The International Vision - When in Government Series
A series of papers illustrating how UKpopdems will manage government for the benefit of Britain and the British people.
2. Implementing the Vision – we can govern for the pitfalls and problems of everyday life and deliver the promises we have made to Britain and the British people.
e). The International Vision – raising Britain’s international standing.
Summary
The United Kingdom is a very great nation which, through the talents of its peoples, has been at the forefront of progress throughout the world. Not everything that Britain has done in its history has been good, but what has been good has changed the whole world for the better. UKpopdems believes the United Kingdom still has so much to give that is of value. Our national strengths that include honour, order, democracy, compassion, freedom, ingenuity and energy are as globally valuable today as they always have been.
With UKpopdems’ international vision we are setting out to implement policies that reclaim Britain’s standing in the first rank of nations, with a unique offering to reach out in compassion and mediation for peace and a better world, both with our partners and alone.
This paper; ‘raising Britain’s international standing’, completes UKpopdems series of documents explaining how our policies can be implemented for the benefit of Britain, the British people and our neighbours across the globe. Six policy areas are covered as follows:
1. Environment – solutions to protect the Earth without damaging lifestyles
2. Immigration – accepting the fact of immigration, but reducing and controlling it
3. Defence and Foreign Policy – a safer, freer and more compassionate world
4. Britain – pride in Britain and our place in the world
5. Europe – an early referendum on EU membership and the result acted upon
6. Poverty and Aid – directly helping those suffering poverty, fear and natural disasters
1. Environment – solutions to protect the Earth without damaging lifestyles
It is said that, after world terrorism, global warming is the most serious threat to future civilisation and, by attachment, Britain’s future, too. Some claim the threat is greater than world terrorism. Most people are prepared to accept now that the earth is warming and yet uncertainties still exist about its real impact on everyday life, with estimates varying wildly. There are other immediate concerns that need to be addressed, such as guaranteeing energy sources and food in a world where developing nations increasingly and rightly demand their share of ‘civilised’ living. The effects of these problems will hit hardest those who are least able to cope with them and Britain must solve these anxieties at home as well as play a leading role to alleviate suffering, yet still protect the environment, on the world stage. The British people are environmentally aware and increasingly demanding ‘clean’ solutions that reduce CO2 emissions, but they have made it clear that their lifestyles and what they have strived to achieve for themselves and their families must be maintained and continue to improve. This is our task, to protect the Earth without damaging lifestyles.
Understanding and Reducing Environmental Impacts
There is much that can be done. One of the early things that we can do is make the true environmental and carbon cost of everyday living visible. That is, the actual carbon cost of manufacture, distribution and disposal. This way, people can make real choices because the facts they trust will be available to them. The work to make these costs visible has started in a small way and UKpopdems will support this effort and invest to complete it as rapidly and precisely as possible. We’ll also make Britain’s total man-made greenhouse emissions accurately and simply visible and make similar and comparable information available about other countries and what those countries are doing about it.
Once this work is properly underway, one option is to enable people to benefit from less damaging lifestyles by shifting taxes increasingly to high carbon cost items. This would create a framework where ordinary people benefit practically by choosing activities and purchases that protect the planet. This is one of the best ways to encourage behaviour. This could be done via carbon labelling and then charging per carbon unit. UKpopdems is committed to keeping overall taxes the same in real terms, so a move to carbon taxing could only be achieved through matching reductions in taxes elsewhere. Secondly, a change of this magnitude must have the support of the majority of the British people, so a referendum would be held before any such change could legitimately be implemented.
UKpopdems is a firm believer in utilising technological solutions to protect the environment. We’ll invest heavily in practical implementations for reduced energy usage, emissions and self-sufficiency. We’ll work with partners to rapidly develop and apply technologies for carbon neutral homes, hybrid transport, coal carbon capture, next generation nuclear and innovative renewable options. Energy self-sufficiency, or at least energy guarantee, must be a key defence initiative for any government, as must reducing the overall cost of energy to people and business. For these reasons, as well as increasing the viability of nuclear, clean coal and renewable options, we’ll address the protection of existing energy sources. UKpopdems is already promising to eliminate corporation tax, which means that no British company will pay taxes on profits; but we will take action to restrict profits on the British activities of utility companies. We’ll also examine the possibilities of ensuring that profits as well as dividends are kept or held in trust in the UK. The objective is to protect British resources, reduce costs to business and individuals and encourage the investment of profits and dividends to alternative and cleaner energy sources within Britain.
Another practical initiative government can take to reduce greenhouse gasses is to look into its own back yard. We’ll do this by setting an example and reduce overall air and private road travel targets for government and the public sector. We’ll extend these reducing targets to organisations that government can influence directly such as state subsidised companies, suppliers and other trading partners. As with all UKpopdems targets, these will be independently monitored so people can have faith in them.
Protecting against Global Warming
Whatever Britain does in reducing harmful emissions, it could well be that not enough is done world-wide to prevent global warming becoming a reality. We must do the practical research now to fully understand what the possible effects of Global Warming might be on Britain, both as a nation and locally. If global warming happens then the results will be both positive and negative and could affect almost everything in normal life, from food to flooding, disease to diversity. Britain must capitalise on the benefits and minimise the harm. By using this information and investing wisely, then whatever global warming brings to Britain in ten, twenty, thirty or more years from now, we will be prepared for it; and we will be in a good position to help our neighbours and others when and if they need it.
It is undoubtedly internationally where the greatest negative impact of global warming will be felt and we will play our part in attempting to minimise suffering. Ukpopdems will grow a global warming defence fund of one billion pounds a year to help those most affected who cannot help themselves, and we’ll work with our neighbours and partners to increase that by ten, twenty or thirty times so that when disaster strikes in the years ahead, the innocent and vulnerable can be helped properly.
Britain’s environment
We can be justly proud of the great environmental strides Britain has made in just the last 50 years. The rivers, towns, and the land itself are cleaner than ever. Ukpopdems promise to continue this progress and direct more investment to greening up Britain. Waste is a huge problem and Britons do want good solutions that reduce it. We’ll push for much more recycling but take a different path by finding ways to encourage rather than punish. This way, businesses, individuals and families will benefit from recycling and proper disposal of non recyclable waste. An example is packaging disposal, where retailers will increasingly take responsibility.
Other environmental measures are too numerous to identify here, but include initiatives such as reductions in live animal movements, reducing food miles, increasing fresh food usage in schools and hospitals, protecting green and wild spaces and enhancing the built environment.
2. Immigration – accepting the fact of immigration, but reducing and controlling it
Most people in Britain believe immigration is too high. Even many established immigrants themselves think this. It is certainly out of control because no-one in government has any precise idea of the true position. Historically, Britain is a nation entirely made up of immigrants, but whereas small scale immigration can be integrated into the British mix, today’s influx of millions over a short period is difficult to absorb and causes social and financial difficulties. Britain is a small, crowded land where every new person from overseas should show they add value to Britain’s interests. With a forecast population rise to 70million and the social infrastructure buckling, drastic action is needed. The people of Britain have made it quite clear that they expect government to reduce and control immigration and this is what UKpopdems will do.
Managing immigration
We’ll manage legal entrance into Britain in two ways; first, by increasing numbers of front-line immigration officers and second, by implementing UKpopdems ‘easy visa’ initiative, which is a simple registration process for foreign nationals. The entry process will involve producing appropriate supporting documentation and completing an ‘easy visa’ card similar to the American waiver system. Legal entry will be based on categories such as ‘WORK’, ‘STUDY’, ‘BUSINESS START-UP’ or ‘SHORT STAY VISIT’. Easy visa works by matching ‘easy visa’ categories to previously registered and approved employers, accommodation, colleges, funding sponsors and health providers. Checks at entry can then correlate ‘WORK’ with the appropriate registered employer, for example: ‘STUDY’ correlated to the matching registered and approved college: ‘BUSINESS START-UP’ with registered funds sponsorship and registered health insurers: and ‘SHORT STAY VISIT’ with registered accommodation etc.
