Guy Aitchison (London, OK): For those interested in how the government's "national conversation" is shaping up from the perspective of the ministers in charge, Michael Wills has posted a short report on the Governance of Britain site on the first consultations carried out in Leicester. Quite why the delay in posting I'm not exactly sure since the trip happened back at the beginning of December, but it seems the people of Leicester were full of useful suggestions, my favourite being: "Why can't you make the Parliament Channel interactive so you can hear what I'm saying when I shout at you lot on the television?". The technology must be available for this and it strikes me as a great way to keep parliamentarians on their toes (or at the very least awake), but Wills gives no indication that it will make it into the forthcoming Constitutional Renewal Bill. One of the main conclusions he does draw from the consultation is just how cynical the public is with consultations (surely you don't need a consultation to tell you that!). There is, he says, a feeling that they aren't "genuine" and are "designed to pacify, politicians having already decided on a predetermined outcome." There is an official summary of the lessons the government learnt here (opens as pdf) which concludes that people like consultations provided they get a clear feedback with the results and a link to the Leicester video OK covered last month.
There will be more events like those in Leicester over the coming months focusing on the government's proposals for a British "statement of values". The most important questions to be answered are: (i) Do we want such a statement?; (ii)What should be in it?; and (iii) What should we do with it? A lot depends on whether a consultation process with Jack Straw at the helm is really capable of "letting go" in the manner hoped for by respondents in Leicester. For example, would the Government simply abandon the whole project if the answer it receives to the first question is a "no"? Wills says he envisages an "intensive and extensive" consultation that will "shape the future of our democracy for years ahead". OK will be keeping an eye on the process to see if this ring true. Do let us know what you think if you attend any of the meetings - and if we can find out in time when the next ones are we will try and let you know in advance.
PS: That official summary of the key themes notes that some good citizens of Leicester "suggested introducing a ‘Democracy Day’ which would focus on increasing engagement and participation". Interesting, the first Democracy Day was mounted by Charter 88 a week before the 1992 general election.
