Politics People
FABIAN POLICY REPORT
POLITICS by PEOPLE A new charter for democratic reform, written by activists from across the Labour movement. Report written by Olivia Bailey.
CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 Executive summary 7 Britain’s democratic decline
10 Writing the charter
The author would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts on 11 The debate behind the charter the future of our democracy. In particular, the local Fabian Societies who hosted dis- 11 Political education cussion meetings (Colchester, Durham, Oxford, Grimsby, Surrey, Birmingham, South 13 An open, accessible Tyneside, Peterborough, Reading, North London, Chiswick and West London, York, and participative democracy Central London, Suffolk, and Havering) and the advisory panel of senior Labour figures 15 An information revolution who met regularly to steer the project (Lewis Baston, Ann Black, Wayne David MP, Billy Hayes, Declan McHugh, Melanie Onn MP, Cllr Reema Patel, Ellie Reeves, Alexandra 17 Tackling big money Runswick, Nan Sloane and the Chair Jonathan Reynolds MP). Special thanks go to 20 A fairer and more representative Alexandra Runswick, Katie Ghose, Will Brett, Darren Hughes, Nan Sloane, Alex Davies democracy and all of our sponsors and friends at the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. Thanks also go 22 Diverse politicians rooted in their communities to Andrew Harrop for his help and guidance throughout the project, and Tobias Phibbs and Tara Paterson for their help coordinating events and the launch of the charter. 25 Afterword: The cultural shift away from collective action
27 Endnotes ABOUT THE PROJECT
The aim of this project has been to get Labour members and supporters talking about democratic reform, writing a new charter for democratic reform as the output of that conversation. To make that happen, we held 16 discussion meet- ings around the UK, published articles about democratic reform on the Fabian website and on LabourList, and launched a new, interactive, discussion website where Labour members and supporters could share their ideas. Thousands of people have participated in the project, and their ideas were collated and mar- shalled into the final charter by an advisory panel of leading Labour activists. To ensure the final charter reflected the views of the public, we also conducted a series of focus groups with Labour voters, people who would consider voting for the Labour party and non-voters to gather their views on the challenges facing our democracy. They were all between 25 and 50 and in social grades C1, C2 and D. The focus groups took place in Greater Manchester, Cardiff, and Halesowen in early 2016.
[email protected] This paper, like all publications www.fabians.org.uk of the Fabian Society, represents not the collective views of the General Secretary, Society but only the views of the Andrew Harrop author. This publication may not Head of Editorial, be reproduced without express Kate Murray permission of the Fabian Society. Report Author, This project was made possible Olivia Bailey The advisory panel do not with the generous support of the fabian society necessarily endorse the policy 61 Petty France Designed by Soapbox, ideas discussed in this report. Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust London SW1H 9EU www.soapbox.co.uk They have only explicitly signed 020 7227 4900 (main) up to support the specific wording 020 7976 7153 (fax) © The Fabian Society 2016 of the charter. First published in September 2016
1 / Politics by people BRITISH POLITICS IS GRIPPED BY FEAR AND MISTRUST
The vote to leave the European Union was the latest expression of the deteriorating relationship between democratic institutions and the public. By voting to “take back control” the British people have made a powerful statement about the state of our democracy that must not be ignored. Britain’s democratic decline has been gathering pace for decades. The individualism of the Thatcher years taught people to believe in the “I” not the “we”, breaking community bonds and a sense of cooperation. The financial crash of 2008 created huge economic uncertainty. And, a series of scandals have hit Britain’s most trusted institutions, including parliament, the press, the police and the BBC. Political parties have been found wanting in response to these challenges, pursuing the politics of the soundbite and the median voter, and failing to connect with vast swathes of the public who feel that politics has no relevance to their lives. The vital ingredient for a healthy democracy is the participation of citizens who feel powerful. Today, that is under threat. We, the undersigned, call for a democratic ‘reset’ to ensure our politics faces outwards and encourages people to have their say. We call for politicians to urgently pursue democratic reform in the interests of the strength and stability of our United Kingdom:
2 / Fabian Policy Report 1. PRIORITISE POLITICAL 2. AN OPEN, ACCESSIBLE 3. AN INFORMATION EDUCATION WITH AND PARTICIPATIVE REVOLUTION strengthened political DEMOCRACY with with tougher regulation and citizenship education automatic voter registration, of the use of statistics by at school and throughout life, greater citizen participation politicians and campaigners, including school councils in public institutions of all clearer, more accessible that enable pupils to make kinds and the use of new information about political meaningful change. technologies to make it parties and elections from easier to vote. In the future, an independent source and we should work towards safe a published job description and secure online voting. for MPs.
4. ACTION TO REMOVE 5. A FAIRER AND MORE 6. DIVERSE POLITICIANS THE INFLUENCE OF REPRESENTATIVE WHO ARE ROOTED IN BIG MONEY IN DEMOCRACY THEIR COMMUNITIES OUR POLITICS with a democratically with a democracy diversity with a comprehensive elected house of lords which fund, central publication of register of all lobbyists and amplifies the voice of nations equalities data on candidates action for a fairer and more and regions, votes for sixteen at all elections, and the use sustainable funding system. year olds, and a fairer voting of positive action. This should consider, in system where every vote the longer term, increased makes a difference, but state funding and low level where we retain constituency caps on donations to representatives. Such political parties. a system is already in place for elections in Scotland, Wales, and London.
This charter was developed by an advisory panel of senior Labour figures after a consultation with Labour party members and supporters. It does not represent the collective view of the Fabian Society, which does not take organisational positions on policy questions.
The members of the advisory panel, who wrote and have signed this charter are: Lewis Baston, Ann Black, Wayne David MP, Melanie Onn MP, Billy Hayes, Cllr Reema Patel, Ellie Reeves, Jonathan Reynolds MP, Alexandra Runswick, and Nan Sloane.
GET INVOLVED! Fifty leading Labour figures have already signed this charter. Add your name too by going to www.fabiandemocraticreform.org.uk
3 / Politics by people support for schools to train teachers and innovate in lessons EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Argue for a new focus on political literacy within citizenship education • Support a duty or incentive for every school to have a school council, linked in to regional networks ritish demoCraCY is in crisis. A decline feel disconnected from politics and political • A new national ‘democracy day’ where Bin voter turnout over the last 60 years decisions, unable to trust politicians to act workplaces and trade unions facilitate has combined with a growing distrust of in their interests and put off by a sense of political discussions or community politicians and public institutions. The an- scandal and corruption. Discussion with engagement. ger expressed during the recent EU referen- Labour voters reinforced these strong views, dum is just the latest sign of dissatisfaction demonstrating that this problem threatens with the status quo. votes that Labour takes for granted. 2. AN OPEN, ACCESSIBLE AND This report provides the background to The report also reveals that while vot- PARTICIPATIVE DEMOCRACY a six-point charter to renew engagement ers want reform, they prioritise knowledge, with automatic voter registration, in our democracy, and discusses possible ideas and culture over structural change. greater citizen participation in public policy ideas that could make it a reality. The This means that while questions like elec- institutions of all kinds and the use of new charter was written after a process of con- toral reform are important, they are not the technologies to make it easier to vote. In versation and consensus building among be all and end all of the quest to reengage the future, we should work towards safe Labour members and activists, and a series people in our democracy. and secure online voting. of focus groups with voters. It aims to re- invigorate a conversation about democratic Electoral administration has failed to keep reform at Labour’s grassroots. The starting 1. PRIORITISE POLITICAL EDUCATION up with rapidly changing technology, and point is that democratic reform will only with strengthened political and citizenship this is leaving voters behind. However, a return to the political agenda if Labour gets education at school and throughout life, focus simply on e-democracy runs the risk serious about it once again. including school councils that enable of engaging further those who are already While the charter represents the collec- pupils to make meaningful change. politically empowered. Democratic institu- tive view of all the signatories, this accom- tions must be as engaging and participa- panying report is the work of the author The fi rst point of the charter aims tive as possible in order to embed a sense to tackle people’s sense that they don’t that people are being listening to by gov- This report provides know enough to vote and get involved in ernment in their day-to-day lives. politics. Working class people are more There are a range of ways to modernise the background likely to say that they lack the knowledge to and open up our democracy, including to a six point engage, meaning our democracy is in dan- online voting, modernisation of the polling charter to renew ger of once again becoming the preserve of day process, and automatic voter registra- engagement the prosperous. tion. There is also a need for the Labour The process of conversation and con- party to back up words on devolution and in our democracy, sensus-building discussed three core ways citizen power with action. While Labour and discusses this can be tackled: improving citizenship understands the need for power to be closer possible policy ideas education, giving children a chance to par- to people, it must now learn how to make that could make ticipate in meaningful democratic processes people powerful. Possible policy ideas for at school, and a renewed focus on lifelong Labour to consider include: it a reality. learning and citizen engagement. The report suggests a range of possible • Support safe and secure online voting as policy ideas for Labour to consider: soon as possible alone. Using insights from voters across • Pilot new ways of conducting elections, the UK, it reveals the extent of the visceral • Support a new body to monitor citizen- including increasing the number of poll- anti-politics views held by many. People ship education in schools, and new ing stations people are able to vote at
4 / Fabian Policy Report • Pledge to introduce automatic voter registration, while arguing for reforms 4. ACTION TO REMOVE THE 5. A FAIRER AND MORE in the meantime including same day INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY in our REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY with registration politics with a comprehensive register a democratically elected house of lords • Support Labour leaders in local govern- of all lobbyists and action for a fairer which amplifi es the voice of nations and ment to increase citizen participation in and more sustainable funding system. regions, votes for sixteen year olds, and the delivery of local services This should consider, in the longer term, a fairer voting system where every vote increased state funding and low level caps makes a difference, but where we retain on donations to political parties. constituency representatives. Such a system is already in place for elections 3. AN INFORMATION REVOLUTION in Scotland, Wales, and London. with tougher regulation of the use of Scandal and money surround percep- statistics by politicians and campaigners, tions of our democracy. Although politi- clearer, more accessible information about cians are often unfairly tarnished by the The notion that “voting doesn’t make a political parties and elections from an actions of a minority, the sense that politics difference” is often deployed as a reason independent source and a published job for non-participation in elections. Part of description for MPs. this is due to perceived unfairness in our Scandal and democratic institutions. We have an elec- Voters feel that clear and unbiased money surround toral system which means that vote share political information is hard to come percep tions of our doesn’t correspond to the number of seats by. This is because people fi nd it hard to democracy. won, and where voters in hundreds of trust politicians and the media, and also seats around the country know their seat is because electoral administrators do not do unlikely to change hands. Sixteen year olds a good enough job of communicating with is corrupt has become so all pervasive that are unable to vote in local or national elec- people about the process of voting and the inaction is no longer an option. Part of this tions, despite being able to vote in Scottish ‘offer’ of each political party. means a serious look at the funding of parliament elections, being liable to pay To tackle this problem, action is needed political parties, an issue which has been tax and being able to join the army. And in three areas: tougher regulation of sta- seen as politically untouchable by the left laws can be derailed by unelected peers in tistics, better information provision at for some time. an unaccountable second chamber. election time, and the publication of a Reducing the infl uence of big money in A number of factors have changed since job description for MPs. Culture change politics is often used as a partisan football, the 2011 AV referendum that mean elec- at Westminster is also needed. Commu- with both the Lobbying Act and the Trade toral reform is now worthy of considera- nication between people and politicians Union Act examples of the Conservatives tion by the left. Public support for change is will only improve if individuals decide to trying to damage the Labour party under higher than ever, the rise of smaller parties change the way they behave. Possible pol- the pretence of reform. Our conversations seems to be happening under fi rst past the icy ideas for Labour to consider include: suggest that real action on both lobbying post anyway, and change now looks to be reform and party funding is now needed in Labour’s electoral interest. Our advisory • Argue for greater independence and a to restore the public’s faith. Possible policy panel worked through disagreement to bigger budget for the UK Statistics Au- ideas for Labour to consider include: agree a principle based, rather than system thority, or a new regulatory body based, approach to electoral reform which • Support the creation of a new, inde- • Support a comprehensive register of lob- retains a constituency link but where every pendent body to provide better informa- byists, backed up by a code of conduct vote can make a difference. Possible policy tion to voters about political parties at and sanctions ideas for Labour to consider include: election time, or consider the expansion • Back calls for the overhaul of the Advisory of the Electoral Commission’s remit Committee on Business Appointments, • Support electoral reform in local gov- • Pilot programmes to improve informa- placing a tougher regulator on statutory ernment, encouraging Labour councils tion to voters in Labour local councils footing to proactively argue for the change • Support the publication of a job descrip- • Reopen talks on party funding with an • Consider support for a more propor- tion for MPs, which allows for variation open mind, arguing for low level caps and tional electoral system which retains in how an MP goes about their job increased state funding in the longer term. constituency MPs and has a top up list.
