Parliamentary safeguards

Whilst we rubberneck the shenanigans in the mother of all parliaments (Westminster) as its elected representatives seek to wrestle control of a democratic process from a muddle spawned by a highly contentious and close-run referendum (Brexit), there is an obvious question to ask.

Could it happen here? Could we see under an MMP system the emergence of wannabe dictators to high office bent on holding sway when there is little in the way of a convincing majority to support their view? We have seen other democracies fall to mendacity in similar fashion.

When it comes to important referenda it would seem to me that a first-past-thepost system is somewhat simplistic and associated outcomes could lead to friction on the streets. It would be much better to enshrine in law something of at least a 70-30 split in favour of any changes before being allowed to bring them about.

Our parliament here is modelled on the mother’s image. What steps should we be taking to safeguard a democratic process at this, the uttermost end?

John D Mahony, Mt Pleasant