Critical Analysis of Metro's Darren Hughes Report on Parliament

This report provides a critical analysis of Darren Hughes' report published in the Metro newspaper, which discusses the issues within the UK's political system, particularly in relation to Brexit. The analysis examines Hughes' arguments, focusing on the outdated nature of the political system, the role of the House of Lords, and the impact of these factors on the Brexit process. The report also explores the arguments for and against Hughes' views, considering alternative perspectives and the potential for reform. The student also provides a solution to the issue, including the need for changes in the system and the need for citizen-based assemblies. The report concludes that the political culture needs to be addressed before any further steps can be taken.

Project 1 – Critical Analysis

Table of Contents
TITLE – A critical analysis of the Metro Newspaper's publication of Darren Hughes Report “Our
outdated political system is to blame for what’s happening in Parliament”....................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CRITICAL ANALYSIS.........................................................................................................3
Argument......................................................................................................................4
Solution.........................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

TITLE – A critical analysis of the Metro Newspaper's publication of Darren
Hughes Report “Our outdated political system is to blame for what’s
happening in Parliament”.
Dated : 5 Sep 2019
INTRODUCTION
Under this report, I will be critically analysing the Metro Newspaper's publication of
Darren Hughes Report, where he mentioned about “Our outdated political system is to blame for
what’s happening in Parliament”. Including this, I will also mention some of the pros and cons
of what Darren Hughes has referenced. This essay is going to show the critical analysis on the
opinion which was given by Darren Hughes on metro newspaper in relation to Britain's political
system. This is where he has blamed that whatever is happening in parliament like delays on
Brexit deal and more is because of the outdated political system (Sivarajah and et. al., 2017).
Along with this, essay will also put light on different arguments like if the system is fir for the
purpose or not and lastly, a solution will be made based on the critical analysis.
MAIN BODY
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
On Sep 5th, 2019, Darren Hughes who is the Chief Executive of Electoral Reform Society
has blamed Britain's political system that it is old enough to bring change in social or political
context. Basically, what he mentioned was that the political system that Britain has followed
over the years is not fit for purpose like eviction of United Kingdom from European Union (EU)
(Our outdated political system is to blame for what’s happening in Parliament, 2019).
Along with this, the issue that was raised by Darren Hughes is that United Kingdom is
not having a single written constitution, whereas other democracies do work based on regulations
and the rules that are enclosed within the codified) constitution. Another issue that was raised by
him was that Article 50 was undertaken by Boris Johnson (Current Prime Minister of United
Kingdom), where he planned to make no-deal Brexit (Reckless' Boris Johnson plans to pass law
which puts a no-deal Brexit in 2020 firmly back on the table, 2019). But, this was not taken into
consideration and forced by Parliament and MPs of United Kingdom to ask for extension.

This reason behind this was, it would directly end the membership of various EU bodies
with UK that govern rules on everything from medicines to trade marks. This is something which
needs time because various factors that are needed to be negotiated by United Kingdom with
European Union will come to an end (Blumer, 2018). But, if it is thought in a different manner,
then this would lead UK to avoid paying the divorce settlement agreed by Theresa May's
government where agreed amount was around £33bn.
Here the major concern of Darren Hughes was in relation to the political system, where
the majority of lawmakers remain unelected (House of Lords), where 92 individuals are holding
the chair on the basis of hereditary (Our outdated political system is to blame for what’s
happening in Parliament, 2019).
Argument
Under this, what Darren Hughes has mentioned is somewhere, somehow right that the
system should change because of different reasons like withdrawal of UK where referendum was
placed on June 2016 but it has not reached to a conclusion yet. But, this is not totally right as
well because, there are many nations that has developed their legal structure and constitution as
well through looking at the structure that United Kingdom has. Some of the nations like India,
Ireland, Jordan, Cyprus and Bahrain, has built their constitution based on Britain's code of
conduct.
Along with this, growth rate of this nation is also growing at an average speed, which is a
clear sign that the political system that United Kingdom is holding is working appropriately
(House of Lords, 2019). But, looking at current situation where Brexit has been considered as
one of the hottest topic in past couple of years, where there is no decision took place then this
political system where House of Lords is passing bills is something, which needs proper
reformation. Solution of this situation can be made captured through bringing amendments
among rules and regulations, through working on a particular constitution which is developed on
papers.
Through developing a Citizens’ Assembly and so on. Under this, if it is critically
analysed then people of United Kingdom has also taken things for granted, which impacted
negatively over different elements that are crucial for country like development and so on.
Basically, government of United Kingdom has taken into consideration of full responsibility of

