Beyond consultation: imagine a civic society where citizens are the protagonists of public life

By George Gabriel

Imagine an open campaign. A set of proposals developed through public debate where each and any is free to contribute and have their view weighted equally. Imagine a sincerely democratic discussion, where the agenda is set and then voted on by the public. Imagine that the results of this debate then formed the basis of a campaign across the UK in the run up to the general election.

What we are in fact talking about is a 21st century constituent assembly. Where the public sets the agenda and then through the use of new media and new tools of participation takes full ownership of the project to make a representative exercise into a participatory one. What we are talking about is the key to credibility for any initiative for democratic reform – that it be of the people, by the people and for the people. So what would such an open campaign find, as the people’s proposals for democratic renewal?

Fair votes, protection of the right to privacy, the end to real inherited political power, that only constituencies affected by a law should have a say in its writing, and that we lose nothing by writing down our rights, freedoms, and the structures and distribution of political power.

Though there’s still a way to go to match the bold aspiration here stated, and led by civil society rather than the state, these are the results of Power2010′s six month process, where 4,500 ideas were received, narrowed down to a shortlist by Citizens Convention, and then subject to over 100,000 votes to determine the final five people’s priorities for democratic renewal.

As Labour gears up to fight an election, and a future fair for all, its desire to promote social equality must incorporate a true aspiration to political equality – an equality that, beyond the vote sees each with an equal right and ability, together with their fellow citizens, to set the agenda for British politics. Popular sovereignty in other words, for a party that believes in empowering and ennobling the populace through enabling equal participation in a truly progressive society.

Participation is not achieved overnight. And democracy is not the rule of absolutes. So while MPs vote for a change, the test will be whether they are willing to consider a more ambitious future forged by the public – one where all votes count rather than where voters are just offered an alternative.

The test, then, will be whether they take 100,000 reasons for democratic renewal seriously; whether they will sign up to a majority of the people’s proposals for democratic renewal and act on them publicly by signing the Power2010 pledge, a pledge that does not fit any party’s manifesto and does not fall conveniently into any pre-existing categories – precisely because as the political establishment echo in defence of politics, our democracy must be a difficult and convoluted mix of compromise and conflict.

And so imagine this: a reforming parliament operating at the behest of the public on overlapping consensuses identified as parts of the public’s agenda. The question becomes whether parties can adapt, engage and evolve to meet new kinds of public participation; participation beyond consultation; participation beyond consent even; the bold participation of citizens who act as the protagonists of public life.

If a fair future is one of political equality, then at least part of the path is clear. LabourList, Progress and Compass will, as before, be looked to for leadership as the public’s priorities become apparent.