Anthony Barnett (London, OK): the Prime Minister's speech about participation and citizens juries left many of us baffled. It now seems there is a clear commitment to make citizen consultation a regular feature of policy preparation and, more radical, to give 'citizen's summits' actual policy forming power of some kind. I have just been sent (and not by anyone near the government or the Fabian society) a copy of Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband's opening speech to the Fabian's 'Democracy Day' (which Guy and I blogged in the afternoon). It sets out a case for no less than "a different kind of state – in the way it governs, the way it makes decisions, the way it is held accountable".
I was told on the day that the full speech would be published on the Fabian website. It isn't yet. I know that being a Fabian means to take one's time, but this is ridiculous. Here are some quotes.
Powerlessness is a great social evil just as much as poverty. My argument is that while we need to strengthen the institutions of representative democracy – whether parliament or local government – we also need new and deeper forms of engagement... Essentially, this is about a different kind of state – in the way it governs, the way it makes decisions, the way it is held accountable.
I want to say why we need to do this – because it’s right in principle, because we can’t solve many of the problems we face without it and because it is right for our time [and] how we do it – not by being wide-eyed about people’s wish to sit on committees but understanding the ways in which people can get involved and being willing to undertake experiments in democracy as we seek to engage people
And finally, what it means for progressive politics – not as some would suggest that by giving power away we give up our ability to do good but that doing so recognises the reality of how progressive political change happens....
How can citizens’ juries or forums contribute to the policy-making process? At a minimum, instead of the old style of consultation – documents from Whitehall which reached a select few – they represent a new way to have a conversation with people...
Some parts of the country have gone even further and given local people a direct say over the spending of local resources, building on what has been pioneered in Porto Alegre in Brazil. Already there are 10 pilots to extend these experiments to the UK and we need to build on these experiments where they have worked, and be honest where they have not....
....we need to tackle a fundamental question for progressives about these issues – in the process of giving power away, do we hamper our ability to make progressive change happen?
I have argued that we need to go beyond the ballot box to engage people locally in the decisions that affect their lives. It is hard and difficult but it is absolutely necessary to achieving the kind of the country we want to see. Not just because the changes are right in themselves. But fundamentally because of this: if scepticism becomes cynicism it will always favour reactionary forces not progressive causes.
This feels like a program not just fine words. A couple of immediate points: note the use of "citizens ...forums" a much more accurate description than 'juries' as they do not come to verdicts or take decisions. And did you know that ten Porto Allegre style participative budgets are taking place across the UK? Can anyone tell me where?
Edward Griffith-Jones tell us the ten and more in the comments - many thanks
Sunder Katwala points out that the speech is on the Fabian website - it's just that there was no sign pointing to it from the front page - thanks Sunder.
