The New Politics Network has welcomed Gordon Brown's support for democratic renewal in comments he made while giving the Hugo Young Memorial Lecture yesterday (Tuesday 13 December).
Speaking at the event, of which the Network is a key organiser alongside Chatham House and the Guardian, Gordon Brown called for a "new politics." He outlined an agenda of democratic renewal including completing House of Lords reform, parliamentary approval for sending troops into military action and increased use of citizen's juries and citizen's forums.
Commenting on the speech, Parliamentary Officer Alexandra Runswick said:
"Gordon Brown's speech last night confirms that he wants to see Labour restart the democratic renewal agenda which came to a halt in its second term.
"It is very welcome to see such a senior politician embrace policy initiatives designed to improve trust, scrutiny and participation in the British political system. He now needs to sell this programme to the rest of the cabinet to ensure that his rhetoric is matched by a programme of action."
Ends
Notes:
Selected quote from Gordon Brown's speech:
Because a central feature of our tradition and the protection of our liberties within it is the limits we place on executive power, I am pleased that on my first day in office I took on that challenge, giving up government power over the Bank of England. I made the same point during the General Election campaign when I suggested there was a case for a detailed consideration of the role of Parliament in the declaration of peace and war.
I would apply this same approach to constitutional questions such as the issue of House of Lords reform, left unfinished by the 1911 Act, which - in the words of its own preamble - was only a temporary step.
Our long held commitment to liberty demands also that we break up any centralised institutions that are too remote and insensitive, devolving and decentralising power, encouraging structures and initiatives so that the power so devolved brings real self government to communities.
My own view is that new politics cannot be a reality unless we make local accountability work by reinvigorating the democratically elected mechanisms of local areas - local government. And I believe it is in the same spirit that we explore a new pluralism in our politics, searching for not just consensus but for a shared sense of national purpose, seeking new ways of involving people in shaping the decisions that affect them – from citizens' juries to local citizen forums – where the evidence is that participation does not just enthuse those directly involved, but makes the public generally feel more engaged.
The full speech is available on the Chatham House website.
The New Politics Network is the leading political think tank specialising in the role of political parties and broadening participation in the political process. In association with Charter88, it organises Elect the Lords which campaigns for the House of Lords to be replaced by a predominantly elected second chamber.
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