What's a manifesto worth?

Stuart Bower, a former police officer, and a former constituency secretary for Hove Labour Party has brought a court case against the Government for breach of contract with regards to the ditching of the referendum on the European Constitution Treaty.

It would be amazing if he won the court case, but very unlikely. It is fascinating though to hear that the defence for the Government stated "manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation". Blimey! I know that we are all sceptical about manifesto commitments but to hear such a statement from a representative of the Government shows how in little regard they hold the public.

A manifesto is a commitment to what a party would do if elected. As such, any mention in the published manifesto for an elected party is given an easy ride through Parliament. By convention, opposition parties do not vote down measures on which the public have directly had their say. Of course opposition is made to the proposals, but it will eventually end up on the statue book.

When the next election comes around, I hope that the opposition parties remember this betrayal and mention many times that a manifesto commitment from Labour is not worth the glossy paper it is written on. If we're unfortunate to have another 5 years of Labour (heaven help us), then I would not expect the opposition to give the Government such an easy time on manifesto commitments. After all "manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation".

Squiffy.