Employing foreign nationals must not be seen as a cheap option and the registration and approval process of employers of foreign nationals, for example, includes an onus for provision of accommodation, pension, health and repatriation. For registered colleges it will be health, accommodation and repatriation. The process of registration and spot check inspections will not require hordes of additional bureaucrats but be the normal business of Community Officers as part of their local duties in the community. The previous community vision document showed how numbers of Community Officers will be increased by at least 250,000, so the registration/inspection role is well within their capability.
Legal and illegal immigrants already in Britain
At the same time, foreign nationals already in Britain will begin to be registered retrospectively in the same way as with ‘easy visa’. Organisations linked to employment, education, accommodation, funding and insurance etc., will register en-bloc initially, and these will be repeatedly checked, approved and re-approved locally by Community Officers and specialist inspectors to ensure the maintenance of high standards. UKpopdems ‘retro-register’ initiative will ensure that whatever the initial entry route, whether legal or illegal, every attempt will be made to legalise immigration under ‘easy visa’ rules. This is the fairest way and avoids the need for blanket amnesty and problems of complex legal processes. Those who cannot be successfully registered within a specified time limit will be termed illegal, detained and deported over the shortest reasonable time.
Finding and separating out illegal and legal immigrants is a huge task. There may be hundreds of thousands of ‘easy visa’ registerable immigrants in Britain, and millions of illegal immigrants – no-one knows. Illegal entrants may be both unemployed and unemployable, may be involved in crime of all kinds, drugs, slavery, prostitution, violence, trafficking etc. and will be hidden in the shadows of normal society. Finding, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants and caring for those who have been hurt by them must be treated as the very highest priority and will involve and affect everyone in Britain until the job is done. It means looking into every dark corner, stopping and identifying people at random, relying on information from local people, using undercover investigators and entering suspected premises. A difficult job that will be done while protecting the rights of millions of innocent Britons.
Asylum
Asylum should be sought in the first country of safety that is reached; but when those requiring asylum do reach these shores then we are honour bound, as a civilised nation, to consider their cases. Those searching for asylum have suffered, are under threat, and may have many physical and psychological problems. What Britain must do is to properly look after their possibly complex needs for health, welfare and education. The last thing that should happen is that these damaged and needy people should be left alone to their own devices in a potentially hostile and difficult first-world environment. UKpopdems feel this can be better achieved by providing places of safety and support, where specialised resources can give long term assistance immediately it is required. When conditions in the home country are normalised and danger no longer threatens, then refugees can return home safely. If return is impossible then Community Councils may decide, over time, to take responsibility for individuals or families by integrating them fully into local society, with appropriate support and ‘easy visa’ registration.
3. Defence and Foreign Policy – a safer, freer and more compassionate world
Our world is a dangerous and unstable place, and the dangers in the world are becoming more complex. The peril of massed armies setting out to destroy or take over our country have receded for now, but the threat of great harm by fanatical individuals and groups hiding in the crowds, has dramatically increased. Looking outward into the wider world, anyone with charity can only be dismayed at the heart-rending suffering of innocent men, women and children through the hand of evil in many guises and in many countries; suffering that the so-called enlightened world and its lofty idealism cannot, or is unwilling to, prevent. No nation today can claim its citizens are safe.
Remarkably, and inexplicably, as the world becomes more malevolent, so past governments have run down Britain’s defences. Almost in direct proportion, as the risk increases so Britain’s ability to protect itself and others against that risk diminishes. Surely, if a government has only one job to do, it is to protect its citizens and interests against the damaging actions of others. Not only has our country been weakened, but past misjudgement in defence policy has led to the dangers for Britain increasing.
Britain’s armed forces have never been so stretched, nor expected to carry out so wide a panoply of challenging duties. Yet they are badly armed, badly paid and badly treated. It’s no wonder that recruitment is falling and trained men and women leaving in increasing numbers. Britain should be able to act strongly in defence of these islands, our international interests and especially those suffering brutal treatment across the world; our armed forces should be able to operate in many roles and in several theatres without over-stretching resources. These goals are what UKpopdems aims to achieve in defence. More important than force, though it’s often necessary, is the need for Britain to reach out for peace in the Middle-East, Africa and wherever else we can make a difference, and strengthening diplomacy to listen, share and clarify effectively will be the basis of UKpopdems foreign policy.
Pay and conditions
Immediately, UKpopdems will begin to strengthen Britain’s defences in order to successfully undertake anti-terrorism, peace-keeping, re-construction and offensive operations world-wide. To do these jobs properly, without over-stretching armed forces personnel and equipment, we need to reverse the present declining trend and double front line resources, increase aircraft, ships, armour and weapons systems by 50%, and also keep our nuclear deterrent updated.
Men and women on active duty need to rest, recover and re-train. Equipment needs to be maintained, updated and replaced. With current commitments this just cannot happen, leading to lack of essential equipment, fatigue and low morale. UKpopdems will encourage recruitment by paying more, looking after our soldiers and their families better, and making sure front-line troops have the best training and equipment for the job. For too long, Britain has had a make do and mend policy, relying on superb training, discipline and commitment to cover failures in equipment and logistics. Front-line forces who willingly put themselves in danger deserve the very best Britain can give them.
Pay of the most junior ranks will increase by 30%; likewise for those who are most highly specialised and valued. Allowances, too, will double in combat zones. Support and accommodation for service families will improve radically. Knowing those at home are well looked after, whatever the circumstance, is a basic minimum requirement. The same goes for service men and women who are injured. They will receive the best care during recovery and after, as long as it s needed. No-one will be forced out of the services just because they have been injured. There is plenty of valuable work to be done. These are not cost-driven issues but a fair return for personal sacrifice.
Across the whole of the public sector, UKpopdems are planning to create up to a million new front-line jobs and pay for these by reducing, through natural staff turnover, an equal number of back-office bureaucrats, administrators and managers. For the armed forces an additional 200,000 front-line personnel will be needed to defend Britain and our interests abroad. Of these, 50,000 will be recruited specifically for the home defence of Britain itself, in immigration, special operations police and intelligence services.
Combating terrorism and other dangerous individuals and groups is a specialist job of identifying, targeting, neutralising and containing. Intelligence gathering is a key tool in the fight that requires highly specialised skills, equipment and a global reach. Many people are rightly nervous about over-strong intelligence departments and their possible negative impact on individual liberty. A joint Parliamentary and independent commission will regulate the service and censure operations if necessary. If the period of detention without charge needs to increase then we will ask the views of the people beforehand.
Equipment procurement
Equipment and weaponry has always been a key issue in defence, never more so than today. Britain’s forces need the best equipment, no doubt about it, but as a complement to the best trained and disciplined manpower. British troops are already accepted as the best trained and UKpopdems will ensure training programmes will not be watered down. But in equipment terms, Britain has suffered some woeful failures in poor performance, slow supply, massive cost and time overruns, badly developed requirements and sometimes just sheer incompetence of senior ranks and ministers. UKpopdems will turn all this round by going back to basics.
In order that they can do the job we expect of our armed forces and other defence personnel then they need the best arms and equipment available. Accept that, and it becomes obvious that equipment must be sourced from where the best already exists, whether at home or abroad. So in future, where there’s an ‘off-the-peg’ solution that fits the bill as it is, or with minimal modification, then as long as there are no restrictions on use and a part-manufacture and service partnership can be developed for the UK, we will make the procurement. Costs will not only be kept down but delivery speeded up. In addition, in order to speed up and improve requirements definition and selection, we will reduce the involvement of very senior ranks and increase the contribution of experienced front-line end-users.
