September 13th 2024.
As a newly elected MP, I had many expectations about my role, but nothing could have prepared me for the experience of actually sitting on those iconic green benches in the House of Commons.
One thing that I certainly didn't expect was the need for earplugs. The decibel level in the old, echoey chamber was shocking, with politicians shouting and heckling at the top of their lungs. In fact, during this week's debates on winter fuel allowance, the chamber was practically shaking with the noise.
It's no secret that Parliament has a culture problem. But despite this, I still chose to stand and represent the people of Bristol Central, as I was determined to bring about change. However, sitting on those green benches surrounded by politicians braying and booing at each other was a whole other level of chaos.
My message to Keir Starmer is this: if he truly wants to restore trust in politics and prioritize the needs of the country over the interests of his own party, then he must lead a cross-party effort to modernize our Parliamentary system for the 21st century.
Honestly, it's been disheartening to see how much time is wasted on the same old Punch and Judy theatrics instead of finding real solutions and building consensus. The erosion of public trust in politics is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
Like many others, I've seen the childish behavior of politicians on TV and cringed at it. But seeing it in person, in 3D, is a whole other experience. The Commons Chamber is much smaller than it appears on a screen, and the heated debates and constant bickering between the two main parties is a real eye-opener.
During the winter fuel debate, I couldn't help but notice the Conservatives suddenly pretending to care about the impact of austerity cuts on the poor and vulnerable, despite years of insisting there was no alternative. And now, in government, Labour is using the same old Conservative script of blaming the previous government for spending too much money. It's disappointing to see them both enjoy laying into each other while the rest of the population looks on in disbelief.
But it's not just how they treat each other that's the problem. The big parties often mistreat their own MPs too. During a big vote, Labour whips can be heard shouting at MPs to vote a certain way, rather than trusting them to vote according to their own conscience and the wishes of their constituents.
This lack of trust and toxic culture in Parliament has resulted in a staggering statistic: only 23% of people trust Parliament. It's clear that the system of governing Britain could be improved 'quite a lot' or 'a great deal' according to a whopping 79% of people.
As a newly elected MP, I have high hopes for the Modernisation Committee announced by the new Labour government. The previous committee, during the Blair government, made some positive changes such as Parliament sitting at more convenient times and using Westminster Hall for backbench debates. However, I fear that this new committee will simply be a rubber stamping exercise for the government's own proposals, rather than a genuine attempt to bring politicians from all parties together to improve our system.
The composition of the committee doesn't give me much hope either. Out of the 14 members, nine are Labour MPs, three are Conservatives, and two are Lib Dems - all hand-picked by their party leaders. This means that not a single MP from the Green Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru, or any other smaller parties or independents will be allowed to take part.
While I hope that the Committee will make some positive changes, I'm not holding my breath for any groundbreaking reforms, such as giving more time and opportunity for smaller parties or allowing all MPs to have a seat in the chamber.
It's likely to be business as usual, with the two main parties maintaining the cozy Westminster rules that allow them to take turns running the country and blaming each other for the mess they've both created.
Despite the toxic culture and challenges faced by smaller parties like the Greens, we are determined to use our presence in Parliament to shake things up and work towards a better world. We are here thanks to the nearly 2 million people who, despite the flaws in our political system, placed their hope in us.
So while it may not be easy being Green, we will continue to stick to our principles and push the government to be braver and bolder. And if they are willing to listen and work with us, then together, we can truly put the country over party and fix the broken culture in Parliament. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Feel free to get in touch by emailing Ross.email. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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