posted 22nd January 2023
This is the first in a series of articles looking at different kinds of motion, and how to tackle them, whether you are proposition or opposition.
The first type of motion is the policy motion. A policy motion will always begin 'This house would ...' It calls for change, for something new to happen which isn't happening at the moment.
What questions must the proposition for a policy motion answer as part of their preparation?
1. What's wrong with the status quo ?
2. How will the proposed measure make the situation better?
3. What's your mechanism? Why will it work?
4. What are the likely principial objections to the measure? How will you answer them?
5. What are the likely pragmatic objections to the measure? How will you answer them?
What questions must the opposition for a policy motion answer as part of their preparation?
1. Either: how is the status quo good enough?
2. Or: what is an alternative solution to the problems with the status quo?
3. What's wrong with the mechanism?
3. What are the principial objections to the measure?
4. What are the pragmatic objections to the measure?
Let's see how we might apply this to a particular motion:
This house would introduce a universal basic income (UBI)
Here are some possible (though by no means all) answers to the questions above for the proposition.
1. What's wrong with the status quo?
The current benefits system is complicated, unfair and expensive to administer, and leaves many people in poverty and insecurity.
2. How will the proposed measure make the situation better?
UBI would give every citizen economic security.
3. What's your mechanism? Why will it work?
Every adult citizen will be given 80% of the median monthly income, funded by taxation. Enough to live off, but not so much to disincentivise work.
4. What are the likely principial objections to the measure? How will you answer them?
You say UBI is 'something for nothing', but we don't say that about the NHS, the armed forces or the police. We take for granted that the state will protect our health and personal security; why should it not also protect our economic security?
5.What are the likely pragmatic objections to the measure? How will you answer them?
You say UBI will make people lazy, but in fact most people find personal fulfilment through work. It will actually increase productivity and innovation, by giving people the security to undertake otherwise risky business and creative projects (J K Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book while living on benefits).
And here are some possible (though by no means all) some answers to the questions above for the opposition.
1. Either: how is the status quo good enough?
The current benefits system is targeted; this means that people who need the benefits get them, but money isn't wasted on people who don't need benefits.
2. Or: what is an alternative solution to the problems with the status quo?
We will increase the amount of universal credit, and speed up the process for awarding it, to deal with the unfairnesses in the current system.
3. What are the principial objections to the measure?
UBI would mean people on low incomes, struggling to survive, handing money via their taxes to millionaires.
4. What are the pragmatic objections to the measure?
It would be far too expensive, particularly as its introduction would encourage millions of people to stop working and thereby stop paying tax.
