Private member's bill

Ruling party MPs are already severely restricted by Article 70 of the constitution which requires them to vote the party line on all matters. In addition to this, the parliamentary standing committees, which are another way for the non-ministerial members of parliament to get their voices heard, are more or less dysfunctional. Now the remaining power of the private members (non-ministers) from the ruling party has been removed.

The private members were elected by the people. They have a responsibility to their electorate and should be accorded the power to place bills as they see fit. The new restriction is a slap in the face of democracy.

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In the first place, it shows what little regard the government has for the institution of democracy. Even more tellingly, it shows the low regard in which the government holds its own party colleagues.

We have long been arguing for more democratic space for the opposition. This latest restriction shows that that this is a long way off. Far from opening up to the opposition, the government is taking steps to restrict even its own party members.

This latest restriction is not in the interests of the nation and may well prove counter-productive. It undermines parliament, it shows the undemocratic face of the government, and it surely will lead to cracks in party unity.

The time has come for the government to show us its best face. Restoring the right of ruling party private members to place their bills without restriction would be a wise retraction. As of now, the government looks as undemocratic as its detractors claim, and now some of the detraction is coming from inside the party. It is a telling indictment.