> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Whither Charter 88?
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/whither-charter-88/
- Published: 2007-05-14T11:05:23.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:36:07.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**Anthony Barnett (London** [**OK**](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/2007/05/11/no-crisis-today-thank-you/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** Where is Charter 88 now its time may have come? Its supporters have just voted to unite with the New Politics Network. It’s a good match. The Charter has paying members, the NPN has an office buildings (in London!). They have been working together for some time under the banner of [Unlock Democracy](http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/?page%5Fid=490&ref=opendemocracy.net) with a joint website– which has been an influential instigator of, and agitator for, the [Sustainable Communities Bill](http://www.localworks.org/?q=node/4&ref=opendemocracy.net) (recently adopted by Cameron’s Conservative party). Last month in a postal ballot 33 per cent of Charter 88’s 3,500 odd member voted and came out overwhelmingly (72 per cent) for the merger. Nearly half the NPN’s 400 members voted. And a Mussolini proportion of over 95 per cent agreed. A Charter 88 general meeting in Salford approved the change on the 21st April. Is it all too late, don't we need to hear from them *now*? A working group from the two organisations is drafting a new constitution for the organisation to be approved in November. Before then there will be a ballot on a new name. Leading contenders are Charter88 and Unlock Democracy. The latter seems to be the favorite. The difference? Charter 88 called for a written constitution Unlock Democracy calls for a citizens constitutional convention (somewhat like the [Power Inquiry’s MakeItAnIssue](http://www.makeitanissue.org.uk/?ref=opendemocracy.net)).

***Declaration of interest:*** With Stuart Weir, I was the co-founder of Charter 88 and its first director. I voted for the merger as an ordinary member.