their citizens which stopped learning of their own, where they totally relied upon number of
policies that nation has built for their betterment and for improvising the living standards. This
argument has taken into consideration is because if people will not become able to develop
themselves as per the opportunities that United Kingdom is going to offer them in near future
when the transactions of both the nations will reach to an end, then it is possible that economy of
this nation would grow slow. This led them to reduce their focus over what exactly going on with
the nations, and raised number of issues. Due to this, development got affected and impacted
over the overall economical conditions of United Kingdom (Is Boris Johnson heading for
another Brexit crisis?, 2020).
On the other hand, if it is talked about prime minister’s critics claim it masks the fact that
if he wins the election Britain faces a tough and potentially humiliating trade negotiation with the
EU. But if this would take place then there is a higher possibility that, UK would become able to
reduce the chances of paying high agreed amount. This could be understood with information
given by Michel Barnier (French politician serving as the European Commission's Head of Task
Force for Relations with the United Kingdom) where he directly mentioned that European
Union’s objective is to put a trade deal into action, because this will offer both the parties to
perform the trade which is quota-free and tariff-free (only on goods). But, due to inefficient
political structure and the system like 800 seats in House of Lords were not filled with right
person, which impacted negatively upon the whole reputation of United Kingdom in front of the
world. Therefore, based on the analysis it can easily be said that no the system, which was
followed by parliament of United Kingdom was not fit for the purpose i.e. successful Brexit
(Eviction of UK from EU).
If it is critically analysed than the information which is given above is correct because
culture, which is followed by parliament is toxic (Väyrynen, 2018). This could be understood
with a good example of Heidi Allen (Parliament's Member for the South Cambridgeshire
constituency in the south of England). She basically said that, “While Parliament has been in
purgatory, we have legislated for almost nothing, changed almost nothing and improved almost
nothing,” where resulted into development of a bitter climate. Including this, John Bercow who
is the Member of Parliament, has specifically pleaded and made different determination in
relation to MPs on all sides to tackle the “toxic” political culture. Basically, this has happened
due to Boris Johnson, who can be considered as the reason to face the fallout within the House of

Commons performance. If it is critically analysed, then this can also be considered as one of the
crucial reason why parliament is facing issue to regulate itself in today's uncertain environment
created by Brexit (Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU, 2020). Including
this, it has also been analysed that to bring modifications within the whole political structure is
not right because it is not that easy to develop a whole new political framework. What exactly
can be done over here by parliament of UK is to take actions on the politicians who are spreading
or producing the toxic culture in the parliament (Brexit: All you need to know about the UK
leaving the EU, 2020). This would lead to develop a uniquely democratic nation in all over the
world, at the centre in Westminster and Whitehall.
Solution
The solution that was given by Darren Hughes within the blog in relation to developing a
citizen assembly and to modify the existing rules and regulations within the constitution would
lead to find consensus on a way forward to prevent governments to take negative decisions in
near future. This is somewhere right because, United Kingdom is a democratic country, which is
ruled by it's people only where there is no biasses took place like on the basis of hereditary and
so on. In present context, what exactly can be said over here is that “Danger is not that a
particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern”. Therefore, change is required
to be made in order to pull out favourable outcomes.
On the other hand, if it is talked about the paper then it consist of the information, which
was taken just when the whole situation was uncertain. Therefore, reaching on a conclusion is
not the right thing at this moment on any sector on any part as well.
CONCLUSION
Considering the above mentioned report, it is said that just before developing the citizen
based assemblies, it is needed by parliament to remove or reduce the toxic impact of political
culture followed by many of the politicians. And if the situations do not get onto the favourable
condition, then the next step i.e. consideration of citizen assemblies can be taken to remove the
negative impact of UK’s changing Democracy.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Sivarajah, U. and et. al., 2017. Critical analysis of Big Data challenges and analytical
methods. Journal of Business Research. 70. pp.263-286.
Blumer, H., 2018. Industrialization as an agent of social change: A critical analysis. Routledge.
Väyrynen, T., 2018. Culture and international conflict resolution: A critical analysis of the work
of John Burton.
Online
Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887>.
Reckless' Boris Johnson plans to pass law which puts a no-deal Brexit in 2020 firmly back on the
table. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/reckless-boris-johnson-plans-to-pass-
law-which-puts-a-no-deal-brexit-in-2020-firmly-back-on-the-table/articleshow/
72831239.cms>.
Our outdated political system is to blame for what’s happening in Parliament. 2019. [Online].
Available through: <https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/05/our-outdated-political-system-is-to-
blame-for-whats-happening-in-parliament-10678207/>.
House of Lords. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <https://metro.co.uk/tag/house-of-lords/>.
Is Boris Johnson heading for another Brexit crisis?. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.ft.com/content/9e015820-111d-11ea-a7e6-62bf4f9e548a>.