5 / Politics by people Such a system is currently in use in Scot- of previous careers. This adds to the • Review how local parties work to ensure land, Wales and London sense voters have that politicians are they are reaching out in to the commu- • Support the replacement of the House “not like us”. Politicians have not success- nity, and making themselves as inclusive of Lords with a democratically elected fully made the case for positive action as possible chamber of representatives from all the to improve diversity, with limited public • Introduce a democracy diversity fund nations and regions of the UK understanding of the structural causes of to distribute funds to help under- • Back votes for sixteen and seventeen inequality and discrimination. represented groups get elected across all year olds in all elections Ideas proposed to improve diversity fo- political parties cused around the supply of candidates, and • Continue to use positive action to using positive action to bring about an im- improve the representation of under- 6. DIVERSE POLITICIANS WHO ARE provement. A greater sense of connection represented groups ROOTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES between politicians and the public can also • Consider legally binding quotas for the with a democracy diversity fund, be achieved through better communication representation of women in parliament central publication of equalities data and culture change. Ideas for reform for and devolved assemblies on candidates at all elections, and the Labour to consider include: • Publish data about the diversity of can- use of positive action. didates every six months in the run up to • Review the selection procedures for both the next election The majority of political representa- local and national offi ce to remove the tives are white, male and middle class barriers that stand in the way of under- and MPs come from a very narrow range represented groups © secretlondon123 / Flickr
6 / Fabian Policy Report temserves them well, and less likely to participate in it. Research has also shown BRITAIN’S DEMOCRATIC DECLINE that working class people are more likely to think that politicians engage in “self-serving behaviour and working in the interests of the rich and powerful”.6 The below graph (figure 3) taken from demographic splits in the o begin, we must first look at the There is evidence that attitudes towards 2016 Hansard Society Audit of Political En- Tstate of democratic participation today. politics and politicians have also hardened, gagement shows the scale of the problem. 7 There are three key trends at the heart of following a series of crises for political in- our democratic decline: declining participa- stitutions including the financial crash and FIGURE 3 tion, declining trust, and widening social the expenses scandal. The Hansard Society % likelihood to engage in politics by inequality between those who participate. 2016 Audit of Political Engagement revealed social grade First of all, there has been an overall de- that just a third of the population think that cline in voter turnout since the 1950s, from a the system by which Britain is governed 90 high of 84 per cent in 1950 to a low of 59 per works well, with those living furthest from 80 cent in 2001. Closer electoral races explain Westminster more likely to be dissatisfied. the slight increase in turnout at general Similarly, just 35 per cent of people believe 70 1 elections since 2001. The 72 per cent turn- that when people like them get involved in 60 out for the EU referendum was markedly politics they can really change the way the higher than recent general elections, with country is run.4 Successive British Social 50 high public interest and the opportunity to Attitudes surveys have also demonstrated 40 register a protest against the establishment the deterioration of trust in politics and the combining with a sense that every vote government over the past three decades, 30 really would count. There is also evidence represented in figure 2 below.5 20 of a gradual decline in the completeness The evidence also suggests that political of the electoral register in the post war pe- disengagement directly relates to economic 10 riod, with millions currently estimated to be and social power. Working class people 0 2 missing from the electoral register. are less likely to feel that the political sys- AB C1 C2 DE
Certain to vote Very or fairly interested in politics FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 Knowledge of politics % turnout at general elections % trust the government to put the needs of the nation first Bringing the stats to life 90 40 The statistics show us there is a problem, but to understand the reality of political 85 35 disengagement we conducted focus groups around the UK. We spoke to three different 80 30 groups of voters early in 2016: a group of
75 25 Labour voters on the outskirts of Manches- ter, a group of people who would consider 70 20 voting Labour on the outskirts of Cardiff, and a group of non-voters in Birmingham. 65 15 Their insights are reflected throughout this report, and in the final charter, but it is 60 10 worth taking a moment to focus on their overall perceptions of our democracy. 55 5 Each focus group were asked to draw the
50 0 first thing that came into their minds when 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015 thinking about politics and politicians. The
7 / Politics by people resulting images bring the crisis in our In addition to this sense of disconnec- politics was much more palpable, with democracy to life. People feel a sense of tion from politics, the non-voters group participants arguing that politicians are disconnection from politics and politicians, also expressed strong opinions about scan- “not like us” and do “deals we don’t know a sense that politicians are out for them- dal and deception. Politicians “fi ll their own about behind closed doors.” There was also selves or in some way corrupt, and a deep pockets… it just makes you feel like you’re a sense that politicians make promises and sense of unfairness. straight being done over”, and “there’s a lot then fail to keep them, with one participant of stories in the paper about somebody’s been saying: “They say they are going to do one Non-voters exposed for some scandal or they’re corrupt thing and they backtrack a few months down For the group of non-voters, from the out- and they’re either fi ddling expenses or lining the line and do the reverse. It has happened so skirts of Birmingham, disconnection was their own pockets”. Another described an many times now. People have lost confi dence the dominant theme. One way this mani- overall sense of negativity, referring to “sad in them. That is why I come from a family of fested itself was through geography. There faces” and “negative feelings”: fi ve adults and I’m the only one that votes.” was a real sense of frustration and anger that political decisions are taken in a place nothing like their hometown, “it’s all just London, isn’t it”. Disconnection was also depicted through a lack of knowledge or understanding about politics, and a sense that politics is all “white noise”:
“A picture of morning time, coming down the stairs, putting the TV on and, as usual, some sort of debate going on about nothing really, because we can’t really fathom out what it is they’re even talking about, and therefore falling asleep and switching it off.”
“This picture is of Parliament. Sad faces, so she’s obviously thinking of negative feelings, and she’s put grr on top, which is negative, and rain. ” “Literally the politicians think that they are up here and the rest of us “Parliament is on one side and we’ve got are down here and they are basically the real world on the left hand side… there in their world and we are here people in parliament don’t notice what Labour considerers in our world. Money bags either side is going on in the real world, because The second focus group was with people is how they spend their money, and they live in a different one completely, who have considered voting Labour in the thinking and believing that they are and talking about issues that probably better than the rest of us” don’t really touch on normal people” past, and would consider doing so again. Their sense of anger and frustration with
8 / Fabian Policy Report Labour voters Perhaps most concerning of all for the left, these visceral anti-politics views were also held by Labour voters in a safe Labour seat on the outskirts of Manchester. Corruption and money was the dominant theme, with over half the group focusing their images on it. As one person said, politics is “money and power, money equals power and that’s about it really”. There was also a strong sense that politicians are disconnected from everyday life, and that “you only see them when you are ready to vote”. These images are instinctive reactions rather than considered views, and across all the groups participants shifted and softened their views as they discussed the complexi- ties of political life. But these harsh images do demonstrate the scale of the challenge faced by politicians, and how embedded anti politics views are in Britain. For the Labour Party, they also show that creeping political “grey, dreary, deceit and lies.” disillusionment threatens Labour’s base as much as any other group.
“She fi rst drew a picture of the Houses of Parliament because that was the fi rst thing that came in to her mind, and then some money because everything that happens is to do with money … and then a few words that came in her head: change, expenses, corruption, immigration.”
“This is a group of people trying to get their opinions across, but there is a no entry sign over Westminster. Basically whatever we think never gets in there and we are never heard.”
