Idea of the day: The Citizens Convention Bill

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Idea of the day: The Citizens Convention Bill

26.10.2009 // by Guy Aitchison

This idea comes from Stephen Shaw in London:

What's the big idea?:

It is crucial that the Citizens Convention Bill is on the long list of ideas that people will be voting for. This is because it is, at present, the only show in town that will embed in law a system that puts citizens in the driving seat regarding how our democracy is reformed and improved. It has been drafted based on the findings of the Power Inquiry: that people must be involved in politics and will get involved if that involvement is actually meaningful. The Bill also has 100 MPs behind it, a very good running start.

Why is it important to you?:

Grafting a Bill like the Citizens Convention Bill into the Power 2010 campaign will allow this campaign to take the strong stance of accountability; that it is not just a campaign asking MPs and PPCs to sign up to a pledge but to something very concrete, i.e. a Bill. This will mean those MPs or, if elected, PPCs will find it far harder wriggle out of it.