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# Straw opposed to Citizens’ Convention
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/straw-opposed-to-citizens-convention/
- Published: 2007-07-12T10:07:36.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:36:46.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**Guy Aitchison (London,** [**OK**](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** In an [interview](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2062175.ece?ref=opendemocracy.net) in today’s Times Jack Straw promised wide public involvement in constitutional reform but appeared to rule out the prospect of a citizens’ convention to agree the changes. His comments will frustrate campaigners who have called for just such a convention as a way of achieving the Government’s declared aims of restoring trust in politics and strengthening public engagement - not least Unlock Democracy who have drafted a [Citizens’ Convention Bill](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/2007/06/26/the-citizens-convention-bill/?ref=opendemocracy.net) sponsored by MPs from all three major parties, and the Power Inquiry whose ['make it an issue' petition](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/2007/06/21/fellow-citizens/?ref=opendemocracy.net) made similar demands. Straw seems to prefer the use of citizens’ juries to discuss a “bill of rights and responsibilities” and a “possible written constitution”, but it is still unclear what kind of binding powers they will have, if any. Surely a citizens’ convention is the only guarantee that constitutional reform will not become yet another top-down, purely consultative exercise. As Paul Hilder puts it [below](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/2007/07/12/we-need-a-popular-coalition-to-shape-the-debate/?ref=opendemocracy.net), “do we want Straw to be sole interpreter and summer up?”.