IF democracy was to be judged solely on levels of representation, Scotland would be considered the least democratic country in the European Union.

There is just one “local” representative for every 4,270 people, compared to one in 200 in Austria, one in 400 in Germany and one in 2,860 in England. A centralisation of power has left people across Scotland feeling bypassed when it comes to vital decisions about their communities.

When the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) surveyed people across the country we found 76 per cent felt they had no or very little influence on council spending or services. It’s clear to many that big changes are needed in how are politics operates. It’s why, tomorrow, we have invited reformers and campaigners to gather in Glasgow for a major conference on how local communities can “take power back”.

Democracy 21 is a first step in imagining a new, better democracy that places power in the hands of people. Its work will feed into the Scottish Government’s Local Democracy Bill, which is a welcome development. It will cover everything from how we regulate online campaigning in the digital “wild west”, to reining in fake news and positive alternatives to populism.

There are inspiring signs that, though Scotland’s democratic deficit is large, it can be overcome.

Willie Sullivan,

Director of ERS Scotland,

12 South Charlotte Street,

Edinburgh.