Alexandra Runswick (London, Unlock Democracy): Politicians from across the political spectrum are increasingly talking about involving citizens in constitutional reform issues - whether it's the National Conversation in Scotland, Nick Clegg calling for a constitutional convention, or Gordon Brown's proposal for a ‘Citizens Summit' on a British Statement of Values. Constitutional reform in the UK has traditionally only involved the elite; more recently changes have then been ratified by referendum. But the Citizens Summit will be different - an attempt to engage citizens in a deliberative event to explore a constitutional issue - something tried very rarely in the UK.
But the question remains: how can the public be involved in constitutional change? At a time of intense cynicism about government consultations and initiatives which often end up being glorified focus groups, how can deliberative decision making processes be made to work?
UnlockDemocracy and openDemocracy, in association with Mishcon de Reya and LexisNexis, are hosting a seminar with Dr. Matthew Mendelsohn, Deputy Minister for Democratic Renewal in the Ontario Government, and Professor Brice Dickson, former Chair of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, to explore the experiences of involving citizens in previous constitutional reform processes in Canada and Northern Ireland, discuss the practicalities of what worked and what didn't, and ask what lessons can be learnt in the UK. The seminar will be broadcast live on the internet, and people watching online will be able to submit questions to the panel. If you would like to take part please register here:
http://www1.lexisnexis.co.uk/campaigns/2008/0108-052_constit_reform/index.html
