Executive Dominance Weakens UK's Negotiating Position

David Smith (Weymouth, Saving Democracy): Some while ago I expressed to my MP (Labour) and to Kenneth Clarke the thought that the use of the Royal Prerogative to ratify treaties weakened the UK's negotiating position. Both agreed. Had Tony Blair not had the ability to put strong pressure on the SFO to halt its investigation into allegations of corruption in regard to BAE Systems dealings with Saudi, or had SFO decision to halt the investigation been prevented by law, the Saudi's would have had to accept that everything would have come out. Being realists they would probably not made good their alleged threats. Another argument for those advocating proportional representation and wider reform.