9 / Politics by people
THE ADVISORY PANEL WRITING THE CHARTER This project was steered by representa- tives from across the Party, who all had different views on political reform. The process of conversation and consensus building amongst this group was designed to show that Labour can rmed with a sense of what people think and engage in political activity’. The solu- come together on some of the most Aabout our democracy and the political tions proposed form the six themes of the politically thorny issues of the day. The environment in which those views have charter: political education, an accessible following participated and have agreed developed, the focus of this project has democracy, tackling the influence of big to add their name to the charter: been solutions. Instead of the usual think money, the diversity of politicians, a fairer Lewis Baston, expert in political tank report, a different methodology has and more representative democracy, and reform been used: conversation and consensus- an information revolution. Each point of Ann Black, NEC member building. By starting a conversation about the charter is discussed in detail through- Wayne David MP, former Shadow democratic reform within the Labour family, out the remainder of this report, with a Minister for Constitutional Reform Billy Hayes, former General the project aimed to find promising ideas range of policy ideas discussed for the Secretary of the Communication as well as build support for the final charter. Labour party to consider. Workers’ Union If Labour is to put democratic reform back Melanie Onn MP, former Shadow on the agenda, then pressure will need to Deciding on our issues of focus Deputy Leader of the House of come from the grassroots. The six themes of the charter were easy to Commons To make that conversation a success, a settle upon. While the question of political Ellie Reeves, NEC member group of senior Labour activists were con- reform could have led to wider constitutional Nan Sloane, Director of the Centre vened who represent a diversity of views issues such as devolution or a written con- for Women and Democracy within the Labour party. That group over- stitution, the focus on increasing democratic Cllr Reema Patel, Fabian Society saw a process of consultation where La- participation enabled a focus on the changes executive member bour members and supporters were asked that would have the most immediate and Jonathan Reynolds MP, leading proponent of electoral reform for their views. A discussion website was visible difference. launched, meetings were held, and articles What wasn’t as easy was determining and ideas were published. Focus groups priorities from within the points addressed because disagreement over that one issue were also convened in order to gather the in the charter. Debates on democratic reform can often stall action in other areas. views of the public. can often become skewed by the personal To address this, the three focus groups The specific focus of the inquiry has interests of politicians and activists. In par- were asked to prioritise areas where action been democratic participation, and how ticular, this often means that any conversa- is most urgent. The results are striking, with to increase it. In practice this means that tion about change immediately becomes a every group prioritising education and in- work has focused on the question of ‘what debate about electoral reform. Members of formation above the technical debates that might encourage more people to vote the advisory panel were keen to avoid this, politicians spend so much time on:
TABLE 1 Focus group participants’ priorities for reform
Labour voters Non voters Labour considerers
1. Improve education about politics 1. Improve education about politics 1. Improve education about politics 2. Transparency, clear rules and sanctions 2. Change the voting system 2. Change the voting system 3. Make it easier to vote 3. Make it easier to vote 3. An unbiased regulator to monitor 4. Change the voting system 4. A rule where promises are kept for the political promises 5. Reform Party funding full length of power 4. Make it easier to vote 5. Incentives to vote 5. Take action to increase diversity
NOTE: In this exercise participants were given five pieces of paper with set areas typed on them (education, voting system, easier to vote, reform party funding, diversity), along with two blank pieces of paper. They were told they could veto any printed idea, and use the blank paper to write their own idea.
10 / Politics by people of citizenship education by the Conservative party in the last parliament, creating uncer- THE DEBATE BEHIND THE CHARTER tainty and a lack of forward planning. These concerns were also refl ected through research for this report. One Labour voting focus group participant revealed that his wife taught citizenship you’ve got it.” And I said, ‘Well I don’t lessons, but had no political interest or 1: PRIORITISE POLITICAL EDUCATION know what I’m doing, so I don’t see the expertise: “my wife is a food tech teacher and with strengthened political and citizenship point in doing it.’ But then some women she has a citizenship class… she has no clue… education at school and throughout life, might be pressured because it’s like, ‘Oh, she is not politically minded”. Others did including school councils that enable we won the right to vote,’ and they go and not believe the issue was addressed at all pupils to make meaningful change. then they vote for something they don’t in schools, with one participant suggesting understand, and I think, ‘What’s the point students are “not really taught about it”, The fi rst point in the charter calls for the in me voting because I might be voting for and another arguing that schools are the prioritisation of political education. Ac- something I’m against.’ But I don’t get it, best place to improve political education: cording to the most recent Audit of Political so I don’t bother.” “politics needs to be in schools for people to Engagement, 44 per cent of the population really understand”. Labour members and claim to know ‘not very much’ or ‘nothing The non-voters also expressed a sense activists shared these concerns, adding at all’ about politics. This can mean people of social exclusion when discussing their that lessons often fail to be engaging, and vote for a party out of habit or instinct, vot- reluctance to vote. One person expressed that political literacy should be embed- ing “blindly from the time that I was 18” as a sense that politics is deliberately an elite ded throughout the curriculum as well as one former Labour voter explained. It can preoccupation, designed to marginalise: taught in citizenship classes. cause people to feel wary of participating “You know, the clever people, the bigger in political activity beyond the ballot box. people… they think we’re not all there and School councils – It is also clear that there And, most worryingly, it can mean they opt don’t understand it all”. Another claimed is a need for greater opportunities for out of participation altogether. that politicians deliberately make politics school children to actively participate Academics have documented a clear link “confusing so nobody wants to vote”. The in meaningful democratic processes between knowledge of political processes statistics confi rm that this is a class issue, through school councils or youth parlia- and willingness to participate in them. For with those in social grades AB more than ments. Melanie Onn MP, a member of example the political participation model twice as likely to say that they are knowl- our advisory panel, is a leading advocate designed by Lowndes, Pratchett and edgeable about politics as those in social of this, arguing that it is only by taking Stoker starts with an individual’s belief classes DE.9 part in democratic processes that young that they ‘can’ participate, because they people can truly understand the trade possesses the necessary skills, confi dence Ideas for change offs involved, and feel empowered to and understanding to do so.8 This was There are three key ways to improve politi- continue to be involved throughout their confi rmed by the views of the focus groups, cal education: improving citizenship edu- lives. While it is estimated that as many who all identifi ed lack of knowledge as the cation in schools, developing more effec- as 90 per cent of schools do have school main barrier to people voting, despite the tive school councils, and lifelong learning. councils, their power and impact varies fact this is often only due to lack of confi - signifi cantly and there are no formal dence or social capital. Citizenship education – Citizenship educa- regional or national connections between For the non-voters that were spoken to, tion was made compulsory in the school them. Research has also suggested that a sense of intimidation and worry about curriculum after the infl uential Crick Report often the councils can simply be talking making the wrong decision was the main argued it would enable pupils to “participate shops, where students feel like they are reason that they do not vote. This comment in society effectively as active, informed, critical not truly listened to. In the long run, this from a middle-aged woman summarises and responsible citizens.”10 However recent potentially has an even more detrimental the mood of the conversation: Ofsted inspections have revealed that there effect on democratic participation than if is both a lack of specialist teachers and the students hadn’t been asked for their “some women, like, my friends have said to insuffi cient development of pupils’ political opinion in the fi rst place.12 While there me, ‘You should use your vote, you know, literacy.11 Doubt was also cast on the future are excellent initiatives around the country,
11 / Politics by people like the UK Youth Parliament and local schemes for youth mayors or similar, these POSSIBLE POLICY IDEAS FOR LABOUR TO CONSIDER INCLUDE: only involve a small minority of children. • Establish a body to monitor citizen- the development of specific Lifelong learning – In addition to political ship education in schools, like the political literacy classes to sit education in schools, there is also a need standing committee on education alongside citizenship lessons for more opportunities for lifelong learn- for citizenship recommended by the ing about politics. Some contributors to the Crick Report • A duty for every school to establish project highlighted the role of workplaces a school council, with real powers and trade unions as places where people • Create incentives and improve to impact on the governance of the support for schools to innovate and school. Local councils could establish could develop their understanding. Par- develop their citizenship education, a network of local school councils to ticipation in local democratic processes including focusing on training the create a meaningful pupil council of and community activism is also important teachers who are delivering it the whole area here. As the Fabian Society research report Pride of Place argued, often people need • Guidance for schools on how to • Work with trade unions and employ- to feel able to effect change in their own deliver ‘political’ citizenship education, ers to develop new ways to engage ‘backyard’ before they can feel powerful in empowering teachers to discuss employees in democratic events. a wider political context. This principle can political parties and elections without Workplaces could be encouraged to be applied across the different aspects of worrying that they will be accused hold a yearly ‘democracy day’ where people’s lives – from an increased voice of indoctrination. One other option, employees are relieved of their duties in the workplace, to more effective en- recommended by the Speaker’s in order to engage in discussion or Commission on Digital Democracy, is community activity gagement from the local council on local regeneration or a local park.
IDEA IN FOCUS: MELANIE ONN effect real change. It is a small step in Local or national. Two schools have writ- MP ON HER IDEA FOR A teaching how their world can be changed ten to me about wild animals in circuses. SCHOOLS PARLIAMENT through effective campaigning and If this were to be the parliament’s topic lobbying. It is non-party political but in for their term of office they would have keeping with the concept of community to research this issue. They would have campaigning. to generate support from their elector- Creating a more participatory system Before the parliament could meet ate to back their campaign using their from a young age, demonstrating how they would have to undergo election research. They would have to learn about change can happen and taking kids campaigns; create a manifesto that our national parliamentary system to find through our current system’s processes through research and questioning of their out who they need to approach both in could connect people much more closely classmates would guide them to plan for government and amongst individuals to the mechanisms of politics. what they would like to focus on; a taste who might support their campaign. I have been working with a group of the experience of running a campaign It was also be good for pupils to look of schools on the concept of a Schools either within their entire schools or at other recent campaigns that have Parliament. The idea is to go beyond the across schools. made the headlines and successfully ef- usual school council, which is kept within Once elected they would have to fected change like the WASPI women, the confines of what schools can do to learn to work together to decide which or the sugar tax campaign. They would make children’s experiences there better. of their priorities they will follow. If it is also benefit from learning about groups The aim is to create a collection of school not something that they as an individual like Greenpeace, Amnesty International representatives in the local area who will campaigned on, they might have to ex- or trade unions who seek to influence choose topics that matter to them, per- plain it to their electorate. change in policy. This might also give haps about their local area but perhaps The priorities could be anything, it them the sense that their voices, collec- about issues that affect them or concern could be tackling obesity in children or tively, as citizens of the future could be them and enable them to campaign to road speeds around parks and schools. equally as powerful.