Britain’s defence industry is strong and UKpopdems want it to stay that way and grow. The best route to achieving growth and profitability is for the industry to excel. There can be no complete separation of the industry from government but performance on both sides needs a step-changing boost. We’ll encourage the industry to look increasingly outwards to recommend the best off-the-peg solutions from global sources. Rather than strongly promoting their own in-house design and manufacture, industries will be expected to put forward the best product solutions even where they exist elsewhere. Rather than acquiesce to and even encourage constantly changing design requirements to increase profits, they’ll be expected to develop trusted partnerships to identify potential world-beating defence initiatives themselves that government can invest in. As summarised above, we’ll streamline procurement procedures to ensure actual front-line and experienced users are a key part of the selection process, firm up forward requirements and make sure that decision making is timely and commitments made are honoured. We must get procurement right so that equipment levels and quality rises whilst overall budgets remain manageable.
Resolving conflict for peace
Previous governments have let Britain’s role on the international stage decline, citing European supremacy or the UK’s reducing world influence. This is nonsense. Britain is one of the few countries that can and should play a full part globally. Our unique history gives us a potent and valuable view of world affairs and the ability to help solve many intractable issues. Britain’s interests need more protecting than ever, and suffering among many foreign peoples is on the increase. Ukpopdems will strengthen this country’s representation in every corner to protect joint interests, share learning, clarify Britain’s principles and intentions, and resolve issues where our expertise can be of value. If Britain can help preserve world peace through negotiation with anyone, anywhere, then we will do it.
There are at least two areas of conflict which demand early involvement, where solutions look difficult and current initiatives are failing; that is, Africa and the Middle-East. UKpopdems will push hard for Israeli/Palestinian resolution via the road-map already on the table. Our contribution may be to directly support moderate Palestinian initiatives and leadership, either in partnership or, if necessary, alone. In Africa there is so much need, such suffering, and the UN is not acting fast enough or strongly enough. Here, Britain will put forward a bold initiative to create a standing European/African rapid reaction force pre-approved by the UN to act in protection of the innocent under threat.
The implementation of this whole policy will result in a stronger Britain, better placed to protect ourselves and others overseas who need help. We will have a louder voice for peace that will carry across the globe and the commitment and ability to back our initiatives with action. Our influence for good will grow and the people of these islands, once again, will be proud to play a key role in creating a safer, freer and more compassionate world.
4. Britain – pride in Britain and our place in the world
For a small island nation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a long and fascinating history, full of famous events and characters many of which are known, admired and celebrated the world over. Yet this history is only sketchily taught in our schools so that children easily confuse events and most lose interest. This is done on some misguided principle that what Britain stood for then and what Britain stands for now should be down played in favour of the values of multiculturalism. This is wrong-headed and muddled thinking. We expect the millions who come to Britain’s shores to visit or stay to abide by our rules, to fit in with ideals of British community, to share national values and contribute. This is only possible if these values are widely known and regularly reinforced. UKpopdems believes people want to be proud of Britain and our place in the world and our job in government is to create the framework to make this happen.
Investing in Britain’s success
One way of promoting pride in Britain is to foster success. Success means not only that Britons feel good about themselves and their own country, but also that more opportunities exist for ordinary people to realise that rising to a challenge in Briton can lead to personal and team success. We’re not just talking about wealth and fame, but also the ability to use British successes to help and support the needs of others.
UKpopdems intend to put aside £10billion a year for investment in British success and we’ll work to have this matched or exceeded by investments from the private sector and personal foundations. Key investment targets are sport, engineering, science, medicine, arts and entertainment. The success we must look for is continental and global acknowledgement. Britons know what success is perfectly well because our nation is already a world leader in several fields. What UKpopdems is looking for is spectacular achievements in broader fields such as medical and scientific breakthroughs, sporting records, global arts awards, fabulous entertainment and astonishing engineering feats.
The new ‘vocation’ element in UKpopdems schools curriculum ensures children have opportunities to participate in many of these areas and that talents and skills can be identified and nurtured from an early age. Expect to see expansion of facilities, the involvement of renowned and already successful people for coaching, investment in specialist teaching and individual and group sponsorship. Individuals and teams demonstrating sustained success and achievement will be put forward for national honours and other recognition.
British nationality and citizenship
UKpopdems vision for Britain is a single nation with different but valuable cultural accents. That is, where individuals are readily identifiable as British in their beliefs and core culture but with individual overtones of their own. Britain’s cultural identity is changing and has always been on the move, but this happens very slowly and the vast majority of people want this slow progression to continue. We have to make sure then, that new citizens fit in well with things as they are and, in fact, we should have an expectation that new entrants want to become citizens because they like things in Britain as they are and not because they want to radically change them.
UKpopdems will make British nationality hard to achieve and, therefore, something to treasure and strive for. In order to prevent abuses and give a period of reflection to foreign nationals when nationality is eventually achieved then it will be a provisional entitlement for seven years conditional upon behaviour on either side. Likewise, when British nationals marry foreign nationals then British nationality will be an entitlement only after seven years of marriage. New permanent residency is seen as a possible precursor to citizenship and must be determined in future by Britain’s needs and by individual foreign nationals being able to fulfil those needs. We anticipate this will be based on a points system tried and tested already in several other countries.
Foreign nationals will need a lot of schooling and experiences as they move towards a tougher to achieve citizenship because the requirements will include language fluency; involvement in the community; working for integration; historical and geographic understanding; secular law and how this transcends religious law; the workings of Monarchy, government and the established church; demonstrating tolerant, compassionate and honourable behaviour; financial and personal management; freedom, rights and responsibilities. Many reading this may think such a tough regime more onerous than for existing Britons, but we think our nation should be strengthened by new entrants, not weakened. In any case, as can be seen in UKpopdems education policy, all children will increasingly be taught against the same British principles as part of the ‘civilisation’ element of the curriculum where Britain’s history, culture and beliefs will be extensively covered.
Visibility and Participation
In Britain’s social oriented, post national politics there is a certain embarrassment about flying our national flag, the Union Flag. However, what has developed in its place is the growing practice of flying flags of personal choice, whether these are the flags of England, Scotland or Wales, or of the EU, or local, regional flags, or even the flags of foreign nations. There’s nothing wrong with this except that these flags sometimes evoke statements of ‘independence’ from Britain and can, therefore, be divisive rather than inclusive. UKpopdems will actively encourage the flying of the Union Flag on public buildings and by everyone to emphasise single nationhood. Other flags can then be flown in conjunction with the Union Flag as demonstrations of cultural differences and empathies, but with overall British belonging.
With UKpopdems implementation of empowered, participative democracy ordinary people have power individually and in their communities and can use this power to make their voices heard on issues that concern them. There are many intractable social issues that should not be the prerogative of government to dictate and still other issues that have crept into society without anyone questioning their relevance and impact on real people. It is time the British people had their say on social norms and the results put into practice. UKpopdems will ask the people’s views on diverse subjects such as: political correctness; health and safety; equality and discrimination; the portrayal of sex and violence in the media; rights and responsibilities - and others as they arise naturally or as people decide.
5. Europe – an early referendum on EU membership and the result acted upon
The European Union plays a large and increasing role in British life; it determines many of Britain’s laws, business practices, international policies and social responsibilities. When Britons were asked to vote on joining other countries in a European Community it was on the basis of the then Common Market and expectation of business benefits. Now we are members of the European Union and the power of Brussels has grown to the extent that European law now stands above British law and we are on the very edge of major constitutional changes that could change Britain For ever. There are many in Britain and in Europe who sincerely believe that full union into a United States of Europe is on the cards. This has all happened without further reference to the British people and that’s wrong and totally undemocratic. It is just not clear today whether the British people want to leave the EU, stay in the EU but as a separate national entity, or move towards full union. UKpopdems will redress this situation in an early referendum.
