In this article from The Telegraph, Sir Michael Ellis claims that the British state is broken: there is a serious democratic deficiency between what the general public has been demanding for years and what elected governments have been capable of delivering – even if they have the nerve to try.
There are at least 10 radical reforms needed, involving total abolition or root-and-branch change:
Summary
1. Abolish the Supreme Court
The UK Supreme Court undermines parliamentary sovereignty and should be replaced by the traditional Law Lords.
2, Hire and fire judges
Return to politically diverse judicial appointments and the removal of activist judges.
3. Oust the ECHR and Human Rights Act
Withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights and repealing the Human Rights Act to regain control over immigration policy.
4. Withdraw from treaties
Leave international treaties like the Refugee Convention to restore national legal autonomy.
5. Overhaul judicial reviews
Reverse the expansion of judicial review and legislate to limit judges’ ability to override ministerial decisions.
6. Civil Service reform
Introduce political appointments to the Civil Service to ensure alignment with elected governments’ agendas.
7. Abolish operational independence for police
Challenge the convention of police autonomy, proposing more direct political oversight to enforce law and order.
8. Protect free speech
Scale back hate speech laws and abolish “non-crime hate incidents” to safeguard free expression.
9. Reform the House of Lords
Restructure the Lords to reduce obstruction of elected governments while preserving its revising role.
10. Put other democracies first
Advocates defunding the UN and forming a new alliance of democracies to promote global democratic values.