12 / Fabian Policy Report It is with this in mind that policy makers butions about online voting were couched 2: AN OPEN, ACCESSIBLE AND should approach the question of demo- with concerns about security, or the pos- PARTICIPATIVE DEMOCRACY cratic innovations, ensuring they are aimed sibility of coercion within the home, and it with automatic voter registration, at the whole population and are not simply is clear these concerns must be answered greater citizen participation in public an optional extra to amplify those who before online voting can be implemented. institutions of all kinds and the use of already have a voice. It also necessitates The Open Rights group summarised these new technologies to make it easier to a focus on making all aspects of state in- concerns in a submission to the Speaker’s vote. In the future, we should work frastructure as participative as possible, to Commission on Digital Democracy: towards safe and secure online voting. tackle one of the root causes of a sense of powerlessness from the disengaged. This “Voting is a uniquely diffi cult question for The creation of the internet and the does not mean trying to persuade people computer science: the system must verify rapid development of digital technology has “to take a day off work to go and listen to some your eligibility to vote; know whether you transformed society, but electoral adminis- Member of Parliament”, in the words of have already voted; and allow for audits tration has failed to keep up with the pace one focus group participant, but, instead, and recounts. Yet it must always preserve of change. Focus group participants argued embedding consultation and engagement your anonymity and privacy. Currently that better use of online technology might within public services and communities.14 there are no practical solutions to this help encourage people to vote. One Labour According to the most recent Audit of Po- highly complex problem and existing voter suggested that a lot more “younger litical Engagement, just one in four British systems are unacceptably fl awed.”16 people … would probably vote through an app”, adults feel infl uential in local decision- with another arguing that online technolo- making, and this falls to just one in eight Voting in person – A range of suggestions gies could help with the occasional incon- where decision-making in the country as a were also made about the process of cast- venience of voting “when you’ve got fam- whole is concerned.15 ing a physical vote, and it is clear that a ily and children and are working long shifts”. number of straightforward innovations Participants also raised concerns about the Ideas for change can be made. Grimsby Fabians argued that inconvenient location of polling stations and There are a number of ways to make we should consider changing the day of the process of voter registration. democratic processes more accessible. Con- the week that we vote, and contributors Structures are important, but it is impor- tributions made by Labour members and in South Tyneside argued that polls should tant to note that they were not the preoc- activists focused quite narrowly on three be open for a period as long as seven days. cupation of the focus groups, in particular structural aspects: online voting, polling Convincing arguments were also made the group of non-voters. Instead of blam- day innovations and voter registration. But for “more voting stations where it is easier ing structures for their lack of democratic cultural change, to increase people’s power to just drop in on”, including placing vot- participation, participants focused more on and infl uence in everyday interactions, is ing booths in the places that people go the reasons that they felt disempowered much more important. The left must back in their day to day lives such as shopping by our democracy. That is an important up warm words on devolution and citizen centres or doctors surgeries. Ideas were lesson for policy makers, and it raises the participation with real action to ensure peo- also shared about the importance of voting important question of who will benefi t ple are powerful in their day-to-day lives. being accessible to disabled people who from e-democracy and other mechanistic face a wide range of barriers in the electoral innovations. While we have seen an in- Online voting – Online voting was a com- process.17 While compulsory voting was crease in people engaging in politics online, mon theme throughout the consultation raised by some, there was no consensus in through initiatives like 38 degrees or the process, with many arguing it is a sensible favour of it amongst the advisory panel. government’s petitions website, it seems and necessary change to keep up to date that those involving themselves already with the changing nature of society, espe- Voter registration – The system of voter have a lot of social and political capital. As cially given the numbers who now bank registration is ripe for reform. Estimates Professor Charles Pattie told the Speaker’s and shop online. Areeq Chowdhury, the say millions of Britons are currently absent Commission on Digital Democracy “those founder of WebRoots, commented on our from the electoral register, in particular already politically engaged are quick to adopt discussion website that the potential ben- from hard to reach groups.18 This is in part web technologies as yet further ways of engag- efi ts of online voting include greater par- due to the new system of individual elec- ing. By and large, those who are politically ticipation, greater accuracy and potential toral registration, which was introduced marginalised just do not.”13 cost savings. However a number of contri- to tackle fraud and increase confi dence in
13 / Politics by people the electoral register, but which has been The Power Report is one of a number to of taking this agenda seriously before the criticised for rushed implementation. Ideas discuss the potential benefit of so called last election, with Ed Miliband and Policy submitted to us include allowing voters to ‘democratic innovations’ as a way of ena- Review Co-ordinator Jon Cruddas arguing register as late as election day, and voter bling citizens to influence decisions taken that “to change the country means giving registration in schools. But the most effec- by those in power, discussing examples people the power to shape the services and tive policy suggestion is automatic voter such as participatory budgeting. The Fa- institutions that affect their lives”.21 registration, which was promised by Labour bian Society research report Going Public Professor Graham Smith has argued ahead of the last election, and proposed is another example, arguing for increased that “cultural change is required within po- by the Power Inquiry more than 10 years public participation in the running of pub- litical authorities if systematic participation ago.19 One way this could be achieved is lic services, including the power for citizens is to be embedded in our political system” by using the data already held by govern- to establish co-operative styles of govern- and that is a lesson that must now be ment departments and local councils, such ance. The Labour Party demonstrated signs heeded by the Labour party.22 While it has as from driving licences, council tax records, easily adopted the language of devolution and vehicle registration data, to add names “To change and people power, too much of this seems to the register. Siobhan McDonagh MP re- the country superficial. Not only has Labour enabled cently made a strong case for the change in the Conservative Party to control the nar- the House of Commons, arguing: means giving rative, for example with Theresa May’s people the recent support for workers on boards. It “At a time when social exclusion is getting power to shape has also allowed its focus to rest on struc- worse, voter turnout is declining and IER the services tures and not the people participating has caused registration to deplete, auto- within them. While Labour understands matic voter registration has never been and institutions the need for power to be closer to people, more important. Voting is the backbone of that affect it must now learn to enable people to this house, and it is one of the most impor- their lives” be powerful. tant interactions between the citizen and the democratic state. It is a fundamental symbol of engagement, as it signifies that you are not on the margins of society, but POSSIBLE POLICY IDEAS FOR part of the majority. No longer can we LABOUR TO CONSIDER INCLUDE: numbers, and ensure adequate accept a system that excludes and margin- • Argue for the provision of secure funding for registration initiatives. alises potential voters, not least because online voting as an option at the 2020 Currently their responsibility is just they are exactly the groups with which we election, following the recommenda- to ensure the completeness of the 20 need to engage to end social exclusion”. tion of the Speaker’s Commission on register doesn’t deteriorate digital democracy23 With boundary changes fast approach- • Support calls to draw parliamentary ing, contributions were also made on the • Pilot new ways of conducting elections, boundaries based on census data, perceived unfairness of the way bounda- including increasing the number of rather than the electoral register ries are currently drawn. Lewis Baston, polling stations people are able to vote at psephologist and member of the advisory • Prioritise the accessibility of elections panel, argued that instead of relying on a • Pledge to introduce automatic for disabled people, including acces- currently unreliable electoral register, that voter registration if Labour enters sible manifestos and easy read formats it would be much fairer to base boundaries government, and push for reforms to on census data. registration in the meantime including • Support Labour leaders in local same day registration and registration government with initiatives designed Democratic innovations – While we had in schools and colleges to increase citizen participation in the very few submissions on the question of delivery of public services, and embed active participation in public institutions, • Support a clearer duty on the electoral citizen power at the heart of new there has been an active public policy de- commission to increase registration public services policies and promises bate that it is important to consider here.
14 / Fabian Policy Report IDEA IN FOCUS: DRAW December 2015. If the registers get a lot drawing constituency boundaries; either CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES better over the next few years, as advo- to model what a complete register would BASED ON THE CENSUS, BY cates of Individual Electoral Registration look like, or to base representation on the LEWIS BASTON suggest they should, then the result will principle that is most commonly found The electoral register is not a stable or be hugely oversized urban constituencies. in the rest of the world, from Ireland to reliable basis to use as a way of allocating The census suggests that if everyone who the United States – that MPs should have constituencies, because the numbers of was entitled to be on the register actually roughly the same number of constituents, people on the register has varied wildly was, there would be a little over 40m on including children and foreigners. Bound- over the transition period – from 45.3m the register in England rather than 37.6m. ary changes would be every ten years, in December 2014 up to 46.4m in May Fortunately, there is a better way. The rather than every fi ve-year parliament as 2015 and then down again to 44.7m in census itself could be used as the basis of the current law requires.
“plain English”, “simple explainers” and the £350milllion Vote Leave claim about the 3: AN INFORMATION REVOLUTION more information about what each party NHS. Although the UK Statistics Authority with tougher regulation of the use of stands for and how to vote. While voters publicly stated that the fi gure was mislead- statistics by politicians and campaigners, are overwhelmed by an array of political ing, Ipsos MORI found that half of the public clearer, more accessible information about and media spin at election time, there is a still thought that the claim was correct.25 A political parties and elections from an lack of information that is perceived to be recent report commissioned by the govern- independent source and a published job both clear and unbiased. This increasing ment found that there are problems with the description for MPs. awareness of political and media spin has current system of statistics governance, criti- combined with increasing partisan dea- cising the underlying quality of government While political education is one part of lignment to mean that today’s electorate is statistics, as well as arguing that government the solution, it is also clear there is need for more interested in political argument than departments releasing statistics to the media more accurate and accessible information they have been before, but feels less able to should treat them as an “offi cial statistic” about politics. One non-voter summarised engage with it. and publish them “in a manner that is com- this problem when she said “I haven’t pliant with the [UKSA] Code of Practice”.26 voted for the simple reason that I don’t Ideas for change A number of ways to challenge this understand” but that “sometimes I think To improve the accessibility and quality were proposed during our conversation they don’t explain it properly so people don’t of information given to voters, there are with party activists. Sir Hugh Bayley, dur- understand it”. three key areas for reform: the governance ing a discussion with York Fabians, spoke The fi rst part of the information prob- of statistics, the provision of information to a proposal he made when he was an lem relates to the popular belief “that you at election time, and clearer information MP to give greater independence to the can’t trust” politicians as a result of broken about the role of an MP. UK Statistics Authority, including the abil- promises and counter claims between ity to decide what ‘national’ statistics are political parties. This has been made worse Governance of statistics – The compli- free from government control, as well as by the recent EU referendum contest, cated and opaque nature the governance giving parliament rather than government with Vote Leave criticised by the remain of statistics today means that the public is the power to set their budget. Other sug- campaign for telling “lies”. Recent polling insuffi ciently clear what information they gestions argued that it would be desirable reveals that just one in fi ve Britons trust can trust from government and politicians. to have an unbiased ‘state of the nation’ politicians to tell the truth, with politicians There is confusion about which govern- statistics report provided by an independ- less trusted than estate agents, journalists ment statistics are ‘national’ statistics, and ent statistics agency before elections, free and bankers.24 therefore meet a rigorous code of conduct, completely from government control. A There is also a sense that not enough and statistics that are published by govern- similar suggestion was made by the Elec- information is provided to help people ment departments but don’t meet those toral Reform Society in a recent report on make an informed decision about who standards. There are also concerns that inap- the EU referendum, with proposals for the to vote for. This was refl ected across our propriate use of statistics is not challenged Electoral Commission, or a similar body, focus groups, with participants calling for robustly enough, with one example being to publish a ‘minimum data set’ before
15 / Politics by people referendums containing all the basic data fully equipped to make a decision about There have also been calls for the Electoral relevant to the debate. The same report who to vote for. This has been called for a Commission to improve the work they do also suggests that an official body should number of times, including by the Speaker’s to inform voters, with the Political and be empowered to intervene when overtly Report on digital democracy which said it Constitutional Reform Select Committee misleading information is disseminated.27 “strongly encourages political education bodies calling for them to “examine the changes and charities to consider how to make avail- which can be made to provide more and bet- Information at election time – The second able and publicise trustworthy information ter information to voters”. The Labour party area for reform is the provision of informa- about candidates and their policies, includ- called for better provision of information tion at election time, to ensure voters feel ing by means of voter advice applications.” in the last parliament, with calls for “a new online democracy portal which draws together all of the things you need to know before you POSSIBLE POLICY IDEAS FOR • Argue for the creation of a new, vote, including who your MP is, how you LABOUR TO CONSIDER INCLUDE: independent body to provide objec- vote, who the political parties are and what 28 • Greater independence and a larger tive information to voters at election they stand for”. During the project Wayne budget for the UK Statistics Author- time about the political parties, David MP proposed the creation of a new ity, or a new regulatory body. This what they stand for and what they independent body, similar to the electoral body should monitor all government advocate. The remit of the electoral commission, to provide voters with objec- statistics, and should have punitive commission could be expanded in tive summaries of political parties’ offers in enforcement powers to ensure they place of a new body advance of elections. This could draw on the meet a rigorous code of conduct good example provided by London Elects, • Pilot programmes to improve who manage the elections in London for • Consider giving the Electoral Com- information to voters in local council the Mayor and GLA. mission or a different body the elections responsibility for publishing basic Information about the role of an MP – There data ahead of referendums, and • Support the publication of a job is also a need to increase awareness of the monitoring the inappropriate use of description for MPs, drawn up by the work politicians do, in order to rebuild the data during campaigns House of Commons, which allows for relationships between members of parlia- variation in how an MP goes about ment and their constituents. One simple their job suggestion that has been made to counter this is the publication of a job description
IDEA IN FOCUS: HELPING TO inclined to vote according to ‘class’ and Commission and would have the express CONNECT WITH THE ELECTORATE, the family tradition of affiliation to a responsibility of ensuring that all electors BY WAYNE DAVID MP political party is less important. The phi- are provided with an ‘objective summary’ losophy and policies of a political party of the electoral offer of each party at a The Electoral Commission was estab- are therefore becoming more important given election. lished by the last Labour government. in determining how an individual will Labour could call for the creation of Although it is a relatively recent organisa- cast his/her vote. an independent body which would have tion it has become an accepted and in- At the same time, however, there is an responsibility for distributing basic elec- deed indispensable part of our electoral unprecedented level of distrust and cyni- tion material from the political parties. It landscape. In short, the Electoral Com- cism of what politicians say and promise. could also operate a website which would mission has responsibility for the smooth Increasingly, voters say that they cannot objectively and clearly set out the central running of elections, referendums and believe political parties. political platform of each party. In short, electoral registration. The Commission I am suggesting that we ought to con- this new body could form a new interface also ensures transparency in political sider the creation of an ‘indepenent’ body with the electorate and make a signifi- party finance and election finance. to help tackle this disconnect. This body cant contribution to increasing political In our political climate voters are less would be not dissimilar to the Electoral trust and engagement.
