On the weekend of 9th-10th January 2010, a scientific sample of 130 citizens from across the UK, selected by YouGov to be representative of the population as a whole gathered in London for a two-day deliberative event.

These 130 citizens participated in a Deliberative Poll® organised in consultation with Professor James Fishkin of Stanford University and his colleagues at the Center for Deliberative Democracy at Stanford, Professor Robert C. Luskin and Dr. Alice Siu.

Professor Fishkin conceived this method of public consultation in the 1980s and has since carried out numerous Deliberative Polls around the world in collaboration with Professor Luskin.

Participants received balanced briefing materials detailing each of the reform ideas, with arguments for and against and background information (you can read the document in pdf here). They deliberated in small group discussions with trained moderators and engaged in plenary sessions with experts. Participants' opinions were gathered through confidential questionnaires before and after deliberations.

In this way, these 130 citizens distiled the many ideas we have received into a manageable shortlist of 29 proposals, each of which received the backing of a majority of participants. These have now been put to the public vote.  

RESULTS

The Full List of Rankings before and after deliberations can be viewed here (pdf). 

A breakdown of the Demographic Representativeness of the sample can be viewed here (Word doc).

A breakdown of the Attitudinal Representativeness of the sample can be viewed here (Word doc).

Information on Attitudinal Change across the weekend can be found here (Word doc).

Information on how participants Evaluated the Weekend can be found here (Word doc).

COVERAGE 

• How the public think Parliament can be cleaned up, Stuart Wilks Heeg, Left Foot Forward, 15/01/2010 
• Power 2010: we need to reclaim power from the executive and reward scrutiny and bravery, Jessica Assato, 15/01/2010 
• POWER2010 gives a unique form of democracy a chance to blossom, Andy May, Lib Dem Voice, 15/01/2010
• John Bercow risks car crash and Commons reform could be casualty, Michael White, The Guardian, 15/01/2010 
• What ideas came out of the Deliberative Poll and why?, Stuart Weir, openDemocracy, 15,01/2010 
• Here's one way to reconnect voters, Andreas Whittam Smith, The Independent, 15/01/2010 
• Deliberative Democracy: how can we hear when the people speak?, Diana Smith, LabourList, 15/01/2010 
• People want a more effective parliament, Pam Giddy, Letter to the Guardian, 14/01/2010 
• *POWER2010 in the House of Lords*, Helena Kennedy, Hansard, 14/01/2010
• A weekend to fix our democracy?, Oliver Henman, The Third Estate, 13/01/2010
• More on Power2010: My usual cynicism returns, Paul Sagar, Bad Conscience, 12/01/2010 
• How can we still push electoral reform?, Paul Segar, Liberal Conspiracy, 12/01/2010 
• Sunday morning with James Fishkin and POWER2010, Rosemary Bechler, openDemocracy, 12/01/2010 
• Constitutional change: By the people for the people?, Afua Hirsch, Guardian, 11/01/2010 
• Political Hustings [VIDEO] Channel 4 - London, 11/01/2010 
• Deliberative democracy gets my vote, Helena Kennedy, The Guardian, 09/01/2010 
• Fishkin on deliberative democracy, Stuart Weir, openDemocracy, 09/01/2010  
• The Today Programme: London Deliberative Poll [AUDIO] James Fishkin and participant Paul Senior interviewed on BBC Radio 4, 08/01/2010
• The 58 ideas that could hold the key to bringing the election alive, James Fishkin, The Independent, 08/01/2010

PARTICIPANTS' BLOGS

• I feel more positive about politics and more likely to engage, Paul Senior, 11/01/2010 
• I was inspired by the British public, Christopher Lovell, 11/01/2010 
• Observing the deliberative poll (blog by an observer), Richard Benson, 11/01/2010
• I had my views changed on a number of things, Paul Senior, 10/01/2010 
• Thoughts on day one, Fiona Benson, 10/01/2010 
• Whizzing through snow-filled Yorkshire, Christopher Lovell, 09/01/2010 
• Preparing for this weekend's debate, Paul Senior, 08/01/2010

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Participants received a balanced Briefing Guide detailing each of the 58 reform ideas. Read it in here (pdf).

EXPERTS

The full list of experts on the panels. 

PHOTOS

Check out the POWER2010 flickr stream for photos of the event. 

VIDEO