Loomio

Q3 What is the basic structure of the body or set of bodies that debates the options and makes recommendations?

PE Phil England Public Seen by 323

Background:

We have been examining this question through a series of public events and a survey. We are doing this to help build a shared vision among democracy campaigners so that we can:
a) engage with the Trickett/King's initiative and campaign to make it have a better public interest outcome and
b) design and initiate our own process if the King's/Trickett proposal turns out to be insufficient.

We are moving this discussion to Loomio for a limited time in order to bring this discussion to a conclusion and see if there are any unifying statements we can agree on. These will then be put forward to the next convention planning group meeting on 11 September for possible adoption.

You are invited to propose unifying statements (using the green button at the top right-hand of the page) drawing on our work to date (see below) to see what support they receive from other participants. You can also comment on, discuss and vote on proposals that others have made. Those statements receiving the most support will be considered for adoption at the meeting of the next convention planning group on 11 September.

Work so far on this question:

i) Popular responses from the survey we conducted after the public meeting at the House of Commons on 10 May:

The convention should take the form of citizens assemblies that are either
• Chosen by random selection or
• Independently organised across the country

ii) Results of the temperature check of statements suggested at the end of our day of deliberation on 16 July 2106 (in response to Q2 & Q3):

  • Decisions to be made openly and transparently (96%)
  • Countryside and cities as part of its physical, geographical diversity (90%)
  • A series of meetings that physically goes to all regions of the UK (e.g over a year) Local MPs of regions could take part (80%)
  • It should consist of 2 parts: Online and Physical Meetings (78%)
  • Open invitation (starts with this) + representative sample (73%)
  • Multi phase process creates transparency with existing local groups (69%)
  • Elected representatives who represent all various communities and are accountable to communities. Forming local assemblies (68%)
  • A preparatory process that will grow alongside existing system (68%)
  • Getting in touch with groups – faith, disabled, civil society groups – make a list and contact them so they are invited in and so they come from a wide distribution of population. Network to do as many as possible (64%)
  • 24 people from each region (12 women/12 men) randomly selected by weighted sampling – 288 deliberating on national issues. 1000 people from each region then convene to do a “sanity check” on its proposals (58%)
  • Additional point we need to get clear on voting rights and eligibility: Citizenship, Nationality and residence are not interchangeable terms – look at definitions (56%)