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# Call for a citizens' convention
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/call-for-a-citizens-convention/
- Published: 2009-10-11T22:10:00.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:43:43.000Z
- Author: Guy Aitchison
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:49

This letter appeared in Saturday's Guardian:

*MPs returning to Parliament this week might like to think that the fury they faced earlier in the year due to the expenses scandal is now behind them. Yet the storm was as great as it was because of an underlying sense of alienation that has been developing for years.*

Some of the ideas which emerged during the conference season aimed at closing this gulf between the political class and the public have been positive contributions, but none of them amount to the sort of fundamental change which we now desperately need. In particular, while Gordon Brown's support for holding a referendum on electoral reform is a welcome shift, the promise of a vote on an electoral system hand picked by the Prime Minister will be greeted by much cynicism.

The UK needs an independent citizens' convention to ensure that such decisions cannot be skewed by political self-interest. It is too late to complete such a convention before the general election, but it could be legislated for and begin its work in a matter of weeks. Its work could then progress regardless of which party goes on to form the next government.

We therefore urge the Prime Minister to ease the passage of the Citizens' Convention (Accountability and Ethics) Bill through Parliament. By establishing this process Gordon Brown signal a commitment to democratic reform in a way that no amount of manifesto commitments and pledges could achieve.

*Signed by,*  
Peter Facey, Unlock Democracy  
Caroline Lucas MEP, Green Party  
Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner  
Claire Rayner  
Tony Robinson  
Sunder Katwala, Fabian Society (personal capacity)  
Neal Lawson, Compass  
Jessica Asato, Progress  
Carey Oppenheim, IPPR  
Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote  
Pam Giddy, Power2010  
Anthony Barnett, Open Democracy  
David Babbs, 38 Degrees  
Elaine Bagshaw, Liberal Youth  
Ron Bailey, Local Works  
Jonathan Bartley, Ekklesia  
Tamasin Cave, Spinwatch  
Peter Emerson, De Borda Institute  
Nina Fishman  
James Graham, Social Liberal Forum  
Alex Hilton, LabourHome  
Sunny Hundal, Liberal Conspiracy  
David Miller, Spinwatch  
Vicky Seddon, Unlock Democracy  
Nan Sloane, Centre for Women in Democracy  
Alex Smith, LabourList  
Graham Smith, Republic  
Stephen Tall, Lib Dem Voice  
Samuel Tarry, Young Labour  
Perry Walker, New Economics Foundation  
Stuart Weir, Democratic Audit  
Stuart White  
Stuart Wilks-Heeg, Democratic Audit