By Sarah Clarke of Unlock Democracy
The UK’s political system simply isn’t working. People up and down the country have known this for years. The UK government’s chaotic handling of Brexit has only ratcheted up disillusionment with the status quo.
But the root cause is neither the actions of Boris Johnson nor the tumult of Brexit. The current crisis is symptomatic of decaying democracy underpinned by an archaic political system that is not fit for purpose.
Politics does not have to be this way. Although Brexit has dominated for the last three years, and there are many ways to renew democracy and create a people-led, inclusive, and participatory political system for the UK, from top to bottom.
Here are 10 ideas for democratic renewal:
1 Creating a codified constitution
Brexit has exposed the precariousness of the UK’s constitutional settlement. When the contract between citizen and state is unwritten, it is down to those who hold the reins of political power in Westminster what rules are followed and what rules are broken.
The UK needs a new codified constitution that sets out a clear relationship between citizen and state, imposes boundaries on the power held by the UK government, and affirms sovereignty of the people over the sovereignty of the UK parliament.
2 A democracy built and owned by the people
Done right, the process of creating and codifying a constitution for the UK could be a moment of deep democratic renewal. A citizen-led constitutional convention could put decisions about the future of our democracy to the people, for the first time in our country’s history.
There is plenty of democratic innovation for a UK-wide convention to build on. Iceland’s attempt at constitution-making in the aftermath of the financial crisis offers many lessons, and soon the Citizens’ Convention on UK Democracy will model how democratic constitution building could be done at home.
3 A new devolution settlement
Despite power being devolved to Scotland from Westminster in the 1990s, the UK is still one of the most over-centralised democracies in the world. Brexit has also exposed a power imbalance between Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. The UK Parliament can devolve power, but can also snatch it away.
A convention on devolution could bring citizens from across the four nations of the UK together to deliberate on the future of the Union, and strike a new relationship based on collaboration and partnership.
4 Devolving power to communities, not just Holyrood
Deliberative democracy has a decades-long track record of building a better politics. Models like citizens' assemblies, or citizens' juries, inject democracy into communities. They bring citizens together to discuss an issue, build a consensus around a solution, and make recommendations to democratic institutions, and have been used to great success all around the world, from Canada to Poland.
The Scottish Government has already decided to engage a citizens’ assembly to deliberate on Scotland’s future. Across the UK, citizens are being called on to build a consensus around solutions to issues ranging from traffic congestion and air pollution, to the climate crisis. There is huge potential for councils in Scotland to use citizens’ assemblies to put people in the driving seat of political decision-making.
5 Harnessing tech for political participation
Democracy is so much more than voting once every few years. Millions are disenfranchised by the political system we have right now, and the digital revolution has created new ways of putting people at the heart of politics like never before.
There is much to learn from Barcelona. Tech is being harnessed to deepen democracy through the Decidim platform, which brings citizens together with the city council in a new model of participatory policy-making. We can use digital for good, creating an ongoing collaboration between citizens and public institutions that extends democracy to our politics beyond elections.
6 Fair elections across the UK
A source of ire for many is the First Past the Post electoral system used in UK parliament general elections. The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) estimated that in the 2017 general election, 68% of votes (22 million) were wasted due to First Past the Post. ERS’s analysis suggested that in Scotland many voters turned to tactical voting to try and break the single-party dominance.
The Scottish Parliament pioneered the use of a proportional system for elections in the UK. With polls suggesting flagging support for Westminster’s two dominant parties, the time has come for the adoption of a proportional system for UK general elections.
7 A (fully) democratically elected legislature
The House of Lords is emblematic of an archaic political system that needs a 21st century update. The bloated second chamber is a retirement home for party cronies, loyalists, and donors. They are awarded seats for life and generous expenses, alongside the hereditary peers who retain their 92 reserved seats.
A fully elected elected second chamber could complement the House of Commons, providing an important democratic check and balance on the power of the first chamber and the unusually powerful UK executive.
8 Get money out of politics
Lax regulations around money in politics have allowed the UK’s political system to become a playground for the rich.
Outdated and ineffective campaign funding regulations give too much political influence to those who can make big donations to parties, fund shady think-tank reports, or wine and dine politicians.
A low and universally applied cap on donations of £5,000, as well as more public funding for political parties, would help to break away from a rigged system where wealth purchases political influence.
9 Making politicians accountable
The Scottish Parliament has led the way on bringing transparency to what MSPs are getting up to in Holyrood, with Scotland having a far more comprehensive statutory lobbying register than Westminster.
But it is still far too easy for politicians in Holyrood and Westminster to duck accountability when it comes to doing their job and fulfilling their public duties. Recently, 95% of consultation respondents supported the principle that being an MSP should be a full-time job. A proposal by Neil Findlay MSP to crack down on MSPs taking second jobs might create an important check on outside interests and the revolving doors coming to Scotland soon.
10 A political system fit to tackle the climate crisis
The climate crisis and ecological breakdown presents an existential threat to our way of life. Our society will have to adapt, and our political system along with it – one way or another.
Deepening and renewing democracy is a tool to collectively navigate the challenges we face as a society, and that we must work together to tackle.
Harnessing the ideas and energy of the public as part of a citizens’ convention might be our best chance at renewing democracy, and overhauling the political system so that it is fit to fight the climate crisis.
• Unlock Democracy is a London-based pressure group which campaigns for a more participatory democracy in Britain, founded upon a written constitution. Unlock Democracy works to promote democratic reform across the political spectrum and is not aligned with any political party.
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