Whizzing through snow-covered Yorkshire…

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Whizzing through snow-covered Yorkshire…

09.01.2010 // by Christopher Lovell

Over the course of this weekend's Deliberative Poll, several participants will be blogging on the POWER2010 site to share their thoughts and experiences debating the future of British democracy.

Christopher Lovell: So it's very early in the morning and I've just got in the train in Leeds heading to King's Cross to attend the POWER 2010 conference.

Was a bit worried about the snow but fingers crossed the trains seem to running ok at the moment. Just hope it's the same on the way back! London weather is not looking good on Sunday!

I've spent a bit of time over the last few days looking through the information book that participants in the event were sent.

The range of ideas that the public have come up with is truly staggering from abolishing the monarchy all the way through to giving prisoners the vote.

Obviously I have my own personal views on some of the ideas but I am willing to let myself be persuaded by others over the weekend.

The method that is being used at the event is called 'deliberative polling'. This basically means that all participants are presented with balanced arguments for and against each idea.

Then we discuss the ideas and the arguments in small groups. After this a confidential poll is filled in individually.

It seems like a really interesting way of doing research and ensures that we (hopefully!) make an informed choice at the end of each discussion.

I'd like to see how the results of general elections changed if they were held in the same way!

Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to it as we whizz through snow covered Yorkshire. Hope to blog a couple more times while I'm there.