Well, Douglas Alexander for the government states that over one million people signing No. 10's own web petition, and who oppose road pricing, are only “one contribution to the debate”. Indeed, so valued is their contribution that a pilot is going ahead anyway.
What is all the more interesting is not the issue itself, but the response of this government to people actually expressing their views.
Firstly Alexander states that “It's no doubt that those people who initiated the petition had a particular point of view in mind”. What a genius! Of course they do; that is what a petition is all about!
Indeed, not only does he respond negatively to the size of the petition, but we actually have spokespeople from No. 10 who actually think that debate in itself does not produce policy. If debate does not, then what does? Is this not what a democracy is actually about?
Another but more disturbing response is that of a yet to be named minister reported on by the BBC who labelled the controversial on-line petitions on Downing Street's website as an own-goal thought up by a "prat".
Now there's a minister who values debate in our modern democracy, as long as it agrees with government policy.
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