The referendum
In all UKpopdem referendums, government’s role is to stay neutral rather than try and use its position to sway opinion, and to ensure this neutrality through independent monitoring. What is important is to make sure all facts and opinions are available to everyone who wants to see them, and to actively moderate between facts and opinions, separating them so voters are not overtly manipulated by erroneous information. The referendum question itself will be very simple and unequivocal and again, independently monitored – something like ‘should Britain stay in the European Union’? In this case, as in many UKpopdem referenda, there is a need for a supplementary question for those who affirm they want to stay in the EU. This is to determine whether voters want to stay in but maintain their national status, or stay in and move towards full union.
Referendum votes involving constitutional changes must have a majority of 66%, but as a vote to leave the EU would be a treaty change, then a simple majority would suffice. If this or a vote towards full union is the majority result, then these are signaling major changes in direction and government must do everything possible to maximize participation, short of forcing people to vote through legislation. In general elections, governments have been voted in on as little as 25% of the eligible vote, and it’s possible referendum decisions could also be made on low turnout. With UKpopdems implementation of empowered, participative democracy then the people could force government to hold another referendum if they feel the result is unclear, so valuable safeguards are built into the voting system.
Leaving the European Union
If the majority decision is for Britain to exit the EU then the key priority is to ensure Britain’s financial and trade position is, at the very least, protected for the long term. UKpopdems would want to ensure Britain and the British people were actually better off before the act of exiting. It may well be that final exit won’t take place until well into a second term because much legislation will need repealing, new trade agreements need to set up both within the EU and outside of it, especially where other important countries traded with Britain on the basis of our continuing EU membership.
It may well be that the EU offers to make major structural concessions to Britain in order to keep us in the Union and if these were significant then another referendum would have to be held to gauge any change in national opinion. It could be that business opportunities expand rapidly for Britain outside of the EU and that financial growth can be assured. As for social legislation, there is no reason why any EU statute made to protect individuals, or the environment, or consumers or anything else, need be repealed if it has value by itself.
In other words, a vote to leave the EU is simple to determine via the referendum but the actual fact of it may well be prolonged while the interests of all the people are protected.
Voting for full union
If the majority vote is for Britain to move towards full Union in Europe then our first move is to signal this intention clearly to Brussels and Britain’s union partners in the fast track group. We’ll need to apply to join the Euro as rapidly as possible and prepare for all the financial implications that go with it as the European central bank takes precedence.
We’ll throw Britain into the heart of Europe linking closely to France and Germany, and promote the EU position over national interest both at the UN and in international diplomacy. It’s impossible to say now how, if and when the nations of Europe may form into a single national identity, but this result means that people are ready for it.
Naturally, because constitutional changes will definitely be required during a process of full union, then further referenda will need to be held to confirm the British people fully agree. In these cases a 66% majority will be required.
Retaining Britain’s Nationality
This result means that Britain sees benefits in remaining within the EU but wants to retain its full nationhood. In other words the interpretation is that Britain’s interests come ahead of Europe’s. This is not the status quo because Britain’s relationship with the EU is constantly changing today. The first action UKpopdems would have to take is to prepare for another referendum, this time on the Lisbon treaty as this treaty alone reduces Britain’s national power within Europe.
Secondly, we’d ensure that no further EU legislation is enacted unless the British people themselves approve it in a public vote, after understanding the full impacts, possible costs and benefits to Britain and the British people. Thirdly, UKpopdems would begin the process of eliminating, or at least drastically reducing, some of the endemic problems and failures of EU management. These include reducing bureaucracy and costs and eliminating fraud and corruption. This will be a long and hard fight but these are the right things to fight for. The EU should be an efficient unit promoting competition and the interests of its people, but there is little evidence of this being a priority. We will begin to withhold contributions to EU running costs unless fraud and unacceptable accounting practices are immediately and seriously addressed.
6. Poverty and Aid – directly helping those suffering poverty, fear and natural disasters
Poverty is not just about money, it is about genuine fear that the basic necessities for life will not be available – food, water, safety, shelter, medicine, care. Without these necessities, no-one can lead a normal life and prosper. Britain, like all nations, should do its utmost to help relieve these deprivations and support the lives of real people and communities wherever there is suffering. It is the causes of poverty that are of most concern and the most difficult to address because they come from endemic corruption, greed and conflict. Britain has to address these problems too, if the innocent and suffering across the globe are ever to be free of their shackles.
Addressing natural disasters
If we can’t prevent natural disasters then at least we can react quickly to help and support those most affected and bring back normality as soon as possible. Britain already has a competent system of coordinated world-wide support for natural disasters which works through central and local NGO teams. UKpopdems aims to support this existing network and complement it
We support the setting up of a large, permanent, multi-agency, properly resourced and equipped rapid reaction force ready to go, so that aid and expertise can be delivered anywhere in the world where there are sudden natural disasters to alleviate. .Britain should be capable of doing this alone, if necessary, but we’ll work to make this force international with our partners and allies. We’re talking about the powerful pumps; rescue and reinstatement teams, clean water, shelter, emergency food and medical aid, and, just as important, long-term back-up and support that would be quickly in-place and on-site in the most inaccessible places to minimise personal suffering, and help communities get back to normal as soon as possible.
This force won’t be government led. UKpopdems wants to reduce bureaucracy, not increase it. What government should do is to make sure that specialist expertise, equipment and funding are available where and when it’s required under the direction of existing NGO coordination.
Direct aid
As explained above, we believe that the main causes of poverty and fear are corruption, greed and conflict. UKpopdems needs to combat these causes to create an environment for long-term stability as well as helping the innocent individuals and communities who are suffering.
UKpopdems first initiative is to increase direct aid; that is, aid directly to the people who really need it. This is already happening to a certain extend but we’ll make it the cornerstone of British aid. We want to see a dollar of aid money buying a dollar of short and long term support at the point it can be most useful. This approach will be of far greater value than paying a hundred dollars to corrupt government and watching it disappear in bribes, corruption, luxury goods for the elite and military arms.
Secondly, where we do pay aid to governments, we’ll begin to make it conditional on increasing percentages being passed directly to communities who need it most and where it can be used under the direction of recognized and approved local agencies. UKpopdems recognizes that we are not going to stop corruption, greed and violence for a long, long time. To do that we need to gain the support of the UN, other national blocs, and the individual countries providing most aid: that’s a very difficult job.
We can start by making it clear that British aid is compartmentalized into three separate and measurable parts: the first part for direct aid; the second for direct national and regional development, such as new energy sources; and the third for central government use. Our overall objective is to make sure that 80% of total aid goes to the people and projects where it can help most.
Africa
Africa is a continent of enormous potential and yet gigantic problems. Corruption, greed and tribal violence seem a normal way of life and the innocent are badly hurt. Life-threatening diseases are rife and yet many governments seem unwilling or even unconcerned about seriously treating them. Yet, there are African nations which are stable, democratic and provide good government.
Europe has the key historic responsibility for the Africa we see today and Europe must play a major role in addressing these problems. UKpopdems will work closely with the EU and individual European nations, and others, to specifically bring forward plans to address African initiatives. We’ve mentioned before the need for a pre-approved joint European/African rapid reaction peace-keeping force and this needs to have European backing. Too often, there have been unacceptable delays in protecting people from violence and loss. And too often, bureaucratic processes of the UN and corrupt self-interest in Africa and other nations have got in the way of offering direct help. The protection of real innocent men, women and children is far more important than central processes and diplomatic niceties. Everything that gets in the way of this objective must be short-circuited and this is what we’ll work for.
In terms of aid and development in Africa there is much to do and we’ll increase direct aid and direct national development by £7billion (world-wide) in today’s money to support long term life needs and projects providing opportunities for growth such as cheap assured energy, efficient agriculture and local employment.
UKpopdems feel these problems can be addressed and should be addresses as a matter of extreme priority. The reduction of poverty and fear in Africa, and elsewhere in the world where we can make a difference, is so important for world humanity, peace and growth that this will be a UKpopdems front-rank ministerial position.
2. Implementing the Vision – we can govern for the pitfalls and problems of everyday life and deliver the promises we have made to Britain and the British people.
e). The International Vision – raising Britain’s international standing.
Summary
The United Kingdom is a very great nation which, through the talents of its peoples, has been at the forefront of progress throughout the world. Not everything that Britain has done in its history has been good, but what has been good has changed the whole world for the better. UKpopdems believes the United Kingdom still has so much to give that is of value. Our national strengths that include honour, order, democracy, compassion, freedom, ingenuity and energy are as globally valuable today as they always have been.
With UKpopdems’ international vision we are setting out to implement policies that reclaim Britain’s standing in the first rank of nations, with a unique offering to reach out in compassion and mediation for peace and a better world, both with our partners and alone.
This paper; ‘raising Britain’s international standing’, completes UKpopdems series of documents explaining how our policies can be implemented for the benefit of Britain, the British people and our neighbours across the globe. Six policy areas are covered as follows:
1. Environment – solutions to protect the Earth without damaging lifestyles
2. Immigration – accepting the fact of immigration, but reducing and controlling it
3. Defence and Foreign Policy – a safer, freer and more compassionate world
4. Britain – pride in Britain and our place in the world
5. Europe – an early referendum on EU membership and the result acted upon
6. Poverty and Aid – directly helping those suffering poverty, fear and natural disasters
1. Environment – solutions to protect the Earth without damaging lifestyles
It is said that, after world terrorism, global warming is the most serious threat to future civilisation and, by attachment, Britain’s future, too. Some claim the threat is greater than world terrorism. Most people are prepared to accept now that the earth is warming and yet uncertainties still exist about its real impact on everyday life, with estimates varying wildly. There are other immediate concerns that need to be addressed, such as guaranteeing energy sources and food in a world where developing nations increasingly and rightly demand their share of ‘civilised’ living. The effects of these problems will hit hardest those who are least able to cope with them and Britain must solve these anxieties at home as well as play a leading role to alleviate suffering, yet still protect the environment, on the world stage. The British people are environmentally aware and increasingly demanding ‘clean’ solutions that reduce CO2 emissions, but they have made it clear that their lifestyles and what they have strived to achieve for themselves and their families must be maintained and continue to improve. This is our task, to protect the Earth without damaging lifestyles.
Understanding and Reducing Environmental Impacts
There is much that can be done. One of the early things that we can do is make the true environmental and carbon cost of everyday living visible. That is, the actual carbon cost of manufacture, distribution and disposal. This way, people can make real choices because the facts they trust will be available to them. The work to make these costs visible has started in a small way and UKpopdems will support this effort and invest to complete it as rapidly and precisely as possible. We’ll also make Britain’s total man-made greenhouse emissions accurately and simply visible and make similar and comparable information available about other countries and what those countries are doing about it.
Once this work is properly underway, one option is to enable people to benefit from less damaging lifestyles by shifting taxes increasingly to high carbon cost items. This would create a framework where ordinary people benefit practically by choosing activities and purchases that protect the planet. This is one of the best ways to encourage behaviour. This could be done via carbon labelling and then charging per carbon unit. UKpopdems is committed to keeping overall taxes the same in real terms, so a move to carbon taxing could only be achieved through matching reductions in taxes elsewhere. Secondly, a change of this magnitude must have the support of the majority of the British people, so a referendum would be held before any such change could legitimately be implemented.
UKpopdems is a firm believer in utilising technological solutions to protect the environment. We’ll invest heavily in practical implementations for reduced energy usage, emissions and self-sufficiency. We’ll work with partners to rapidly develop and apply technologies for carbon neutral homes, hybrid transport, coal carbon capture, next generation nuclear and innovative renewable options. Energy self-sufficiency, or at least energy guarantee, must be a key defence initiative for any government, as must reducing the overall cost of energy to people and business. For these reasons, as well as increasing the viability of nuclear, clean coal and renewable options, we’ll address the protection of existing energy sources. UKpopdems is already promising to eliminate corporation tax, which means that no British company will pay taxes on profits; but we will take action to restrict profits on the British activities of utility companies. We’ll also examine the possibilities of ensuring that profits as well as dividends are kept or held in trust in the UK. The objective is to protect British resources, reduce costs to business and individuals and encourage the investment of profits and dividends to alternative and cleaner energy sources within Britain.
Another practical initiative government can take to reduce greenhouse gasses is to look into its own back yard. We’ll do this by setting an example and reduce overall air and private road travel targets for government and the public sector. We’ll extend these reducing targets to organisations that government can influence directly such as state subsidised companies, suppliers and other trading partners. As with all UKpopdems targets, these will be independently monitored so people can have faith in them.
Protecting against Global Warming
Whatever Britain does in reducing harmful emissions, it could well be that not enough is done world-wide to prevent global warming becoming a reality. We must do the practical research now to fully understand what the possible effects of Global Warming might be on Britain, both as a nation and locally. If global warming happens then the results will be both positive and negative and could affect almost everything in normal life, from food to flooding, disease to diversity. Britain must capitalise on the benefits and minimise the harm. By using this information and investing wisely, then whatever global warming brings to Britain in ten, twenty, thirty or more years from now, we will be prepared for it; and we will be in a good position to help our neighbours and others when and if they need it.
It is undoubtedly internationally where the greatest negative impact of global warming will be felt and we will play our part in attempting to minimise suffering. Ukpopdems will grow a global warming defence fund of one billion pounds a year to help those most affected who cannot help themselves, and we’ll work with our neighbours and partners to increase that by ten, twenty or thirty times so that when disaster strikes in the years ahead, the innocent and vulnerable can be helped properly.
Britain’s environment
We can be justly proud of the great environmental strides Britain has made in just the last 50 years. The rivers, towns, and the land itself are cleaner than ever. Ukpopdems promise to continue this progress and direct more investment to greening up Britain. Waste is a huge problem and Britons do want good solutions that reduce it. We’ll push for much more recycling but take a different path by finding ways to encourage rather than punish. This way, businesses, individuals and families will benefit from recycling and proper disposal of non recyclable waste. An example is packaging disposal, where retailers will increasingly take responsibility.
Other environmental measures are too numerous to identify here, but include initiatives such as reductions in live animal movements, reducing food miles, increasing fresh food usage in schools and hospitals, protecting green and wild spaces and enhancing the built environment.
2. Immigration – accepting the fact of immigration, but reducing and controlling it
Most people in Britain believe immigration is too high. Even many established immigrants themselves think this. It is certainly out of control because no-one in government has any precise idea of the true position. Historically, Britain is a nation entirely made up of immigrants, but whereas small scale immigration can be integrated into the British mix, today’s influx of millions over a short period is difficult to absorb and causes social and financial difficulties. Britain is a small, crowded land where every new person from overseas should show they add value to Britain’s interests. With a forecast population rise to 70million and the social infrastructure buckling, drastic action is needed. The people of Britain have made it quite clear that they expect government to reduce and control immigration and this is what UKpopdems will do.
Managing immigration
We’ll manage legal entrance into Britain in two ways; first, by increasing numbers of front-line immigration officers and second, by implementing UKpopdems ‘easy visa’ initiative, which is a simple registration process for foreign nationals. The entry process will involve producing appropriate supporting documentation and completing an ‘easy visa’ card similar to the American waiver system. Legal entry will be based on categories such as ‘WORK’, ‘STUDY’, ‘BUSINESS START-UP’ or ‘SHORT STAY VISIT’. Easy visa works by matching ‘easy visa’ categories to previously registered and approved employers, accommodation, colleges, funding sponsors and health providers. Checks at entry can then correlate ‘WORK’ with the appropriate registered employer, for example: ‘STUDY’ correlated to the matching registered and approved college: ‘BUSINESS START-UP’ with registered funds sponsorship and registered health insurers: and ‘SHORT STAY VISIT’ with registered accommodation etc.
