Why more MPs is better
Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 10:51 PM | Permalink
This may seem an odd way to start the blog, writing about an ill-conceived bill pandering to an ill-informed public, but here goes.
I am a firm believer that political power resides in a country's citizens. I dislike those (and there are many) in the political elite who believe they know best. However, Barbara Stewart's bill to reduce the number of MPs from 120 to 100 would be a dis-service to Parliament and ultimately New Zealand despite the overwhelming majority who voted for the 1999 referendum.
I had to laugh this morning hearing Stewart tell Morning Report her bill would increase the productivity of Parliament - I cannot remember a single thing she had done since becoming an MP. But that does not prove that we have too many MPs, it proves that people should be more disconcerning when voting. It takes a lot of MPs to run cabinet, serve on select committees, crutinise bills, and manage a constituency. Ultimately, Parliament is a house of representatives, and 120 MPs bring a more diverse range of skills and opinions to the work outlined above.
An noted by Just Left there is a certain irony to an MP basically calling for her own ousting. Also, David Farrar has pointed to the mathematical impracticality of this bill.
However, the bill passed its first reading 61-60 last night allowing those with a grudge to vent at the select committee. This might actually be quite therapeutic, allowing the bill to die quietly and postpone the arguments for a further seven years.
I am a firm believer that political power resides in a country's citizens. I dislike those (and there are many) in the political elite who believe they know best. However, Barbara Stewart's bill to reduce the number of MPs from 120 to 100 would be a dis-service to Parliament and ultimately New Zealand despite the overwhelming majority who voted for the 1999 referendum.
I had to laugh this morning hearing Stewart tell Morning Report her bill would increase the productivity of Parliament - I cannot remember a single thing she had done since becoming an MP. But that does not prove that we have too many MPs, it proves that people should be more disconcerning when voting. It takes a lot of MPs to run cabinet, serve on select committees, crutinise bills, and manage a constituency. Ultimately, Parliament is a house of representatives, and 120 MPs bring a more diverse range of skills and opinions to the work outlined above.
An noted by Just Left there is a certain irony to an MP basically calling for her own ousting. Also, David Farrar has pointed to the mathematical impracticality of this bill.
However, the bill passed its first reading 61-60 last night allowing those with a grudge to vent at the select committee. This might actually be quite therapeutic, allowing the bill to die quietly and postpone the arguments for a further seven years.
