This is a submission by the following organisations:
The UK faces a number of challenges to our democratic system; from the cost of living crisis to climate breakdown, our current approach is failing to tackle the big challenges of our time. It is also threatened by growing polarisation and declining political participation.
We need a national effort, calling on everyone to use their experience, creativity and energy to find common ground, and agree ways forward. Without this, any proposed solutions risk being both ineffective and causing further polarisation.
Recommendation 1: To renew our democracy by placing people from all walks of life at the heart of decisions. Public participation and deliberation are increasingly used to find ways forward on complex, divisive issues and foster a more informed and engaged public, with hundreds of projects happening worldwide.
For example:
(a) Ireland's integration of citizens' assemblies into decision making; Ireland has successfully integrated citizens' assemblies into the heart of its political decision making, with everyday people having profound effects on the constitutional status of abortion and climate policy. Recent assemblies on gender equality and biodiversity loss will have further major impacts. A new assembly on drug use is about to start.
(b) Citizens' jury on assisted dying in Jersey; After extensive listening, questioning of evidence and facilitated deliberation, 78% of Jury members voted in favour of assisted dying being permitted under specific circumstances in Jersey. In November 2021, Jersey's government passed in principle for assisted dying to be allowed. Legislation is being brought forward throughout 2022/23, with people being able to choose to die in the UK for the first time as soon as 2025.
(c) Scotland's Climate Assembly; Members met one year after recommendations were submitted to the Scottish Government, to respond to the government's efforts. Independent experts judged that for 60 of the 81 recommendations, action had been taken that would achieve members' intention, or make a positive change in that direction. However, members were clear there was more to do; they believed the Government should be more ambitious, and many have continued to be involved in further work with the government to see progress made.
CLEANING UP WESTMINSTER
We agree with the Commission on the UK's Future's view that new faces are not enough to clean up and restore trust in politics. We need new rules and different ways of working which put the public at the heart of decision-making.
Restoring public trust in moments of crisis
For years, political scandals have severely dented public trust in politics, and even democracy. The current approach of inquiries, ethics committees and procedures often fails to deliver a fair, swift and transparent judgement, further damaging trust. Instead, these moments should be seen as windows of opportunity to rebuild public trust in our politics.
Recommendation 2: placing the public at the heart of public inquiries; public inquiries are set up on the basis of 'public concern'. Given this, the public should help in judging any wrongdoing, who was at fault, and what's needed to learn for the future. We propose government commission citizen inquiries as part of public inquiries, with a clear role to set the terms of the inquiry, call for evidence and form recommendations.
Recommendation 3: citizens' juries to set the rules for MPs; we support the Commission on the UK's Future's recommendation for 'juries of ordinary citizens to determine whether rules have been broken'. This approach should also include using citizens' juries to set new rules for MPs, guided by expert input.
We want a country where people feel happy, safe and part of a close-knit community, with low levels of crime and proper support for victims. Click here to have your say on how we can rebuild community spirit across the UK and ensure that Britain is a safe and happy place to live.