Employing foreign nationals must not be seen as a cheap option and the registration and approval process of employers of foreign nationals, for example, includes an onus for provision of accommodation, pension, health and repatriation. For registered colleges it will be health, accommodation and repatriation. The process of registration and spot check inspections will not require hordes of additional bureaucrats but be the normal business of Community Officers as part of their local duties in the community. The previous community vision document showed how numbers of Community Officers will be increased by at least 250,000, so the registration/inspection role is well within their capability.
Legal and illegal immigrants already in Britain
At the same time, foreign nationals already in Britain will begin to be registered retrospectively in the same way as with ‘easy visa’. Organisations linked to employment, education, accommodation, funding and insurance etc., will register en-bloc initially, and these will be repeatedly checked, approved and re-approved locally by Community Officers and specialist inspectors to ensure the maintenance of high standards. UKpopdems ‘retro-register’ initiative will ensure that whatever the initial entry route, whether legal or illegal, every attempt will be made to legalise immigration under ‘easy visa’ rules. This is the fairest way and avoids the need for blanket amnesty and problems of complex legal processes. Those who cannot be successfully registered within a specified time limit will be termed illegal, detained and deported over the shortest reasonable time.
Finding and separating out illegal and legal immigrants is a huge task. There may be hundreds of thousands of ‘easy visa’ registerable immigrants in Britain, and millions of illegal immigrants – no-one knows. Illegal entrants may be both unemployed and unemployable, may be involved in crime of all kinds, drugs, slavery, prostitution, violence, trafficking etc. and will be hidden in the shadows of normal society. Finding, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants and caring for those who have been hurt by them must be treated as the very highest priority and will involve and affect everyone in Britain until the job is done. It means looking into every dark corner, stopping and identifying people at random, relying on information from local people, using undercover investigators and entering suspected premises. A difficult job that will be done while protecting the rights of millions of innocent Britons.
Asylum
Asylum should be sought in the first country of safety that is reached; but when those requiring asylum do reach these shores then we are honour bound, as a civilised nation, to consider their cases. Those searching for asylum have suffered, are under threat, and may have many physical and psychological problems. What Britain must do is to properly look after their possibly complex needs for health, welfare and education. The last thing that should happen is that these damaged and needy people should be left alone to their own devices in a potentially hostile and difficult first-world environment. UKpopdems feel this can be better achieved by providing places of safety and support, where specialised resources can give long term assistance immediately it is required. When conditions in the home country are normalised and danger no longer threatens, then refugees can return home safely. If return is impossible then Community Councils may decide, over time, to take responsibility for individuals or families by integrating them fully into local society, with appropriate support and ‘easy visa’ registration.
3. Defence and Foreign Policy – a safer, freer and more compassionate world
Our world is a dangerous and unstable place, and the dangers in the world are becoming more complex. The peril of massed armies setting out to destroy or take over our country have receded for now, but the threat of great harm by fanatical individuals and groups hiding in the crowds, has dramatically increased. Looking outward into the wider world, anyone with charity can only be dismayed at the heart-rending suffering of innocent men, women and children through the hand of evil in many guises and in many countries; suffering that the so-called enlightened world and its lofty idealism cannot, or is unwilling to, prevent. No nation today can claim its citizens are safe.
Remarkably, and inexplicably, as the world becomes more malevolent, so past governments have run down Britain’s defences. Almost in direct proportion, as the risk increases so Britain’s ability to protect itself and others against that risk diminishes. Surely, if a government has only one job to do, it is to protect its citizens and interests against the damaging actions of others. Not only has our country been weakened, but past misjudgement in defence policy has led to the dangers for Britain increasing.
Britain’s armed forces have never been so stretched, nor expected to carry out so wide a panoply of challenging duties. Yet they are badly armed, badly paid and badly treated. It’s no wonder that recruitment is falling and trained men and women leaving in increasing numbers. Britain should be able to act strongly in defence of these islands, our international interests and especially those suffering brutal treatment across the world; our armed forces should be able to operate in many roles and in several theatres without over-stretching resources. These goals are what UKpopdems aims to achieve in defence. More important than force, though it’s often necessary, is the need for Britain to reach out for peace in the Middle-East, Africa and wherever else we can make a difference, and strengthening diplomacy to listen, share and clarify effectively will be the basis of UKpopdems foreign policy.
Pay and conditions
Immediately, UKpopdems will begin to strengthen Britain’s defences in order to successfully undertake anti-terrorism, peace-keeping, re-construction and offensive operations world-wide. To do these jobs properly, without over-stretching armed forces personnel and equipment, we need to reverse the present declining trend and double front line resources, increase aircraft, ships, armour and weapons systems by 50%, and also keep our nuclear deterrent updated.
Men and women on active duty need to rest, recover and re-train. Equipment needs to be maintained, updated and replaced. With current commitments this just cannot happen, leading to lack of essential equipment, fatigue and low morale. UKpopdems will encourage recruitment by paying more, looking after our soldiers and their families better, and making sure front-line troops have the best training and equipment for the job. For too long, Britain has had a make do and mend policy, relying on superb training, discipline and commitment to cover failures in equipment and logistics. Front-line forces who willingly put themselves in danger deserve the very best Britain can give them.
Pay of the most junior ranks will increase by 30%; likewise for those who are most highly specialised and valued. Allowances, too, will double in combat zones. Support and accommodation for service families will improve radically. Knowing those at home are well looked after, whatever the circumstance, is a basic minimum requirement. The same goes for service men and women who are injured. They will receive the best care during recovery and after, as long as it s needed. No-one will be forced out of the services just because they have been injured. There is plenty of valuable work to be done. These are not cost-driven issues but a fair return for personal sacrifice.
Across the whole of the public sector, UKpopdems are planning to create up to a million new front-line jobs and pay for these by reducing, through natural staff turnover, an equal number of back-office bureaucrats, administrators and managers. For the armed forces an additional 200,000 front-line personnel will be needed to defend Britain and our interests abroad. Of these, 50,000 will be recruited specifically for the home defence of Britain itself, in immigration, special operations police and intelligence services.
Combating terrorism and other dangerous individuals and groups is a specialist job of identifying, targeting, neutralising and containing. Intelligence gathering is a key tool in the fight that requires highly specialised skills, equipment and a global reach. Many people are rightly nervous about over-strong intelligence departments and their possible negative impact on individual liberty. A joint Parliamentary and independent commission will regulate the service and censure operations if necessary. If the period of detention without charge needs to increase then we will ask the views of the people beforehand.
Equipment procurement
Equipment and weaponry has always been a key issue in defence, never more so than today. Britain’s forces need the best equipment, no doubt about it, but as a complement to the best trained and disciplined manpower. British troops are already accepted as the best trained and UKpopdems will ensure training programmes will not be watered down. But in equipment terms, Britain has suffered some woeful failures in poor performance, slow supply, massive cost and time overruns, badly developed requirements and sometimes just sheer incompetence of senior ranks and ministers. UKpopdems will turn all this round by going back to basics.
In order that they can do the job we expect of our armed forces and other defence personnel then they need the best arms and equipment available. Accept that, and it becomes obvious that equipment must be sourced from where the best already exists, whether at home or abroad. So in future, where there’s an ‘off-the-peg’ solution that fits the bill as it is, or with minimal modification, then as long as there are no restrictions on use and a part-manufacture and service partnership can be developed for the UK, we will make the procurement. Costs will not only be kept down but delivery speeded up. In addition, in order to speed up and improve requirements definition and selection, we will reduce the involvement of very senior ranks and increase the contribution of experienced front-line end-users.
