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An Election without controversies? Are we mad?

Rhion Jones has been following the Air Quality court case

Am I the only one struggling to understand the thinking behind avoiding controversies at the time of elections?

In last week’s High Court battle between Client Earth and the Environment Secretary, the Government’s QC tried to explain why it should not release details of its plans to tackle Air Pollution until after the June General Election. His words were “If you publish a draft plan, it drops all the issues of controversy into the election …like dropping a controversial bomb.”  Adding that this could breach the rules of civil service neutrality and ‘could lead to the policy being labelled a Tory plan’. I am tempted to regard these as just about the most absurd argument ever to have come from the mouth of a respected Queen’s Counsel.

If an Election is not about facing up to controversies, what is it? The somewhat artificial convention of purdah is really about avoiding giving one side or another an advantage by garnering more prominence to its promises. So, a brand new Government policy would not, under normal circumstances be unveiled during the pre-election period. However, let’s face reality by acknowledging that the Government party, through its Manifesto will make all kind of promises – controversial or not during this period. So will the Opposition and So will every other party. To use the language of the hapless QC, here are ‘bombs’ dropping all over the place.Conference brochure

And so they should. If the public cannot debate difficult issues and make up its mind as to whom to vote as a result – when can it do so? Admittedly, the Air Pollution issue is an embarrassing story for Ministers, but let’s remember that this is a case where the High Court has ruled the administration to be in breach of EU law (still applies!) and the relevant UK regulations. The High Court had already, last November, ordered the Government to publish its plans. This week’s case was yet another attempt to avoid publication.

For all we know, there may be – somewhere – some good logical reasons for keeping the policy under wraps – mass depression for owners of diesel cars maybe. But as one who fervently believes in the power of engagement, consultation and debate, the one reason I believe one cannot rely upon is that the matter is controversial.

John Betjeman once wrote “Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough”. Let’s make that everywhere. The bombs of controversy are needed to ensure we have a proper policy dialogue in the coming weeks.

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