This is what democracy looks like

This really is a rather good time for those of us who believe in cracking political systems and institutions open with greater democracy. A number of new innovations are beginning to make a real difference.

Let’s start with the most important development – Justice for the 96. E-petitions where a parliamentary debate is promised if a petition gets 100,000 signatories seemed like they may have been a gimmick to begin with. Far from it. They have beautifully opened our parliamentary democracy to the force of public opinion.

The victims, the families, and the entire community have been despicably denied justice for over two decades. The lies started almost the very second that the tragedy on the Leppings Lane of Hillsborough stadium unfolded. The e-petition mechanism created an opening to appeal for the specific step of the publication of all the documents related to the footballing disaster which claimed 96 lives.

Credit to the coalition for e-petitions linked to parliamentary democracy, and to them for releasing the documents to the independent panel – established under the last Labour government – with only minor redactions as they have pledged to do. Also, enormous credit to the MPs who spoke in favour of the publication of the documents. Special mention should be given to an amazing and resonant intervention from Steve Rotheram whose constituency includes Anfield. Other MPs from Liverpool and beyond, Andy Burnham who had pressed the last government to establish the independent panel, and the home secretary herself also rose to the occasion.

The fight for justice continues. The PM should apologise for the lies that have been told by the police and the cover-up that followed. Responsibility must be taken by those responsible – those in authority who failed to provide a safe stadium for a major football match; those who failed to control events on the day leading to a tragic loss of life; and those who peddled lies about innocent Liverpool fans and were involved in a cover-up. Kelvin MacKenzie should apologise to the people of Liverpool for the disgusting role his paper at the time – The Sun – played in this shameful long episode in the British Establishment’s history. But yesterday, a big stride towards justice was taken and it was achieved through opening up politics. Every Liverpool fan I know signed the petition and people who had never actively engaged in politics before were suddenly writing to their MP.

Further south, another democratic reform is starting to come to life. Birmingham is one of the cities that will hold a referendum on a directly elected mayor for the city next year. The Yes to Birmingham mayor campaign is really getting going. This is big news – Birmingham has long punched beneath its weight and this is a way of redressing that. Almost all the councils with directly elected mayors have shown significant improvements in their local services. Democracy is good for accountability it would seem.

While it was Labour who originally introduced directly elected mayors into our political ecosystem, the coalition has extended it. Where they are introduced, it will again open up our political system to the people.

And this is exactly what the French Socialist Party has done too. They have selected their candidate for French President in a closed primary. Despite the €1 participation fee, somewhere in the region of 3 million people participated. 5 million watched the TV debates. The successful candidate – Francois Hollande – now has a flying start to his campaign. It is interesting that it was the centrist candidate who was successful. The party – members, unions, representatives – still controls the nominations. But the final say is given to those who have signed a declaration of support for the party and paid their Euro. This follows a similar experiment in democracy in Greece by PASOK who then went on to win their election.

The left is having a very difficult time at the moment. Perhaps this closed primary could open it to new sources of democratic energy.

E-petitions linked to the parliamentary process, directly elected mayors, and closed primaries might be just the sort of innovations that can help reconnect people to democratic processes – sorely needed. They won’t be enough by themselves but they are certainly making a difference. The point is that there is a real consequence for those taking part: a parliamentary debate, a candidate you’ve had a say in choosing, new leadership for your city. This is what democracy looks like. Come and join it.