As the House of Commons votes today on proposals to legislate for a referendum over introducing the Alternative Vote system, campaigners are urging that political reform should go deeper and further.
Once in a generation, people get a chance to make radical and significant changes to the country's political fabric, says Power 2010. This is such a time.
Democracy campaigners have welcomed the news that MPs will be asked to debate an amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill to enable a referendum on changing the electoral system.
Democracy campaigners have reacted angrily to news that the British government plans to bury proposals to reform the House of Commons by putting them to a special vote which means they will almost certainly be rejected.
Apathy is born of impotence, not ignorance. Or so the amazing response to the Power 2010 vote to find the public's top ideas to fix politics would suggest with over 20,000 votes cast in under a week.
Deliberative assemblies should play a significant part in renewing democracy, says Stuart Weir, and most especially in agreeing a written constitution for the UK. They are at the core of the work of Power 2010, guided by James Fishkin.
Power 2010, the UK coalition that aims to "change politics for good" is encouraging people to join thousands of others in coming up with ideas to "fix the system".
The die seems cast for the next General Election, says Simon Barrow. But much can still shift if non-Conservative parties, voters and reformers swing into action.
Faith and civic groups are engaged in a whole series of campaigns for people and planet, says Niall Cooper. But if politicians are to be held accountable up to and beyond the election, common action is needed in place of competing cacophony.
Look out for a major convention on ‘Real Change’ in the near future, with input from civic groups (including churches) and a manifesto for wide-ranging reform, says Simon Barrow.