Stuart Weir & Andrew Blick (Cambridge & London, Democratic Audit): Two direct action stunts: Greenpeace activists climb onto an aircraft that has just landed at Heathrow from Manchester; a Plane Stupid group takes to the roof of the House of Commons. Two reactions: an exasperated BBC 24 newscaster harangues rather than interviews a cool young Greenpeace man, for not observing democratic convention; Gordon Brown in the House says that the chamber, not the roof, is the place for democratic decision-making.
Yes but, yes but . . . Following the Plane Stupid stunt, the debate on the third runway and the whole issue of expanding Heathrow became a major talking point, and threw into relief a consultation process with a pre-determined result in which some 18,000 ‘legitimate' submissions had been submerged. It is not so long ago that the Nuclear Consultation Working Group of academics and experts had challenged another pre-determined consultation process, this time on nuclear energy. The Group (of which I am a member) condemned the process for asking the public to take a decision ‘in principle' while by-passing significant ‘what if' questions, of security and nuclear proliferation, radiation waste, health risks, reactor decommissioning, etc. (see nuclearconsult.com ). But none of us scaled Sizewell B or Hinkley Point. Perhaps we should have, because the thorough and well-argued case scarcely dented public attention or (I guess) the government's resolve.
Actually I believe that direct peaceful action is properly a part of the UK's political tradition - indeed, is a ‘British' value, Prime Minister - and I observe that rioting can play a valuable role. But I prefer to think that we could all reasonably expect to influence government decision-making on a more or less equal basis, regardless of wealth, position, class, ethnic origin or gender. I am therefore anxious to make sure that Gordon Brown's vague commitment to greater participation will encompass real reforms to consultation processes (which, to be fair, have improved, if not enough since 1997).
Democratic Audit is now engaged in a review of all current consultation exercises at national level. We are going to investigate four or five consultations in greater depth, among them those on Heathrow, nuclear energy and 42 days. We would welcome any testimony on any recent consultation processes and suggestions for two more that we should look at more closely. Andrew Blick (blickandrew@aol.com ) is conducting this research.