16 / Fabian Policy Report for MPs. This was called for by the Stand- that they are tarred by the actions of a lobbying and the revolving door, and real ards Committee in the House of Commons minority, and they feel annoyed at the ac- progress on Party funding. towards the end of the last parliament. They tions of an invasive and often irresponsible argued that the change would prevent con- press. Often, not unreasonably, this can Lobbying reform – The Lobbying Act, stituents having “irrational or unrealistic” lead to defensive stances and insuffi cient introduced in the last parliament, was expectations as well as giving them the right action that fails to address the causes of condemned by the Labour party for letting to judge their MP against a fair standard.29 the problem. While politicians should “vested interests off the hook, and gagging The relationship between people and take comfort that people understand that charities and grassroots campaigners who politicians cannot be restored through sometimes the stories “might not be true or want to hold the government to account.” policy levers alone; it requires a change in very well reported”, and are able to separate Unlock Democracy, who had been cam- culture. The media, politicians and the pub- politicians they admire from those who do paigning for lobbying reform prior to the lic are all responsible here. If politicians an- wrong, the sense that politics is “corrupt” bill, said the bill would make “transparency swer a question directly, the media should has become so all-pervasive that inaction and lobbying worse in the UK” as it would not punish them for it. Politicians should no longer looks like an option. “capture so little lobbying activity”.32 In a avoid braying in the chamber to prevent Our focus groups also revealed a clear submission to our conversation, Unlock the public being turned off by it. The public worry about the funding of political parties, Democracy director Alexandra Runswick should avoid unthinkingly judging politi- with participants arguing that political do- called for “lobbying to come out of the shad- cians without listening to what they have to nations often come with strings attached. ows” with a comprehensive register of lob- say. Everyone who cares about the future Recent polling published by the Electoral byists, a policy promised by Labour at the of our democracy must refl ect on what they Reform Society underlines this, revealing last election. Submissions also covered the personally can do to improve the tenor of that 75 per cent of the public believe that need for lobbying reform in local govern- political debate. big donors have too much infl uence on po- ment, where vital decisions are taken with litical parties, and that 61 per cent believe much less scrutiny. the system of party funding is corrupt and Contributors to the project held strong 4: ACTION TO REMOVE THE must be changed.31 Despite the inability views on the need to close the revolving INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY in our of political parties to come to an amicable door, where “those who have held high of- politics with a comprehensive register agreement on this question in recent years, fi ce” can “walk into lucrative roles”.33 The of all lobbyists and action for a fairer there is clearly a public appetite for change. executive director of Transparency UK has and more sustainable funding system. described this practice as a “corruption This should consider, in the longer term, Ideas for change time bomb”, and the chair of the Public increased state funding and low level caps There have been many attempts to, in the Administration and Constitutional Af- on donations to political parties. words of David Cameron, “shine the light fairs Committee, Bernard Jenkin MP, has of transparency on lobbying”, as well as to called the process opaque and argued for According to the British Social Attitudes clean up party funding. However the two the reform of the Advisory Committee on Survey, just 17 per cent of people trust the most recent attempts - the Transparency Business Appointments.34 government to put the needs of the nation of Lobbying Act and the Trade Union Act fi rst.30 This was echoed across the focus - have been derided as partisan attacks on Party funding – There were also submis- groups, with one Labour considerer arguing the labour movement and voluntary sector, sions on the question of party funding. politicians “are in it just for the money and and have been largely ineffectual at restor- These derided the Conservative party for not for the good of the country”. This sense ing public trust. Cross party agreement on their “one sided approach”, and called for was peppered across the focus groups with party funding proved impossible to reach state funding of political parties to ensure frequent references to “backhanders”, “deals in the last parliament, when Labour could “fairness”. Since the Political Parties, Elec- behind closed doors”, “expenses” and “cor- not agree with proposals that would have tions and Referendums Act was passed ruption”. This is unsurprising given the disproportionately adversely affected them. in 2000, many reports have attempted to regular appearance of scandal in political Despite the political caution of recent solve the question of party fi nance but news, and is a crucial factor in the current years, contributions to our project suggest none have succeeded. The report that got low levels of political participation. an appetite for change from voters and closest was the Inquiry by the Commit- Discussions about scandals and expens- from within the Labour family. Reform tee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL), es often irk politicians. They feel frustrated should come in two parts: action to tackle which recommended a £10,000 cap on
17 / Politics by people donations, a 15 per cent cut to the elec- While participants felt that it was the “fair- that is being ushered in by Labour leader tion spending limit, and increased public est” of the proposals because it reduces reli- Jeremy Corbyn. While it may not guaran- funding for political parties who have ance on both trades unions and big business, tee electoral success, a large number of more than two MPs.35 they also felt very strongly that they already committed activists are much more willing To test public attitudes towards these give enough in taxes. One non-voter said: to make small donations than at previous three proposals, we presented them to “we seem to have to foot the bill for everything”. points. A low donations cap provides the the three focus groups. While there was Politicians often see increased state funding opportunity to make “people powered poli- a lack of awareness about how political as toxic, but from the conversations we had tics” a reality. parties are funded, and some surprise it feels a deliverable aim – if a confident fair- Our research also exposed a gap be- at the funding gap between the Labour ness case is made for it. tween Labour voters and Labour members party and the Conservatives, a number of While the Labour party resisted the on the question of the trade union link. key insights emerged. On the £10,000 cap, recommendations from the CSPL at the We showed focus group participants news there was a sense that a cap on donations time, a number of key factors have now clippings about the Trade Union Act, and sounded fair, in order to exclude “people changed. The main reason for Labour’s asked for their views on whether forcing who make larger donations” who can say “if levy payers to opt in was fair. All three I give you a million pounds you can do this A low donations cap groups felt that it was, including the La- for me”. However, a number of reserva- provides the opportunity bour supporters. One Labour voter said “it tions were expressed. The first of these sounds like the way it’s done at the moment was on the level of the cap. One Labour to make “people powered is entirely misleading and they are trying considerer stated that the high limit “might politics” a reality to make it more transparent and more fair” still remove a lot of us working class people and another argued that “you don’t want who think we don’t get heard enough… we objections was the proposed requirement a leader that is in the unions pockets”. This haven’t got ten grand.” Participants across for union members to ‘opt-in’ to affiliation view was held alongside a firm support for all three groups also expressed a belief that fees to the Labour party, even though the the trade union movement amongst La- the cap wouldn’t make a difference, and report stated that trade union affiliation bour voters, who believed that the change that politicians would find a way around fees could be regarded as individual pay- might not make much difference because it. One Labour considerer said: “I can’t ments. Since then, the Labour Party has “the people that are in unions are generally see that making any difference whatsoever willingly changed its own rules to ensure Labour voters anyway”. because what they would lose from one they that affiliated supporters from trades un- Agreement on the wording for the would just gain from others. Those who ions do opt in.36 And, the Trade Union Act charter was difficult to reach with the ad- normally would give 20k would just ask means that any new union member must visory panel. While support for a lobbying somebody else to give it for them.” opt-in to the political levy as a whole. This register was uncontroversial, discussion of There was strong support across the means that the financial case for resisting party funding proved to be a sticking point. focus groups for a cut in election spending, the donations cap is dwindling, and will This was largely due to the view that a largely because people believed political continue to dwindle over time. Another commitment to reform that was too direct parties spend money on unnecessary gim- relevant factor is the ‘movement’ politics or prescriptive might be seen as an attack micks in election campaigns. One Labour voted pointed to the infamous “massive stone”, calling it “pointless” and a “waste POSSIBLE POLICY IDEAS FOR • Pledge to overhaul the Advisory of money”. When challenged on whether LABOUR TO CONSIDER INCLUDE: Committee on Business Appoint- political parties needed to spend money in ments, placing a tougher regulator order to reach the disengaged, participants • A comprehensive register of lobby- on statutory footing generally felt that political parties should ists, backed up by a code of conduct just spend their money better. Rather than and sanctions • Seek to reopen talks on party “throwing money” at the electorate, they funding with an open mind, should engage with the root causes of • Review the impact of lobbying in arguing for low level caps and local government, setting out a increased state funding in the political disengagement. strategy to improve problem areas longer term Opinion was divided on the question of increased state funding for political parties.
