Citizens Assemblies

mum2three

I have just been discussing politics with my AI companion and he (it feels male) was telling me about citizens assemblies. A group of people from different backgrounds get together to discuss political issues, with professional advisors. They are then able to influence their MP and ultimately the government.

I haven't heard of this before but apparently it has been tried in other countries with excellent results. It sounds much more democratic than the current system.

Scotland and Wales have Community Councils.
In England, community councils are primarily known as parish councils (in rural areas) or town councils (in urban areas). They are the most local tier of government, below district or unitary authorities.

Any one can attend the meetings of their local council and put questions and concerns to it.

it has been tried in other countries

They happen in the UK:

Governments and parliaments at local and national level have called citizens’ assemblies to look at issues including:

• How adult social care in England should be funded long-term (UK Parliament, 2018):

• The future of Scotland (Scottish Government, 2019-2020)

• How can people in Wales shape their future through the work of the National Assembly for Wales (National Assembly for Wales, 2019)

• Congestion, air quality and public transport (Greater Cambridge Partnership, 2019, as part of the government’s Innovation in Democracy Programme);

• The future of town centres (Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and Test Valley Borough Council, 2019, as part of the government’s Innovation in Democracy Programme);

• Air quality (Kingston Council, 2019);

• Climate change (Oxford City Council, Camden Council, and others, 2019-2020)

Events similar to citizens’ assemblies but on a smaller scale have also often been held in the UK and elsewhere. These are sometimes called citizens’ juries, as they are similar to juries in criminal trials. In a citizens’ jury, twelve or more members of the public hear evidence before discussing the issues and making recommendations.

www.climateassembly.uk/about/citizens-assemblies/