Of course the people have a 'say', but clearly not enough of a 'say', their 'say' is 'coralled.'
It's odd. The UK parliament, Commons, looks so odd, compared to the rest of Europe. The hall, the space, is so... ancient, like a church, and there's not room for everybody to sit. It's odd.
The debate form is different too. It's far more cut 'n' thrust and choatic, far more entertaining than almost anywhere else I can think of in Europe.
The voting system's like nothing else, most places one just presses a button to vote and computer does the work. The UK's system is ancient and odd for the 21st century.
Of course most places use proportional representation, which is both fairer and more representative. Coalitions are the norm, which forces 'compromise' on a level unknown in the UK, where it's close to winner takes all, leading to 'strong' governments and Thatcherite dictatorships.
And that's before we even get to the House of Lords!