A State of Disrepair: Democracy in the United Kingdom

The author contends that the UK government is utilizing a 'Trump-style core vote strategy' to distract from pandemic failures and sustain the Leave coalition. This approach involves criminalizing protest, targeting minority groups such as Gypsy and Traveller communities, and undermining the rule of law and media independence. The text describes a breakdown of the 'good chap' model of governance, replaced by high-level cronyism and neoliberal failure. The author advocates for a positive alternative vision based on a just transition to a carbon-neutral society, proportional representation, and a move away from centralism.

• The UK government is employing a 'culture war' strategy to appeal to 'Leave' voters and the 'red wall' in northern England, shifting away from traditional rule of law and human rights constraints.
• New policing legislation in 2021 is identified as a tool to criminalize trespass and seize homes of Gypsy and Traveller communities, as well as to restrict the right to protest for movements like Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter.
• The government is accused of systemic cronyism during the pandemic, where politically connected companies received billions in contracts and public appointment panels were packed with allies.
• Democratic institutions are being undermined through the proposed introduction of voter identification—which may affect 3.5 million people lacking photo ID—and the planned gerrymandering of electoral boundaries in 2023.
• The UK's unwritten constitution, described as the 'good chap' model, is failing because it relies on the integrity of a political class dominated by wealthy, privately educated men.
• The author argues that the current neoliberal economic model has failed, as evidenced by the UK's poor biodiversity ranking (189th of 218 countries) and persistent regional inequality.
• The Green party proposes a transition to a carbon-neutral society, the implementation of a universal basic income, and the adoption of a proportional voting system for the House of Commons.

APA

Bennett, N. (2021). A State of Disrepair: Democracy in the United Kingdom. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-state-of-disrepair-democracy-in-the-united-kingdom/

Chicago

Bennett, Natalie. A State of Disrepair: Democracy in the United Kingdom. Green European Journal, 2021. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-state-of-disrepair-democracy-in-the-united-kingdom/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bennett |first1=Natalie |title=A State of Disrepair: Democracy in the United Kingdom |publisher=Green European Journal |date=26 May 2021 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-state-of-disrepair-democracy-in-the-united-kingdom/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bennett2021state, author = {Bennett, Natalie}, title = {{A State of Disrepair: Democracy in the United Kingdom}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-state-of-disrepair-democracy-in-the-united-kingdom/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }