Labour campaign for a Citizens’ Convention on Constitutional Reform

By Jessica Asato / @Jessica_Asato

This weekend Progress launched a Labour campaign for a Citizens’ Convention signed by over forty Labour activists, politicians and academics including Brian Brivati, David Marquand, Martin Linton, Stephen Twigg and former MP Anne Campbell. The idea of using a Convention to determine the next stage of constitutional reform is not a new one, in fact it has been suggested that Peter Mandelson has been pushing for such a thing in Cabinet, and James Purnell came out in favour of the idea in his piece for yesterday’s Guardian. As Brian Brivati writes for Comment is Free, the politicians have failed to address the fundamental reforms this country needs, and it’s time to allow the public to take charge of creating the change Britain’s democracy so sorely needs.

But until now, there has been little attempt to put meat on the bones of what a convention would cover and how it might be achievable. We have argued that the convention should look at six areas:

* House of Lords reform

* Parliamentary reform including fixed term Parliaments and strengthening Select Committees and other ways of holding the Executive to greater account

* Funding of political parties

* Changing the voting system to more closely reflect voters’ preferences resulting in a referendum on the day of the next general election

* New routes into politics including primaries and directly elected mayors

* Greater devolution of power, accountability and funding to local government

We recognise that not everyone will agree with all of the areas for reform. Proportional representation, for example, divides the party in a way which transcends usual left-right boundaries. Many councillors are fearful of Mayors taking their power, and cite the cases of Hartlepool and Doncaster as evidence. Union activists worry that introducing state funding will weaken the Labour trade union link, while some party activists see the possible introduction of primaries as a threat to their sovereignty over party direction and selection of candidates.

But this misses the point of arguing for a Convention. A Citizens’ Convention could have the power to decide all or none of this – it’s unlikely, but they may opt for the status quo. It’s up to us to convince the Convention that our particular direction is the right one, but at the end of the day they will make the decision. We have reached a stalemate on constitutional reform precisely because no one can agree on specific aspects of the reform programme, and having come to this pretty pass, it seems sensible to allow a citizen-led body to find a way out of this mess.

It was a shame that Gordon Brown failed to use his interview with Andrew Marr this morning to announce a Convention or a strong package of constitutional reforms. We’ve had interventions from both David Cameron and Nick Clegg, but there’s nothing coming from government except for the idea that we might introduce powers of recall and that MPs privileges and expenses will be amended in the forthcoming Constitutional Reform Bill. It’s time to stop the piecemeal reform, which seems to be more about positioning than the principle of doing it. We’re looking for leadership on this issue, and in the next week, not the next few months. If it means that MPs lose their summer holidays to get it through Parliament, so be it. This cannot be about politics as usual. Politicians have a choice of leaving 2009 to be remembered for the shoddy, sordid scandal of expenses, or as the year when politicians showed some humility and let the people bust open our failed democracy.

Labour activists who support the idea can add their names to the list by contacting Jessica at jessica@progressives.org.uk by calling 07939 594 634.