Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, discusses the launch of the “Better Referendum” campaign
If you think the EU referendum debate so far has been focused far too much on the personalities and internal party spats than the real issues that affect you and the country, you’re not on your own.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be like this – we can have a vibrant and lively EU referendum debate, looking at the real issues: from health and education to the economy and immigration. The Scottish referendum showed that these ballots don’t have to be boring – we can turn them into festivals of democracy: genuinely engaging national conversations that bring in every community.
So we, together with three British universities, are proud to be launching an online democratic tool for a ‘Better Referendum’ next week.
Better Referendum is a project to open up the EU referendum debate by allowing people to organise ‘meetups’ where all the issues are discussed and debated. Anyone who wants to can organise a meetup. They’ll hear from leading experts and from different sides of the debate, including videos from the official Remain and Leave campaigns. Then they’ll get to debate the issues in full – and even vote on them.
We’ll be launching the project offline too, with an event in Sheffield on Monday 23 May. ‘A Better Referendum: The Big EU Debate’ hosted by Professor Matthew Flinders, Director of the Crick Centre, one of the project partners . This event – the first of its kind – is a chance to hear all the arguments from both sides, from experts and citizens, and to discuss them in an open and innovative forum.
Images courtesy of fdecomite via Flickr and Sheffield Tiger via Flickr
There’ll be great conversations, great (free!) food, videos, votes, and short pitches from the main campaigns, so that you’ll have a chance to hear the arguments and have your say in an engaging environment. Whether you’re in Sheffield or elsewhere, this tool is the first of its kind. We can cut through the spin and have a grassroots referendum debate that we deserve. Let’s have a Better Referendum.
Keep an eye on the ERS website this week for a link to the newly-launched site – and tell your friends!
Better Referendum is being launched by Democracy Matters, a collaboration between the Electoral Reform Society, the Crick Centre for the Understanding of Politics (University of Sheffield), Centre of the Study of Democracy (University of Westminster), and the Centre for Citizenship, Globalisation and Governance (University of Southampton).
Sign up to attend ‘A Better Referendum – The Big EU Debate’: St Mary’s Church & Conference Centre, Bramall Lane, on Monday 23rd May
Biography
Katie Ghose is a barrister and campaigner. As Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society since 2010, she has established the Society as the UK’s leading campaign for a better democracy. Previously Katie was Director of the British Institute of Human Rights (2005-2010) where she pioneered new initiatives to bring human rights to life for everyone in the UK. In 2009 she was awarded Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the Asian Lawyers’ Association.
Katie has worked in parliamentary and public affairs for organisations including Age UK and Citizens Advice and for seven years served as a trustee for LGBT rights charity Stonewall. Katie is a Board member of Fair Vote, a US organisation campaigning for electoral and democratic reform and in 2015 became an Independent Council member at the University of Sussex.
This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of the Crick Centre, or the Understanding Politics blog series. To write for the Understanding Politics blog email us at [email protected]
