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Magical thinking on Britishness: Anthony Barnett critiques Liam Byrne on fraternity.

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A new Bill of Rights for Britain?: Guy Aitchison analyses Parliament's proposed new Bill of Rights.

Miliband - by our rights we will know you: Claire O'Brien puts forward a new progressive vision for Labour.

Recapturing liberal Britain: David Marquand challenges Labour's constitutional orthodoxy.

Miliband and the Liberal Democrats: James Graham on the case for realignment.

What is Labour's British story?: Writing from Scotland, Gerry Hassan widens the OurKingdom debate on Labour's future.

This is not Brown's crisis but Britain's: David Marquand says social democracy is bust and Britain may be too.

The Challenges for Miliband's Progressive Fusion: Fabian Society head Sunder Katwala responds to David Miliband.

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England Awakes?

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A mild awakening?, England's turn? by David Goodhart

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The travelling Ministry

Guy Aitchison, 23 - 07 - 2008
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Guy Aitchison (London, OK): Last week John Jackson blogged on the heroic efforts of Michael Wills to drive through the Governance of Britain agenda in the face of hostility from his parliamentary colleagues and the press and as the government of which he is a part implodes. As part of the process Wills has been travelling around the country holding open table discussions on different aspects of the agenda. He recently stopped off in my hometown of Bristol to discuss plans for the British Statement of Values, the Bill of Rights and Responsibilies, community engagement and barriers to voting.

The good people of Bristol offered sage advice to the Government, captured in this MoJ document. Not least they pointed out that any "public engagement had to be meaningful and worthwhile to the participants involved and that their contribution is going to be taken into account as part of the decision-making process." Next stop Nottingham, followed by Newcastle, Brighton and London. If you attend a discussion do let us know your thoughts on how it went.

 


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padav said:

Wed, 2008-07-23 12:57

This is great stuff

I am assuming that this public feedback is now enshrined within the public record and must therefore be taken account of and responded to (if only in an official offhand manner)? It is wonderfully encouraging to electoral campaigners like myself to encounter the public undertaking informed and withering criticism of the utterly undemocartic FPTP voting system in such stark terms.

Quote:
In addition because the majority of seats are considered safe for one or other of the parties, a large number of the votes cast make no difference to the outcome of the general election.

STV anyone?

Other comments are equally fascinating

Quote:
The British democratic system is currently too coarsley grained. There is a disconnection between the different layers of government

Quote:
Most people's only or main contact with power is through their day to day interactions with public services, such as the local school or hospital. Yest there is a real gap between government that sets the policy framework and those delivering the services

It would seem that the British people are all too aware of where real power resides within the current constitutional arrangements. What is required now is a much wider appreciation of the mechanisms, through which that power is established and maintained, i.e. control of revenue raising capacity. If that idea can establish itself widely in the public mindset it won't be long before questions are rasied about the hegemonic and democratically opaque role played by Whitehall.

From there it is a short step to demanding revenue raising powers at a more localised level but once we reach that stage the practicalities of effective power dispersal appear on the mainstream agenda - who knows where this debate might travel next?

No wonder Michael Wills has been shunned by his Parliamentary colleagues and superiors - they are terrified of where this process might take us, once started!

Can't wait for the next instalment in this saga, from Nottingham?

Peter Davidson, Alderley Edge, NW.England

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