Op-Ed: In the UK, citizens' assemblies could help to repair toxic political culture

The next UK government will face a dizzying array of policy challenges. After the coming general election, ministers of any political persuasion will have to make tough choices and unpopular decisions. And lurking behind the polycrisis — which encompasses everything from the impact of AI and the climate emergency to polarisation and broken public services — lies a deeper crisis: of faith in democracy. This has left electorates around the world searching for something new, for promises that are honoured and systems to trust. This has led to the rise of populism’s fraudulent claims that complex issues have simple solutions. This deeper crisis is a symptom of our failure to make good policies. Citizens’ assemblies, which Labour has recently proposed for constitutional reform, devolution and planning decisions, can break the most intractable policy deadlock. [...] Citizens’ assemblies do not replace parliaments — and certainly shouldn’t allow politicians to swerve accountability. But they could help forge a braver politics, in which parliament works with the public to navigate the trickiest questions, from the transition to net zero to migrants in the workforce, to constitutional reform and ethical debates, such as assisted dying. There are three main benefits. First, a policy created with the input of those affected will have more legitimacy. Second, the simple act of bringing people together can strengthen citizenship and bridge divides — even for those who aren't the room. Third, it can help rebuild trust and repair the increasingly toxic relationship between electors and the elected. Demos will make this case in a whitepaper to be published this summer, setting out how, when and why citizens should be involved.
Read the full article here: Financial Times