{"id":3843,"date":"2019-06-20T12:26:06","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T11:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.electoral-reform.org.uk\/?p=3843"},"modified":"2024-02-26T16:41:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T16:41:37","slug":"citizens-assemblies-can-help-us-move-beyond-a-broken-westminster-model-of-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/electoral-reform.org.uk\/citizens-assemblies-can-help-us-move-beyond-a-broken-westminster-model-of-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"Citizens\u2019 assemblies can help us move beyond a broken Westminster model of politics"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

This piece was originally published by <\/em>The Scotsman<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Talk of citizens\u2019 assemblies is in the air. Former Conservative leadership contender, Rory Stewart has suggested holding one to break through the Brexit impasse. And on Monday, the Scottish Government released their plans for a citizens\u2019 assembly to discuss Scotland\u2019s democratic future. <\/strong><\/p>\n

But what are they? A citizens\u2019 assembly<\/a> is made up of a representative group of around 50 to 200 citizens, put together from the general public, like a jury. The selection of members is stratified to ensure that participants are as representative as possible of the general population according to certain criteria \u2013 usually gender, age, ethnicity, geographical location, and social background. Being put together like a jury means that the wider public can be confident that members are fellow citizens, just like them, and are not representing special interests.<\/p>\n

Citizens then hear from experts and campaigners from across the spectrum and society to learn, consult, and then discuss between them on ways forward on complicated issues \u2013 away from the sometimes shrill, antagonistic process of (for example) an immediate, full-scale referendum.<\/p>\n

The most well-known citizens\u2019 assembly is that which took place in Ireland between 2016 and 2018. The Assembly was composed of a chairperson, appointed by the government, and 99 ordinary citizens \u2018randomly selected so as to be broadly representative of Irish society\u2019 in terms of age, gender, social class, and regional spread.<\/p>\n

Members debated on a number of topics, including removing the country\u2019s constitutional ban on abortion \u2013 and it had a huge impact. Several recommendations \u2013 including ending the ban on abortion \u2013 were successfully put to a referendum in May 2018.<\/p>\n

When just 4% of people feel properly represented by Westminster (BMG polling for the ERS, May), they are looking for new ways to be speak out.<\/p>\n

The ERS recently published a report on moving beyond the \u2018Westminster model\u2019<\/a> of politics, backing a more ‘deliberative’ model of democracy. We\u2019ve been working on public engagement and innovations in democracy in Scotland for years, through public events collectively involving thousands of citizens, helping to shape their communities.<\/p>\n

The ERS have also published new proposals for a fresh model for local democracy<\/a> in Scotland, featuring permanent citizens’ assemblies to feed into local decision-making. And on a UK-wide level, we helped run a national citizens\u2019 assembly on Brexit \u2013 which could form a template for an government-backed one in future.<\/p>\n

So we\u2019re delighted that the Scottish Government has decided to use citizens\u2019 assemblies to upgrade Scottish democracy.<\/p>\n

Old fashioned party politics and a binary vision have failed to provide solutions that Scots can unite around.<\/p>\n

The initial structure and the open questions are a good start. Our campaign for more people power at a local level through our \u2018Act As If You Own the Place\u2019<\/a> initiative has taught us a great deal about what the gold standard in public involvement might look like. We know from our own experience and research that the assembly design and the way assemblies are run are crucial for their success. The devil will be in the detail.<\/p>\n

The hard work starts now: there is a lot of work to do on this and in making sure the Scottish people see the assembly as the trusted, independent institution that it should be.<\/p>\n

It’s positive that the government are keen to hear from experiences here in Scotland and from around the world.<\/p>\n

So our verdict is so far so good \u2013 and we look forward to working with all partners on ensuring this is the best deliberative democratic process possible.<\/p>\n

On the evening of Monday July\u00a08th the ERS will be hosting a public debate in Edinburgh<\/a> – featuring experts and politicians – to discuss the citizens’ assembly plans.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact <\/em><\/strong>mediaoffice@electoral-reform.org.uk<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to find out more.\u00a0Joanna Cherry MP QC, Dr Jess Garland, and Dr Oliver Escobar are confirmed already.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Sign up for ERS Scotland’s Citizens’ Assembly event <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n