OurKingdom: Here is the Citizens’ Convention Bill, drafted by Unlock Democracy and published today. It is being sponsored by Douglas Carswell MP (Conservative), David Chaytor MP (Labour), Julia Goldsworthy MP (Lib-Dem).
Citizens Convention Bill
1. Citizens’ Convention
(1) For the purposes of
(a) modernising the way in which the United Kingdom is governed; and
(b) involving the citizens of the United Kingdom in that process
the Secretary of State must within 12 months establish a citizens’ convention.
(2) Before establishing the Citizens’ Convention the Secretary of State must consult citizens of the United Kingdom and without prejudice to the generality this must include community organisations, organisations that have an interest in the governance of the United Kingdom, organisations that have an interest in the environment, business organisations, trade unions and the voluntary sector, regarding the way in which the Convention shall be set up and shall discharge its functions.
(3) In particular the Secretary of State must take all reasonable steps to ensure that persons from the most under-represented, disadvantaged and disengaged sections of society are involved in the Convention.
(4) The Convention shall include meetings and other mechanisms to involve citizens in all parts of the United Kingdom
2. Implementation of recommendations by the Citizens Convention.
(1) It shall be the duty of the Citizens’ Convention to make recommendations to achieve the purposes specified in section 1.
(2) The Secretary of State must co-operate with the Convention in deciding upon the implementation of the recommendations made by the Convention.
