The Independent reports: More than 100 celebrities, academics and pressure groups challenge Gordon Brown today to give ordinary citizens a direct say in overhauling Britain's democracy.
The call follows a promise from Mr Brown to re-engage people in the political system by reforming the constitution. The independent Power inquiry, which has warned about the dangerous gulf between the public and politicians, is urging Mr Brown to match his words with a real commitment to involve ordinary voters in modernising the way they are governed.
Signatories include the novelists Philip Pullman and John le Carré, the singers Damon Albarn and Billy Bragg, the radio presenter Emma B, the comedian Mark Thomas, the actors Miriam Margoyles and Patricia Hodge and the anti-poverty activist Bianca Jagger. The statement has also been backed by prominent figures from across the political spectrum, more than 20 academics and an array of pressure groups.
Brown urged to transfer power to the people
More than 100 celebrities, academics and pressure groups challenge Gordon Brown today to give ordinary citizens a direct say in overhauling Britain's democracy.
The call follows a promise from Mr Brown to re-engage people in the political system by reforming the constitution. The independent Power inquiry, which has warned about the dangerous gulf between the public and politicians, is urging Mr Brown to match his words with a real commitment to involve ordinary voters in modernising the way they are governed.
The commission has called for an end to the first-past-the-post electoral system - the goal of The Independent's Campaign for Democracy - because parties can win power with a minority of the votes. It has also backed the lowering of the voting age to 16, imposing a £10,000 limit on individual donations to parties and decentralising power.
Today's statement, signed by public figures of all backgrounds, says that faith in the political process has deteriorated under Tony Blair and calls for urgent action by his successor to repair the damage. It suggests setting up a national assembly or convention to involve the public.
Signatories include the novelists Philip Pullman and John le Carré, the singers Damon Albarn and Billy Bragg, the radio presenter Emma B, the comedian Mark Thomas, the actors Miriam Margoyles and Patricia Hodge and the anti-poverty activist Bianca Jagger. The statement has also been backed by prominent figures from across the political spectrum, more than 20 academics and an array of pressure groups.
It warns: "There is a problem with British democracy. It began before 1997 but from the way the Iraq War was executed, to cash for peerages, to the far-reaching but insufficient constitutional reforms which Labour has introduced, there is a growing sense of a failure of government and a deepening public distrust in politics." And the statment argues that, "constitutional change must take place democratically through the direct involvement of citizens".
The signatories, who acknowledge they have a range of opinions on reforms, say: "We call for a full deliberative process, like a people's assembly or convention, which engages people from across the country.
"We oppose top-down decision making on matters central to our lives and the way our nations are governed.
"All who wish to be involved should be able to participate in this process of change. We refuse to be patronised with a 'dialogue' if the outcomes have already been decided."
Mr Brown has promised to build a "shared natural consensus for a programme of constitutional reform". His words have been interpreted as signalling support for a written constitution but reformers fear that the issue will be buried after a brief flurry of initiatives.
Pam Giddy, director of the Power inquiry, said: "Gordon Brown seems to have recognised the problem - the distinct lack of trust and belief in Britain's democracy."
She also urged him to "show his trust in the British people".
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