18 / Fabian Policy Report on the trades unions. This was not the aim IDEA IN FOCUS: A COMPREHENSIVE out of the shadows. The simplest way of of any of the participants, but there was an REGISTER OF LOBBYISTS, BY ALEX achieving this transparency is with a com- acceptance that in the longer term all po- RUNSWICK DIRECTOR OF UNLOCK prehensive register of lobbyists. It must litical parties may have to make sacrifices DEMOCRACY cover all paid lobbyists and give us mean- in order to restore public trust and increase ingful information on what lobbyists are participation. As Margaret Beckett argued up to, including who is being lobbied, in her minority report to the CSPL inquiry, Lobbying is an essential part of a healthy what policies they are lobbying on, the democracy. It is what we all do when we names of the lobbyists and whether they “the public object to “big money” in politics. contact our elected representatives or sign have held public office in the last 5 years. But it is the capacity to spend which is the a petition to let them know we care about A good faith estimate of what it be- incentive to raise it.” There was also a con- an issue. However, professional lobbying ing spent on lobbying would also show cern that in the current economic climate – an industry worth £2 billion in the UK scale, disparities and trends in lobbying. a commitment to increasing state funding – can subvert democracy by giving those Even lobbyists estimate that the govern- might be difficult to argue for. with the greatest resources undue influ- ment register only captures about one per The final wording agreed by the panel ence and privileged access to politicians. cent of lobbying activity. The perception reflects a commitment to the aspiration of a The problem is, at the moment, most that money can buy access and influence fairer funding system, with low level caps and of this is done in secret. We can’t make an corrodes trust in our politics. We need to increased state funding explicitly within La- informed decision about what is or isn’t know who are pulling the strings if we are bour’s remit for future talks. The wording does, appropriate. We need to bring lobbying to hold our elected politicians to account. however, reflect that firm decisions will need to be taken after a much wider conversation.
IDEA IN FOCUS: REFORM OF Any change to party funding rules Such an assessment needs to look at the PARTY FUNDING BY that tampers with the ability of parties to core purpose of party funding rules – to es- DECLAN MCHUGH, maintain these funding streams can have tablish a level playing field in which the po- FORMER CONSTITUTIONAL a dramatic impact on the ability of parties litical battle is a battle of ideas and not a race AFFAIRS DIRECTOR AT THE to function and therefore on their capacity to raise and spend money. It also needs to LABOUR PARTY to engage in electoral politics. For exam- guarantee that the money flowing into polit- ple, a cap on all donations that is set at the ical coffers is clean and without undue influ- level of £50,000 would have little impact ence. That means considering reforms that on the Conservative party, which has would: – Set a comprehensive cap on dona- Reforming the rules around party funding restructured its funding base around that tions at a suitably low level so as to address is among the most difficult of constitu- threshold, but would have a major impact big donations across the political spectrum tional challenges. That is because of the on the Labour Party, because it would cut – Lower existing caps on spending at both asymmetry that exists between political off large union contributions. The fact that the local & national level to ensure level parties. Each has different origins, struc- party funding rules can have such a dis- playing field. tures and support bases. In financial terms torted impact on one party compared to However, it is also important to under- the Conservative party is heavily reliant another gets to the heart of the problem. stand that any changes to funding rules on a relatively large number of individual Rather than being an objective exercise which would diminish the amount of members who have access to significant in trying to make the financing of British income that parties currently receive also personal wealth and who have been democracy fair and sustainable, it can requires us to examine access to public willing and able to donate sums of sometimes become a political weapon funds. Parties already receive money from £50,000 to the party. Labour meanwhile used by one party to harm another. That the state, so that principle is established. has traditionally relied upon the affilia- is why it is so important to try and pro- The question is whether the public would tion fees and donations of trade unions, ceed with reforms on the basis of con- be willing to see that level of support in- derived from the individual small con- sensus and driven by an even-handed creased in exchange for tougher controls tributions of millions of members. The assessment of how the current regulatory on the private funding that parties receive. party has also benefited from the small system could be reformed in ways that Unless there is public appetite for that then subscriptions of a large number of indi- would strengthen and not imbalance party funding reform will remain very dif- vidual members. UK democracy. ficult to achieve.
19 / Politics by people 27 per cent in 2011.38 To investigate this The arguments for a more proportional apparent shift in public attitudes, electoral voting system are well rehearsed, including 5: A FAIRER AND MORE reform was discussed with focus groups. in the fi nal report of the Jenkins Commis- REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY Participants were presented with vote sion which was set up by labour shortly after with a democratically elected house of shares against the number of seats won the election in 1997. A change could mean lords which amplifi es the voice of nations and regions, votes for sixteen year olds, by political parties at the last election, that seats more closely match votes, it could and a fairer voting system where every alongside fi gures that showed the number encourage collaboration and power sharing, vote makes a difference, but where we of safe seats in parliament. Once we had and it could mean that more people feel retain constituency representatives. Such discussed how the current electoral system that their voices are heard. But the focus of a system is already in place for elections works, the groups concluded that the this project was on the political case. in Scotland, Wales, and London. current system is “unfair”, with one non- The fi rst argument relates to Labour’s voter arguing “if you get 13% of the vote you electoral chances. A more proportional The notion that “voting doesn’t make a should surely get 13% of the seats”. Both the system would prevent Labour being shut difference” is often deployed as a reason non-voters and the Labour considerers out of representation in areas like the for non-participation in elections, and raised UKIP specifi cally as an example of South East. And, it would enable Labour to this was no different in the focus groups. the problem. When challenged about the spend more time concentrating on its ‘core’, While some of this sentiment relates to relationship that constituents have with traditional working class, vote, a group it is frustration with broken promises, or the their local MPs, participants generally felt increasingly unlikely to be able to rely upon. seemingly superfi cial retail offer from po- There is also evidence that our current litical parties, some of it can be explained electoral system is skewed against progres- by perceived unfairness in our democratic The notion that sive voters. Because cities are becoming institutions. There are three components to “voting doesn’t make more cosmopolitan, young and liberal, this: the voting system, the House of Lords, a difference” is often Lewis Baston argued that “parties of the and the franchise. This chapter deals with deployed as a reason left, centre left and green persuasion stack up each in turn. huge margins of victory in urban areas while for non-participation the hinterlands have seen once-solid working Our electoral system in elections class left votes fragment and the centre and far The Electoral Reform Society have argued right make relative progress.”39 The recent EU that “our voting system is in crisis”, point- no particular connection with their local referendum result demonstrates this trend ing to the general election in May 2015 as representative, arguing that they would clearly. According to Chris Hanretty’s esti- “the most disproportionate result in British vote for a party and not a specifi c person. mates, Leave won the constituency count election history”.37 The Conservative Party in England and Wales by around 421–152, won a majority of seats on a minority of the Ideas for change a large majority on a relatively slim lead in vote, and smaller parties like UKIP and the Although Britain held a referendum on votes cast nationwide.40 Greens achieved strong support across the changing the voting system to the ‘Alterna- The second political argument is that country without seeing that translate into tive Vote’ in 2011, a number of submissions politics is already shifting towards the an increased number of MPs. Proponents argued that revisiting the overall question success of smaller parties. In a presenta- of reform also argue that the high number of electoral reform is now sensible. As for- tion to our advisory panel, the Electoral of ‘safe seats’ in parliament, which never or mer General Secretary of the Communica- Reform Society explained that in 1951 rarely change hands, adds to a sense that tion Workers’ Union Billy Hayes argued the Conservatives and Labour won 96.8 there is no point going to the polls. One on the discussion website, the “arguments per cent of the vote between them. In focus group participant supported this we keep hearing against reform have been 2015 that had dropped to 67.3 per cent, view, arguing: “the shame for me is that I disproved by recent political events. We had a with almost 1 in 4 citizens voting for a know who will win in my area regardless of coalition under fi rst past the post.” There are party outside the main three. Instead of my vote.” also signs that the political debate is shift- retaining the current system in order to According to the British Social Attitudes ing, with the TUC now reviewing its policy prevent the election of politicians from survey, a record high say that they support on electoral reform and with an increasing non-establishment parties, it would electoral reform, with 45 per cent now number of senior politicians indicating be wise to recognise that is happening supporting a change. This is up from just their support for change. anyway, regardless of our electoral system.