Britain’s defence industry is strong and UKpopdems want it to stay that way and grow. The best route to achieving growth and profitability is for the industry to excel. There can be no complete separation of the industry from government but performance on both sides needs a step-changing boost. We’ll encourage the industry to look increasingly outwards to recommend the best off-the-peg solutions from global sources. Rather than strongly promoting their own in-house design and manufacture, industries will be expected to put forward the best product solutions even where they exist elsewhere. Rather than acquiesce to and even encourage constantly changing design requirements to increase profits, they’ll be expected to develop trusted partnerships to identify potential world-beating defence initiatives themselves that government can invest in. As summarised above, we’ll streamline procurement procedures to ensure actual front-line and experienced users are a key part of the selection process, firm up forward requirements and make sure that decision making is timely and commitments made are honoured. We must get procurement right so that equipment levels and quality rises whilst overall budgets remain manageable.
Resolving conflict for peace
Previous governments have let Britain’s role on the international stage decline, citing European supremacy or the UK’s reducing world influence. This is nonsense. Britain is one of the few countries that can and should play a full part globally. Our unique history gives us a potent and valuable view of world affairs and the ability to help solve many intractable issues. Britain’s interests need more protecting than ever, and suffering among many foreign peoples is on the increase. Ukpopdems will strengthen this country’s representation in every corner to protect joint interests, share learning, clarify Britain’s principles and intentions, and resolve issues where our expertise can be of value. If Britain can help preserve world peace through negotiation with anyone, anywhere, then we will do it.
There are at least two areas of conflict which demand early involvement, where solutions look difficult and current initiatives are failing; that is, Africa and the Middle-East. UKpopdems will push hard for Israeli/Palestinian resolution via the road-map already on the table. Our contribution may be to directly support moderate Palestinian initiatives and leadership, either in partnership or, if necessary, alone. In Africa there is so much need, such suffering, and the UN is not acting fast enough or strongly enough. Here, Britain will put forward a bold initiative to create a standing European/African rapid reaction force pre-approved by the UN to act in protection of the innocent under threat.
The implementation of this whole policy will result in a stronger Britain, better placed to protect ourselves and others overseas who need help. We will have a louder voice for peace that will carry across the globe and the commitment and ability to back our initiatives with action. Our influence for good will grow and the people of these islands, once again, will be proud to play a key role in creating a safer, freer and more compassionate world.
4. Britain – pride in Britain and our place in the world
For a small island nation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a long and fascinating history, full of famous events and characters many of which are known, admired and celebrated the world over. Yet this history is only sketchily taught in our schools so that children easily confuse events and most lose interest. This is done on some misguided principle that what Britain stood for then and what Britain stands for now should be down played in favour of the values of multiculturalism. This is wrong-headed and muddled thinking. We expect the millions who come to Britain’s shores to visit or stay to abide by our rules, to fit in with ideals of British community, to share national values and contribute. This is only possible if these values are widely known and regularly reinforced. UKpopdems believes people want to be proud of Britain and our place in the world and our job in government is to create the framework to make this happen.
Investing in Britain’s success
One way of promoting pride in Britain is to foster success. Success means not only that Britons feel good about themselves and their own country, but also that more opportunities exist for ordinary people to realise that rising to a challenge in Briton can lead to personal and team success. We’re not just talking about wealth and fame, but also the ability to use British successes to help and support the needs of others.
UKpopdems intend to put aside £10billion a year for investment in British success and we’ll work to have this matched or exceeded by investments from the private sector and personal foundations. Key investment targets are sport, engineering, science, medicine, arts and entertainment. The success we must look for is continental and global acknowledgement. Britons know what success is perfectly well because our nation is already a world leader in several fields. What UKpopdems is looking for is spectacular achievements in broader fields such as medical and scientific breakthroughs, sporting records, global arts awards, fabulous entertainment and astonishing engineering feats.
The new ‘vocation’ element in UKpopdems schools curriculum ensures children have opportunities to participate in many of these areas and that talents and skills can be identified and nurtured from an early age. Expect to see expansion of facilities, the involvement of renowned and already successful people for coaching, investment in specialist teaching and individual and group sponsorship. Individuals and teams demonstrating sustained success and achievement will be put forward for national honours and other recognition.
British nationality and citizenship
UKpopdems vision for Britain is a single nation with different but valuable cultural accents. That is, where individuals are readily identifiable as British in their beliefs and core culture but with individual overtones of their own. Britain’s cultural identity is changing and has always been on the move, but this happens very slowly and the vast majority of people want this slow progression to continue. We have to make sure then, that new citizens fit in well with things as they are and, in fact, we should have an expectation that new entrants want to become citizens because they like things in Britain as they are and not because they want to radically change them.
UKpopdems will make British nationality hard to achieve and, therefore, something to treasure and strive for. In order to prevent abuses and give a period of reflection to foreign nationals when nationality is eventually achieved then it will be a provisional entitlement for seven years conditional upon behaviour on either side. Likewise, when British nationals marry foreign nationals then British nationality will be an entitlement only after seven years of marriage. New permanent residency is seen as a possible precursor to citizenship and must be determined in future by Britain’s needs and by individual foreign nationals being able to fulfil those needs. We anticipate this will be based on a points system tried and tested already in several other countries.
Foreign nationals will need a lot of schooling and experiences as they move towards a tougher to achieve citizenship because the requirements will include language fluency; involvement in the community; working for integration; historical and geographic understanding; secular law and how this transcends religious law; the workings of Monarchy, government and the established church; demonstrating tolerant, compassionate and honourable behaviour; financial and personal management; freedom, rights and responsibilities. Many reading this may think such a tough regime more onerous than for existing Britons, but we think our nation should be strengthened by new entrants, not weakened. In any case, as can be seen in UKpopdems education policy, all children will increasingly be taught against the same British principles as part of the ‘civilisation’ element of the curriculum where Britain’s history, culture and beliefs will be extensively covered.
Visibility and Participation
In Britain’s social oriented, post national politics there is a certain embarrassment about flying our national flag, the Union Flag. However, what has developed in its place is the growing practice of flying flags of personal choice, whether these are the flags of England, Scotland or Wales, or of the EU, or local, regional flags, or even the flags of foreign nations. There’s nothing wrong with this except that these flags sometimes evoke statements of ‘independence’ from Britain and can, therefore, be divisive rather than inclusive. UKpopdems will actively encourage the flying of the Union Flag on public buildings and by everyone to emphasise single nationhood. Other flags can then be flown in conjunction with the Union Flag as demonstrations of cultural differences and empathies, but with overall British belonging.
With UKpopdems implementation of empowered, participative democracy ordinary people have power individually and in their communities and can use this power to make their voices heard on issues that concern them. There are many intractable social issues that should not be the prerogative of government to dictate and still other issues that have crept into society without anyone questioning their relevance and impact on real people. It is time the British people had their say on social norms and the results put into practice. UKpopdems will ask the people’s views on diverse subjects such as: political correctness; health and safety; equality and discrimination; the portrayal of sex and violence in the media; rights and responsibilities - and others as they arise naturally or as people decide.
5. Europe – an early referendum on EU membership and the result acted upon
The European Union plays a large and increasing role in British life; it determines many of Britain’s laws, business practices, international policies and social responsibilities. When Britons were asked to vote on joining other countries in a European Community it was on the basis of the then Common Market and expectation of business benefits. Now we are members of the European Union and the power of Brussels has grown to the extent that European law now stands above British law and we are on the very edge of major constitutional changes that could change Britain For ever. There are many in Britain and in Europe who sincerely believe that full union into a United States of Europe is on the cards. This has all happened without further reference to the British people and that’s wrong and totally undemocratic. It is just not clear today whether the British people want to leave the EU, stay in the EU but as a separate national entity, or move towards full union. UKpopdems will redress this situation in an early referendum.
