The Crick Centre’s research has been holding deliberative citizens’ assemblies in the north and south of England in order to assess the role such mechanisms can play in informing constitutional policy-making while also assessing public attitudes to the current ‘devo deals’ and ‘metro mayors’.
The research suggests that, far from being anti-political, members of the public seem very keen to engage in discussions about the future of the United Kingdom, in general, and about English decentralisation, in particular. The citizens’ assemblies undertaken for this research also suggest that although the public favour regional devolution within England they are less keen on the Government’s current plan.
The research suggests deliberative assemblies can deliver informed public engagement that can add value to the policy-making process and potentially bring added depth and legitimacy to the decision-making process. However, these assemblies demand investment, careful planning and a commitment to meaningful dialogue if they are not to be dismissed as tokenism or window dressing.
Professor Flinders said ‘This was an innovative experiment in democracy and I am extremely grateful to all the participants of Assembly North and Assembly South for giving up their time and weekends to engage with such energy, commitment and passion. As councils up and down England consider the public engagement strategies that form part of the planned legislative requirements for a ‘devo deal’ our pilot-project suggests that positive public engagement is possible.’
Led by the University of Sheffield this research has been undertaken by a consortium of leading universities (University of Southampton, University College London and the University of Westminster) and in partnership with the Electoral Reform Society. The research was funded by the ESRC. The House of Lords’ Committee on the Constitution plan to publish their final report on the Union and Devolution by the end of February.
Notes.
- Project reports on Assembly North and Assembly South are available at http://citizensassembly.co.uk/
- Professor Flinders is available on 07773 144 155
- More information about the Crick Centre – http://crickcentre.org/