So they won. Big deal?

Despite the best efforts of many of us, the result of yesterday’s referendum on electoral reform was a sadly predictable “No”. One way we could respond to that would be to mourn the death of democracy, to stare glumly into our whisky, and become so disillusioned and disenfranchised that we give up. Our prediction that this was our only chance for a generation becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Why let that happen?

So we were beaten this time. We’re tired. Some of us are in physical pain. We feel let down, yet again, by lying, cheating politicians. We feel abused by people who purely want to protect their own interests rather than the people they serve. But this was a battle, not the war.

At the end of the last century something very interesting happened. The Labour government made constitutional changes and devolved regional government became a reality. Scotland did particularly well, regaining a full parliament as well as proportional representation. Nobody is going to take that power away again. Consequently, Scotland now has more autonomy than any other part of the United Kingdom.

And guess what? The SNP have just done very well in the Scottish elections. Suddenly, Scottish independence looks more like it could become a reality. From devolution to dissolution of the union in just over a decade. Now of course, nobody really expects that to happen quickly. But arguably the mandate is there, at least to hold a referendum. Change can happen quickly when the climate is right.

And the current climate is hostile. Maybe the average person doesn’t yet realise just how hostile. Maybe the cuts, sorry, savings haven’t bitten hard enough yet. Perhaps for too many people it isn’t yet personal. Holding the referendum only a year in was a savvy move by the Tories. Closer to the general election, deeper into austerity, the thought of unseating the government would be a stronger driving force. To people busy with their daily lives, 2015 must seem a long way away. It isn’t really, but it is long enough to mobilise if we want to fight back.

Yesterday was the only referendum we have had in my lifetime. But it wasn’t the only election. The next general election will, just like the last one, be run under First Past the Post. If we are serious about reform, we can use that to our advantage. Let’s make the next election about our agenda. To become an MP you don’t even need a majority! All you have to do is convince enough people to actually turn up and vote for you. On a typical low turnout that needn’t be a large number. Imagine if even a dozen of us managed to win seats. We would generate enough attention to put reform back on the cards.

I’m up for it, but I can’t do this on my own. Who’s in?

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