases to control things.
Nick
Of course it is Dennis Skinner – my brain and its connections still on holiday I guess.
Actually,Croft, the UK Ambassador in Senegal was admirably explicit about the problems that Senegal might face and indeed himself offered to host the long meeting we had with the oppositon politicians in his house!
I have in fact just written a short and critical report (more in ‘sorrow than in anger’ style) but since it hasn’t yet been published in the Inter-parliamentary Review (which goes to ALL affiliated branches including the one in Senegal) I can’t reproduce it here. Will give the link once it is published.
Was there any comment on the habit of the EU to buy up fishing rights along the African coastline? This tends to put a few million euros into the hands of the leadership, but the result is often to denude the fishing grounds of fish and so destroy the livelihoods of local fishermen.