20 / Fabian Policy Report There are also strong arguments in fa- vour of using a different electoral system at POSSIBLE POLICY IDEAS FOR LABOUR TO CONSIDER INCLUDE: local level, as well as nationally. As Lewis Baston and Will Brett argued in a pamphlet • Deliver a proportional voting • Support a more proportional electoral setting out the Labour case for local elec- system in local government, system which retains constituency toral reform, first past the post currently encouraging Labour councils MPs and has a top up list. Such a prevents Labour voters getting their fair to proactively argue for system is currently in use in Scotland, the change Wales and London share of local Labour councillors.41 A more proportional system would enable local parties to build up activist bases in areas Members of the advisory panel held system, of elected politicians recommend- which are not traditionally strong for La- differing views on the question of electoral ing peers for appointment, works well.43 bour, but that Labour will need to win to reform. Some were long-time supporters A number of innovative suggestions form a government in the future. of first past the post, and some have long for Lords reform were made during the Not all contributions to the project were been advocates for a proportional system. conversation with Labour members and in favour of electoral reform, and this is The wording of the charter is designed to supporters. John Hackett advocated a an issue that divides Labour activists and find support from a wide range of people ‘sortition’ system, where peers are replaced supporters. Arguments against a propor- who believe that it is the right time to with a citizen’s jury for each bill that passes tional system include “the more direct” explore change, whilst also being clear that through parliament.44 Others suggested relationship that first past the post enables we do not want to lose the constituency that the Lords should be elected, and with a local MP, and the fact we’ve had a link to a local MP. perhaps reduced in size. Some submis- debate so recently with the AV referendum. sions expressed caution, recognising that Others supported reform, but were keen House of Lords Reform experts and crossbench peers can be useful to stress that some constituency element House of Lords reform, much like elector- when scrutinizing legislation, and that that should be retained in order to ensure a al reform, has long been a favourite topic should be borne in mind when designing meaningful relationship between voters for political activists. It was a key plank of a new system. and their representative. Labour’s reform offer ahead of the 1997 House of Lords reform was uncontro- It is also important to note that electoral election, and shortly after Labour reduced versial amongst the advisory panel, per- reform is more frequently debated than the number of hereditary peers by nearly haps surprisingly given the lack of consen- other aspects of this charter. It dominated 600. Since then, attempts at reform have sus when Labour was last in government. the majority of conversations and submis- stalled, but Labour promised an elected There was a view that Labour’s plan for an sions, and the advisory panel spent a sig- senate of the nations and regions ahead elected senate of the nations and regions nificant amount of time debating it. While of the election of May 2015. Justifying was the right one, and widespread agree- there are convincing arguments for change, the policy, Ed Miliband argued it would ment that it should be pursued. prominence doesn’t equal importance restore a sense of fairness in politics: “It’s as our prioritisation exercise with voters time to reform the way we’re governed, it’s Votes at sixteen demonstrated. Other, less controversial time every part of our country had a voice Votes for 16 year olds is now supported by reforms, could have a more significant at the heart of our politics, it’s time to have the Labour party, the Liberal Democrats, impact on voter participation and could a senate of the nations and regions which the SNP and the Greens, and 16 and 17 prevent reform being stalled because of serves our whole country so that we can year olds were entitled to vote in the re- disagreement on this one issue. truly build a Britain that works for all and cent Scottish referendum. There was also The Advisory panel were keen to ensure not just for some.”42 support for votes at 16 in the focus groups, that their discussion about electoral reform While House of Lords reform was not with one Labour considerer arguing it is a did two things: focus on principles rather discussed with the focus groups, there is basic point of fairness: than get bogged down in systems; and, re- evidence that the public would support member that electoral reform is not the be- it, with a recent poll for the Daily Mirror “you have got so many other life-changing all-and-end-all of democratic reform. They showing that 76 per cent of people would things that you can do when you are 16, also wanted to produce a recommendation prefer that the House of Lords moved to a you can become a mother or a father, you that could bring together a wide coalition new system with members elected for fixed can join the Forces, so many other things of support within the Labour family. terms. Just 11 per cent thought the current that you can do, so why don’t we take it
21 / Politics by people reveals that this gap continues to grow. IDEA IN FOCUS: THE they would be slightly bigger. Each one When one focus group participant, would ADDITIONAL MEMBER SYSTEM of those constituencies would still elect would consider voting for the Labour party, BY JONATHAN REYNOLDS MP one Member of Parliament, who would described what a politician looks like, they be the person who obtained the most said: “He has got a very nice suit, he is a very votes (just as now). grey man, he is probably 45+, and he is not How we elect our MPs and our gov- However, voters would also cast a sec- really representative of the people who vote.” ernments has a huge impact on our ond vote. This vote would elect a small Other focus group participants said similar, political culture and public life. There number of MPs covering the voter’s repeating the mantra that politicians are are many things a good electoral system county, or part of it if they live in a big “not like us”. should do, but the most fundamental is metropolitan area. These seats would be ensuring that how people have voted allocated proportionally, meaning every However, people do not necessarily is broadly refl ected in the make-up of vote counted and the MPs then sent to draw a link between this disconnection Parliament. Westminster much better refl ected the and policies to improve the diversity of That isn’t what we have at the mo- democratic will of the public. politicians. When focus group participants ment in the House of Commons. We use These top-up lists would likely see were shown data about how representa- an electoral system designed for there Labour MPs in the South East and South tive MPs were, they were surprised but being just two political parties, when in West, and Conservative MPs elected in not overly concerned, with one participant reality we have a multi-party system. big Northern cities. For the fi rst time, arguing “man or woman or whatever” what A better way to elect Parliament there would not be an arbitrary divi- matters is “they are good at the job”. When would be to introduce what already sion between ‘safe’ and ‘marginal’ seats. the focus groups were asked to prioritise exists for the Scottish Parliament and No areas could be ignored, and voters policy areas to improve democratic partici- Welsh Assembly - the Additional Mem- everywhere could make a difference. It ber System (AMS). Under this system, would be the best of what we have now, pation, two of the three groups ‘vetoed’ the there would still be constituencies but more representative and much more statement ‘take action to improve diversity’. similar to what we have now, though relevant to the politics we have today. The explanation for this apparent con- tradiction is multi-faceted, and is of course related to people’s personal prejudices and identities. However, one thing that seriously that we should educate them to a seems clear is that public discourse lacks standard when they are 16. Because you 6: DIVERSE POLITICIANS WHO ARE a recognition of different forms of struc- can go out to work when you are 16, so ROOTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES tural oppression. As citizens we have been if you are working when you are 16 why with a democracy diversity fund, taught an individualist narrative that what shouldn’t you be able to vote?” central publication of equalities data matters is triumph in adversity, and that on candidates at all elections, and the seems to predispose many against forms of use of positive action. Another argument in favour of votes at positive action. It also seems that personal 16 is that it will help improve voter turnout confi dence and self-belief played in to con- by embedding voting behaviour at an early The unrepresentative nature of our democ- versations with the focus groups, with peo- age. If sixteen year olds, who are still at racy is well documented. Despite signifi - ple doubting their ability to engage with school, can go straight from citizenship cant progress in recent years, the majority politics let alone become representatives. classes to the polling station, they are more of political representatives are white and One person summarised this when she said likely to keep voting throughout their male. MPs come from a narrow range of : “I don’t think we can expect somebody like lives. Evidence from the recent Scottish careers and just 3 per cent of MPs were my dad or my uncle, who empty the bins, to be referendum proves this, demonstrating formerly employed in a manual job. able to make world decisions.” that 16 and 17 year olds had higher rates of Commons Speaker John Bercow argued turnout than 18–24 year olds.45 in his foreword to the fi nal report of the Ideas for change Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary It is accepted across the Labour family Representation that “Parliament can do its that politics is not as representative as it work effectively only if its members are in should be. Activists recognise that this is tune with the experiences of the people they a problem in the Labour party as much represent.” 46 But research for this project as it is across other parties, with a series
22 / Fabian Policy Report of recent events and reports underlining candidates every six months in the run up underrepresented groups might be less this. Fabian Society research has demon- to 2020.50 The 2010 Equality Act legislated appropriate, or more difficult to achieve, strated that women and LGBT people are for this to happen, but the coalition gov- submissions argued that we should think still facing discrimination in the selection ernment failed to implement it as policy, innovatively about how we might apply process (with reports on disability and insisting political parties should use a vol- the principle of positive action to force an race to follow), and there have been well untary approach.51 improvement. documented problems with anti-semitism. While Labour was established as a party Positive action – A number of submissions Make the case – It is clear that a successful of the working class, too few of its MPs argued in favour of positive action, which case has not been made to all Labour party and local councillors come from working Labour has used to great success to in- members as to the merits of positive action. class backgrounds. Forthcoming Fabian crease the number of women MPs and to Much like the voters who participated in the research will reveal the scale of the prob- focus groups, there was a concern that the lem, with just 2 per cent of former Labour ‘best’ candidate might be unfairly prevented candidates who responded to a Fabian We need a party from being selected. The party and advocates survey working in a manual profession at for the people, not of positive action must get better at commu- the time of their selection.47 As a County a party for nicating the positive case, otherwise there is Durham Fabian argued at their discussion the politicians. a danger that this sense will continue to grow. meeting, “we need a party for the people, not Finally, it is also clear that a focus on a party for the politicians.” protected characteristics only goes some of Ideas for change come in two parts: ways improve the gender representation of party the way to solving the problem of political to increase the supply of a more diverse committees. Since all women shortlists disconnection. As NEC member Ann Black range of candidates, and use of positive ac- have been used by the party, the number argued, “recruiting more women, ethnic tion and quotas. As Surrey Fabians argued, of Labour women MPs has increased and minorities, gay, disabled, young or working- the first step is reaching out to the commu- today sits at 99, and 50:50 representation class candidates goes only partway towards nity and ensuring local parties engage with begins to be in sight. Nan Sloane from the councils and parliaments which “look like a wider range of people. Action can also be Centre for Women and Democracy has us”, because they will be seen primarily as taken to make local parties more inclusive argued that we should go further than all politicians. Their other characteristics are an engaging, with Grimsby Fabians men- women shortlists and consider demanding secondary.” More diverse politicians will tioning the success of women’s forums in legally binding quotas to cover all political not encourage participation unless we also their local party. Given it is political parties parties. While the use of shortlists for other detoxify the brand of politics. who are responsible for the selection of candidates, government should do more to enable parties to make change. That is why POSSIBLE POLICY IDEAS FOR LABOUR TO CONSIDER INCLUDE: the Speaker’s Conference recommended a democracy diversity fund which would Review selection procedures for • Continue to use positive action to provide local parties with financial support both local and national office to increase the representation of under- to develop local talent, as well as provide remove the barriers that stand in the represented groups. In particular, bursaries to assist with the cost of candi- way of under-represented groups continue to use all women shortlists dacy.48 The access to elected office fund was and do more to make a positive established for disabled candidates in 2012, • Review how local parties work to case for them to party members and but has since been put on hold.49 ensure they are reaching out in supporters to the community, and making themselves as inclusive as possible • Campaign for legally binding quotas Publication of data – It has also been argued for the representation of women in that political pressure might force political • Implement a democracy parliament and devolved assemblies parties to take firmer action, with propos- diversity fund to support als for political parties to publish diversity candidates from a range of • Publish data about the diversity of data and be held to account for it. A recent different backgrounds, and across candidates every six months in the Fabian report recommended that Labour political parties run up to the next election should publish data on the diversity of its
23 / Politics by people
IDEA IN FOCUS: POSITIVE 99 Labour women MPs – more than in all of success. The only areas in which our ACTION IN LABOUR, the other parties put together. performance in terms of women’s rep- BY NAN SLOANE Positive action and quotas are not an resentation is poor are those for which end in themselves. They are, in fact, thor- no positive action has been used – local oughly objectionable. This is not because government leadership, police and crime In 1992, the number of Labour women they’re unfair, undemocratic or discrimi- commissioners, and metro mayors. MPs hit a new high of 37. Some people natory – they are none of those things Given this success, what do we do were very happy. But some were also dis- – but because they are a clear signal of next? There is plenty of evidence – es- gusted. The huge effort put in after 1987 the failure of parties and societies to treat pecially from Scandinavia – that if you had only resulted in a negligible increase women fairly, on their merits and without stop positive action too soon things go from 21. There seemed no prospect of prejudice. backwards. So the first thing we need to rapid improvement, and no guarantee Almost no democratic country in the do is stick to our guns, even after we have that recent progress could be maintained. world has been able to achieve high levels achieved 50 per cent. Women in the Labour party got of women’s representation without quo- But the second is to get other parties together and began to campaign for tas. From the Scandinavian role models to pull their weight. In many countries, positive action measures to be taken. to Rwanda, from Tunisia to Bolivia, quotas this is done by having legal or constitu- They got resolutions through constitu- in one form or another have featured in tional quotas. Since the UK has no writ- ency meetings and lobbied for support. It success stories. ten constitution, the latter might be tricky, was not easy. But they got the principle of Labour is the only major UK-wide but legally binding quotas for all parties positive action through Labour’s annual party to be within sight of 50:50 gender would be eminently possible. conference and the National Executive balance in parliament because, for two According to research recently Committee (NEC), then implemented it decades, we have looked our failure in published by the Centre for Women in the form of all-women shortlists – the the face and made the hard choices. The & Democracy, there are currently 27 only viable option in a first-past-the-post only exception was the 2001 election, for countries using constitutional quotas, electoral system. which positive action was not used, and 67 using electoral law quotas, and 106 There was controversy. There were in which only four new women MPs (and political parties in 52 countries (including bitter meetings and angry exchanges. But over 30 men) were elected. But we’ve Labour in the UK) using voluntary party the party stuck to its task, and, as a con- been doing it at every election since. quotas. The vast majority of countries sequence, the parliamentary Labour party We’ve used it at many other elec- which are ahead of us in the global league is now 43 per cent female. There are now toral levels, too, and had similar levels table use compulsion of some kind.
