Leading the way...

“the political system too often ignores or neglects new ideas that flow from outside in Westminster and often in the past have failed to listen and learn, so we have to rise to the challenge of opening up our political system to recognise and to take on board new ideas” (Gordon Brown speech to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, 3 September 2007).

I couldn’t have put it better myself!  Opening up Westminster and Whitehall to new ideas and experiences from outside that square mile in London has been a key goal for ippr north over the last 4 years, and it is great to see that Gordon Brown is on the same page.  No longer does the man in Whitehall know best. 

Brown’s announcement of citizen juries and standing commissions to bring different voices from outside of party politics into policy development is highly welcome.  It will open up policy debates to fresh ideas and make better use of the talent that undoubtedly exists in this country. For those that have the opportunity to participate in these forums it could spark a more lasting engagement with politics and democracy. However, for it to mark the shift that Brown wants will require considerable commitment on the Government’s part.  To become effective these new mechanisms must have traction in the policy making process, and not just become another box ticking exercise.