Background

It’s clear that Deliberative Democracy works. The OCED has a database of over 700 cases where it’s proved itself to be effective within finding solutions within difficult discussions. CCUKD want to optimise and mould this method so it is most beneficial for Westminster, through creating a partnership between citizens, elected representatives, and Government.

The Citizens’ Convention was made up of three elements: the Thematic Assemblies, a UK-wide National Conversation and a UK Citizens’ Summit. The Citizens’ Convention took the form of an ambitious and inclusive deliberation on democratic reform in the United Kingdom, which forged a new partnership between citizen, elected representatives and Government.

The Assemblies and the Summit involved randomly selected citizens, convened to be demographically representative of the UK population. They came together to learn, deliberate and make decisions on how democracy could be deepened and improved.

The UK Citizens’ Summit would pull everything together, then the Citizens’ Convention itself would present its recommendations for reform to Parliament and the Government as agreed at the outset. 

The Citizens’ Convention sparked and interacted with a serious and inclusive national dialogue about our democracy: about who made decisions, who held power and how we related to our democratic institutions. 

Andy Burnham has catalysed a shift in perspectives towards how Government is run. Andrew Blick shows, drawing from Heads North, that as co-author and Manchester Mayor (at the time), Burnham discusses the need for devolution across the UK and now he has the power to make it happen. He has a goal of ‘[moving power to where the people are]’ and we have the means to do so.

What role does an All-Party Parliamentary Group have here?

An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Deliberative Democracy would convene parliamentarians, civil servants, practitioners and supporters around practical opportunities where deliberation could help address complex public policy challenges.

The proposed APPG would provide a parliamentary platform to review the use of deliberation across the UK political system and advocate for its adoption where it can improve decision making, public trust and policy legitimacy.

Drawing on UK and international practice, it would draw attention to how deliberative approaches can operate within the Westminster system.

What’s the process?

The Citizens’ Conventions working with Government will agree to make a start on a broad agenda.  However, it is impartial and focused on process, not on campaigning for or against one single issue. It will involve citizens being the drivers of reform, redesigning their democracy to make it more open, responsive, accountable, participatory and transparent. 

This process also has a specific political end game. After consideration by citizens, recommendations will go to Government and Parliament who will have the final say on what to legislate upon.

Past democratic campaigns have always focussed on what reforms are needed. We believe it is equally important to be clear and coherent on how we do it, for that is the core of our democratic demand. The process must be as democratic as the outcome if democratic change is to be understood, legitimate and sustainable. 

Why do it?

Conventions take democratic reform beyond Government and Parliament, involving a random selection of citizens in renewal.

Our well-designed process will demonstrate how our democracy can adapt to 21st Century culture and demands, clarifying both the role of representatives and the need for deliberative practices. Conventions show (rather than tell) a new way of making decisions - deliberative, informed, thoughtful, inclusive, transparent. Citizens have good ideas about how we can improve our political system. Through a deliberative process, we can hear that wisdom and citizens gain confidence in one another’s beliefs, good will and capacities.

There is a harmony of process and outcome: it should deliver important changes to our democratic system, and it demonstrates a more democratic way of thinking and deciding.