The referendum
In all UKpopdem referendums, government’s role is to stay neutral rather than try and use its position to sway opinion, and to ensure this neutrality through independent monitoring. What is important is to make sure all facts and opinions are available to everyone who wants to see them, and to actively moderate between facts and opinions, separating them so voters are not overtly manipulated by erroneous information. The referendum question itself will be very simple and unequivocal and again, independently monitored – something like ‘should Britain stay in the European Union’? In this case, as in many UKpopdem referenda, there is a need for a supplementary question for those who affirm they want to stay in the EU. This is to determine whether voters want to stay in but maintain their national status, or stay in and move towards full union.
Referendum votes involving constitutional changes must have a majority of 66%, but as a vote to leave the EU would be a treaty change, then a simple majority would suffice. If this or a vote towards full union is the majority result, then these are signaling major changes in direction and government must do everything possible to maximize participation, short of forcing people to vote through legislation. In general elections, governments have been voted in on as little as 25% of the eligible vote, and it’s possible referendum decisions could also be made on low turnout. With UKpopdems implementation of empowered, participative democracy then the people could force government to hold another referendum if they feel the result is unclear, so valuable safeguards are built into the voting system.
Leaving the European Union
If the majority decision is for Britain to exit the EU then the key priority is to ensure Britain’s financial and trade position is, at the very least, protected for the long term. UKpopdems would want to ensure Britain and the British people were actually better off before the act of exiting. It may well be that final exit won’t take place until well into a second term because much legislation will need repealing, new trade agreements need to set up both within the EU and outside of it, especially where other important countries traded with Britain on the basis of our continuing EU membership.
It may well be that the EU offers to make major structural concessions to Britain in order to keep us in the Union and if these were significant then another referendum would have to be held to gauge any change in national opinion. It could be that business opportunities expand rapidly for Britain outside of the EU and that financial growth can be assured. As for social legislation, there is no reason why any EU statute made to protect individuals, or the environment, or consumers or anything else, need be repealed if it has value by itself.
In other words, a vote to leave the EU is simple to determine via the referendum but the actual fact of it may well be prolonged while the interests of all the people are protected.
Voting for full union
If the majority vote is for Britain to move towards full Union in Europe then our first move is to signal this intention clearly to Brussels and Britain’s union partners in the fast track group. We’ll need to apply to join the Euro as rapidly as possible and prepare for all the financial implications that go with it as the European central bank takes precedence.
We’ll throw Britain into the heart of Europe linking closely to France and Germany, and promote the EU position over national interest both at the UN and in international diplomacy. It’s impossible to say now how, if and when the nations of Europe may form into a single national identity, but this result means that people are ready for it.
Naturally, because constitutional changes will definitely be required during a process of full union, then further referenda will need to be held to confirm the British people fully agree. In these cases a 66% majority will be required.
Retaining Britain’s Nationality
This result means that Britain sees benefits in remaining within the EU but wants to retain its full nationhood. In other words the interpretation is that Britain’s interests come ahead of Europe’s. This is not the status quo because Britain’s relationship with the EU is constantly changing today. The first action UKpopdems would have to take is to prepare for another referendum, this time on the Lisbon treaty as this treaty alone reduces Britain’s national power within Europe.
Secondly, we’d ensure that no further EU legislation is enacted unless the British people themselves approve it in a public vote, after understanding the full impacts, possible costs and benefits to Britain and the British people. Thirdly, UKpopdems would begin the process of eliminating, or at least drastically reducing, some of the endemic problems and failures of EU management. These include reducing bureaucracy and costs and eliminating fraud and corruption. This will be a long and hard fight but these are the right things to fight for. The EU should be an efficient unit promoting competition and the interests of its people, but there is little evidence of this being a priority. We will begin to withhold contributions to EU running costs unless fraud and unacceptable accounting practices are immediately and seriously addressed.
6. Poverty and Aid – directly helping those suffering poverty, fear and natural disasters
Poverty is not just about money, it is about genuine fear that the basic necessities for life will not be available – food, water, safety, shelter, medicine, care. Without these necessities, no-one can lead a normal life and prosper. Britain, like all nations, should do its utmost to help relieve these deprivations and support the lives of real people and communities wherever there is suffering. It is the causes of poverty that are of most concern and the most difficult to address because they come from endemic corruption, greed and conflict. Britain has to address these problems too, if the innocent and suffering across the globe are ever to be free of their shackles.
Addressing natural disasters
If we can’t prevent natural disasters then at least we can react quickly to help and support those most affected and bring back normality as soon as possible. Britain already has a competent system of coordinated world-wide support for natural disasters which works through central and local NGO teams. UKpopdems aims to support this existing network and complement it
We support the setting up of a large, permanent, multi-agency, properly resourced and equipped rapid reaction force ready to go, so that aid and expertise can be delivered anywhere in the world where there are sudden natural disasters to alleviate. .Britain should be capable of doing this alone, if necessary, but we’ll work to make this force international with our partners and allies. We’re talking about the powerful pumps; rescue and reinstatement teams, clean water, shelter, emergency food and medical aid, and, just as important, long-term back-up and support that would be quickly in-place and on-site in the most inaccessible places to minimise personal suffering, and help communities get back to normal as soon as possible.
This force won’t be government led. UKpopdems wants to reduce bureaucracy, not increase it. What government should do is to make sure that specialist expertise, equipment and funding are available where and when it’s required under the direction of existing NGO coordination.
Direct aid
As explained above, we believe that the main causes of poverty and fear are corruption, greed and conflict. UKpopdems needs to combat these causes to create an environment for long-term stability as well as helping the innocent individuals and communities who are suffering.
UKpopdems first initiative is to increase direct aid; that is, aid directly to the people who really need it. This is already happening to a certain extend but we’ll make it the cornerstone of British aid. We want to see a dollar of aid money buying a dollar of short and long term support at the point it can be most useful. This approach will be of far greater value than paying a hundred dollars to corrupt government and watching it disappear in bribes, corruption, luxury goods for the elite and military arms.
Secondly, where we do pay aid to governments, we’ll begin to make it conditional on increasing percentages being passed directly to communities who need it most and where it can be used under the direction of recognized and approved local agencies. UKpopdems recognizes that we are not going to stop corruption, greed and violence for a long, long time. To do that we need to gain the support of the UN, other national blocs, and the individual countries providing most aid: that’s a very difficult job.
We can start by making it clear that British aid is compartmentalized into three separate and measurable parts: the first part for direct aid; the second for direct national and regional development, such as new energy sources; and the third for central government use. Our overall objective is to make sure that 80% of total aid goes to the people and projects where it can help most.
Africa
Africa is a continent of enormous potential and yet gigantic problems. Corruption, greed and tribal violence seem a normal way of life and the innocent are badly hurt. Life-threatening diseases are rife and yet many governments seem unwilling or even unconcerned about seriously treating them. Yet, there are African nations which are stable, democratic and provide good government.
Europe has the key historic responsibility for the Africa we see today and Europe must play a major role in addressing these problems. UKpopdems will work closely with the EU and individual European nations, and others, to specifically bring forward plans to address African initiatives. We’ve mentioned before the need for a pre-approved joint European/African rapid reaction peace-keeping force and this needs to have European backing. Too often, there have been unacceptable delays in protecting people from violence and loss. And too often, bureaucratic processes of the UN and corrupt self-interest in Africa and other nations have got in the way of offering direct help. The protection of real innocent men, women and children is far more important than central processes and diplomatic niceties. Everything that gets in the way of this objective must be short-circuited and this is what we’ll work for.
In terms of aid and development in Africa there is much to do and we’ll increase direct aid and direct national development by £7billion (world-wide) in today’s money to support long term life needs and projects providing opportunities for growth such as cheap assured energy, efficient agriculture and local employment.
UKpopdems feel these problems can be addressed and should be addresses as a matter of extreme priority. The reduction of poverty and fear in Africa, and elsewhere in the world where we can make a difference, is so important for world humanity, peace and growth that this will be a UKpopdems front-rank ministerial position.
posted by United Kingdom Popular Democratic Party at 1:13 pm
