Myer's amendment would extend this law to every sitting MP as well as the members of the House of Lords, "we are all public figures and we all have a responsibility."
This amendment, should it pass through Parliament, it is currently in the report stage, has backing from over 30 MPs across a variety of parties across the left side of the political spectrum. There are MPs from the Greens, Labour, Plaid Cymru, Lib Dems, SNP, and Independents such as Jeremy Corbyn backing the amendment to the Bill.
It is interesting then, that there are no right-wing MPs backing this Bill. I wonder where Nigel Farage, who famously believes the left are constantly lying to the public, is? If it would incriminate the left for lying, why would Nigel not back it?
In an interview with ITV, Myer stated that, “trust in politics is so low across the Western world.” With politicians around the world creating division and distrust amongst the public, there is a need to revive the public’s faith in what politicians have to say. Could this Bill be the thing that does it?
It would be nice, I suppose, to listen to politicians as they travel the country trying to gain votes, and not question whether what they are saying is founded in any degree of truth or whether it is discourse purposely spewed in order to fuel the greatest amount of division and anger for politicians to feed off. The people have such a distrust for anything politicians say at the moment, can anyone be trusted to simply say the truth?
The people have such a distrust for anything politicians say at the moment, can anyone be trusted to simply say the truth?
Myer was clear in stating that this amendment is about “protection of freedom of speech,” ensuring that the public can feel as though their leaders and those they look up to in order to make their country a better place, are honest about the state of the world and how their constituency is affected.
Recent, and historical, political events from across the world but predominantly in the United States have shown how blatant lying to the public can destroy democratic systems of government. Carving them into something that more accurately resembles something more corrupt, something that feeds from division within society. Are we destined to descend into the same madness, blindly believing everything that any politician says to you without question?
People deserve to know and understand the entire, truthful, picture when it comes to voting and this Bill begins “restoring trust in politics,” and allows voters to feel well informed and satisfied in their vote when it comes to putting that cross in a box.
Purposefully misleading the public on important matters that impact their lives and the lives of people around the world is not acceptable, from any politician, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they fall. It is wrong, and they need to be held accountable for it, even through legal measures.