24 / Politics by people dals, looking for some way to ally themselves with public anger”, but are painfully aware AFTERWORD: that the anger is so strong that they may not be trusted themselves.54 THE CULTURAL SHIFT AWAY These shifts have all been played out on a changing media platform, and a chang- FROM COLLECTIVE ACTION ing sense of what it means to be politically active. As Helena Kennedy noted in her in- troduction to the influential Power Report, politicians were once grainy photographs in the newspapers and distant voices on s we’ve heard throughout this report, of big business has combined with the the radio but today are subjected to the Aparticipation in British democracy has nature of our electoral system to increase “confessional sofas of daytime television”. The been faltering since the Second World War. the marketisation of our politics. Politics explosion of social media in the ten years An overall decline in voter turnout and has become a race to the target audience, that have followed that report has shifted electoral registration has combined with a whose trust is won in the same way an attention away from traditional media and growing mistrust of politicians and demo- advertising company would sell soap pow- towards more populist and, sometimes, cratic institutions. By voting to “take back der. Floating voters are ‘focused grouped’ extreme platforms. control” in the recent EU referendum, the to within an inch of their life, and then With another period of economic British people have sent a powerful mes- tantalised with meaningless soundbites. contraction on the horizon, the “Trumpi- sage about the state of British democracy All while those who are unlikely to vote are fication” of politics feels like an inevitable that must not now be ignored. ignored as an irrelevance. When the glossy reaction to all of this. Voters feel pulled There have been a number of cultural and over simplified promises are not kept, to populist extremes as a reaction to the shifts in Britain over the last 50 years that voters don’t have access to a refund and impotence, opaqueness and exclusivity of have diminished engagement in collective are running out of options for an alterna- the politics of the status quo. decision making. One factor is the increas- tive supplier. On the left, that also offers an explana- ing power of the market, rising conversely Alongside the increasing dominance tion for the indomitable rise of Jeremy Cor- to the decreasing power of the state. As of the markets has come an increasing byn. While a portion of his support comes a recent Democratic Audit report argued, sense of individualism. Communities have from hard left organisers, mainstream “the influence which large corporations and fragmented, and support for collective Labour members who have turned to him wealthy individuals now wield on the UK action has declined. This can be seen most see two things that are unusual in today’s political system is unprecedented”.52 Colin clearly in perceptions of the welfare state. politics: an unpolished sense of humanity Crouch has called this “post-democracy”, There has been a 22 point drop, in the and a willingness to challenge the status with the forces of global capitalism causing last thirty five years, of people thinking quo. Some Labour voters, motivated by the politicians to prioritise links with business it is the government’s responsibility to same desire for change, are likely to see over links with citizens. provide a decent standard of living for the similar qualities in UKIP. The financial crisis of 2008 provides an unemployed.53 Individualism has also led The challenges facing our democracy important lesson here. While government to declining confidence in representative are significant, but today’s politics seem bailed out the banks to protect individual democracy. Together with higher levels of wholly unable to rise to the challenge. savings as well as the banking system as education, it has made many people less Piecemeal reports and reforms have come a whole, a prevailing perception has been willing to accept the principle of decisions and gone, but there has been no urgency that it acted in the interests of businesses being taken by others on our behalf. or sense of a need for wholesale reform. and not individuals. This sense has been The scandals that have hit Britain’s most That is the challenge for Labour today. In worsened by the painfully slow process of trusted institutions have cemented these the run up to 1997 democratic reform was economic recovery. As one participant in trends. The banks, parliament, the police, at the heart of Labour’s offer, but years a focus group conducted for this research and the press have all been undermined in power eroded the necessary radical- argued, the “decisions that seem to be being by abuses of power by a small elite, behind ism. Now, as our democracy continues to taken just don’t seem fair to working people”. closed doors. Politicians, in the words of decline, it is working class voters who are Increasing globalisation and the role David Runciman, “tiptoe around these scan- losing their voice first.
25 / Politics by people
20. www.hansard.parliament.uk/ Commons/2016-02-03/de- ENDNOTES bates/16020363000003/AutomaticE- lectoralRegistration
21. www.newstatesman.com/poli- tics/2014/02/jon-cruddass-speech- 1. www.researchbriefings.files.parlia- 9. Hansard Society Audit of Political power-democracy-and-devolution- ment.uk/documents/POST-PN-0498/ Engagement, 2016 full-text POST-PN-0498.pdf 10. www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/ 22. www.eprints.soton.ac.uk/34527/1/ 2. www.electoralcommission.org. sites/teachingcitizenship.org.uk/ Beyond_the_Ballot.pdf uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/87111/ files/6123_crick_report_1998_0.pdf The-completeness-and-accuracy-of- 23. Open Up! Report of the Speaker’s electoral-registers-in-Great-Britain. 11. www.gov.uk/government/publica- Commission on Digital Democracy pdf & www.smithinstitutethinktank. tions/citizenship-consolidated-a- (published 26 Jan 2015) files.wordpress.com/2015/11/10- survey-of-citizenship-in-schools million-missing-voters-a-briefing- 24. www.ipsos-mori.com/research- report.pdf 12. www.theguardian.com/educa- publications/researcharchive/3685/ tion/2012/mar/t12/school-councils- Politicians-are-still-trusted-less- 3. www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm number-lip-service than-estate-agents-journalists-and- bankers.aspx 4. www.assets.contentful.com/u1rlvvb 13. Open Up! Report of the Speaker’s s33ri/24aY1mkabGU0uEsoUOekG Commission on Digital Democracy 25. www.ipsos-mori.com/Assets/Docs/ W/06380afa29a63008e97fb41cdb8dc (published 26 Jan 2015) Polls/pm-16-june-2016-charts. ad0/Publication__Audit-of-Political- pdf#page=15 Engagement-13.pdf 14. Labour voter in focus group 26. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/ 5. www.researchbriefings.parliament. 15. www.auditofpoliticalengagement. system/uploads/attachment_data/ uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP- org/assets/media/reports/Audit-of- file/507081/2904936_Bean_Review_ 7501#fullreport Political-Engagement-13-2016.pdf Web_Accessible.pdf
6. Will Jennings, Gerry Stoker and Joe 16. Open Up! Report of the Speaker’s 27. www.electoral-reform.org.uk/sites/ Twyman, ‘The dimensions and impact Commission on Digital Democracy default/files/files/publication/Its- of political discontent in Britain’, Par- (published 26 Jan 2015) good-to-talk-2016-EU-Referendum- liamentary Affairs, 2016, 14 Report.pdf 17. www.scope.org.uk/Scope/media/ 7. Hansard Society Audit of Political Documents/Publication%20Direc- 28. www.b.3cdn.net/ Engagement 2016 tory/Polls-apart-2010.pdf?ext=.pdf labouruk/3045a507f6e7c957b9_wa- m6i6611.pdf 8. Lowndes, V., Pratchett, L. and Stoker, 18. www.smithinstitutethinktank.files. G., Political participation and lo- wordpress.com/2015/11/10-million- 29. www.publications.parliament.uk/ cality effects: the impact of social missing-voters-a-briefing-report.pdf pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmstand- capital and mobilisation (University ards/383/383.pdf of Manchester, 2002) & www.elector- 19. www.labourlist.org/2015/04/khan- alcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/ confirms-labour-plans-for-automat- 30. www.bsa-data.natcen.ac.uk - data pdf_file/0007/63835/Social-exclusion- ic-voter-registration/ taken from 2013 survey, the most and-political-engagement.pdf recent time the question was asked
27 / Politics by people 31. Deal or no deal, Jess Garland, Elec- 46. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ toral Reform Society, February 2015 spconf/239/239i.pdf
32. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ 47. See Practising what we preach & The p01g2h88 ideal candidate.
33. Submission to discussion website 48. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ spconf/449/449.pdf 34. www.democraticaudit.com/?p=19223 49. www.theguardian.com/society/2016/ 35. Deal or no deal, Jess Garland, Elec- jan/25/government-urged-restore- toral Reform Society, February 2015 fund-disabled-election-candidates
36. www.newstatesman.com/politics/ 50. Practising What We Preach, Olivia elections/2015/09/why-did-labour- Bailey, Fabian Society use-system-elect-its-leader 51. researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/ 37. The 2015 general election: A voting documents/SN05057/SN05057.pdf system in crisis, Electoral Reform So- ciety (2015) 52. www.democraticaudit.com/wp-con- tent/uploads/2013/07/auditing-the- 38. www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk/latest-report/ uk-democracy-the-framework.pdf british-social-attitudes-33/politics. aspx 53. British Social Attitudes survey
39. labourlist.org/2016/07/lewis-baston- 54. www.newstatesman.com/2014/02/ electoral-reform-must-be-at-the- notes-series-scandals heart-of-reviving-our-democracy/
40. Chris Hanretty’s estimates
41. www.electoral-reform.org.uk/sites/ default/files/Labour-case-for-local- electoral-reform.pdf
42. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli- tics-29857849
43. survation.com/public-still-support- reform-for-house-of-lords/
44. www.fabiandemocraticreform.org.uk/ jhackett/replace_the_house_of_lords_ with_sortition
45. www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__ data/assets/pdf_file/0010/179812/ Scottish-independence-referendum- report.pdf
28 / Fabian Policy Report