A vibrant, inclusive democracy that puts power in the hands of the people can unlock a brighter future for our country.

That’s why Compass and Unlock Democracy have joined forces to create the Powering Up project.

 

Our goal is to accelerate the UK’s creaking democracy into the 21st century.

Imagine if we had an electoral system that awarded seats in Parliament based on the number of votes won, instead of handing absolute power to a minority of voters, to ensure all views are heard and all possibilities are on the table.

Imagine if we had a political system that ensured real accountability so that the powerful had to play by the same rules as the rest of us.

Imagine if our democracy made sure that the people in charge couldn’t simply ignore the people on major issues such as climate change.

This is what we are coming together to build.

This is how we get started –

1. Change the culture of Westminster politics – tackle sleaze, cronyism, dishonesty, lobbying and dark money in our politics. Make sure the politicians play by the same rules as everyone else.

2. A proportional representation voting system – and a Parliament that is truly representative of the people.

3. Reform the House of Lords – with those setting our laws accountable to the people.

4. Devolve power – away from Westminster to all levels of government, giving local communities greater input into key decisions through Citizens’ Assemblies.

We want a modern democracy where there’s a real partnership between the people and those in power, a beacon of freedom and fairness around the world. How we will deliver this We will achieve this by building a democratic reform package that enjoys both civil society and public public support. We will then persuade political parties to adopt the package in their manifestos and implement it in government. People want power.

This campaign is about how they get it. Over a dozen organisations have already signed a joint statement supporting the aims of the project. If you want to add your name or organisation to this list, please get in touch today. We’re reaching out to organisations across civil society and the public seeking their views on what needs to change in our democracy. You can take our democracy survey.

Our work so far

• Power to the People? A route to English Devolution by Jonathan S Davies and Arianna Giovannini, assesses five proposals that could provide inspiration and guidance for the incoming government, if it is determined to act.
• Why the Player Should Hate the Game: How Our Voting System Curtails Labour’s Ambition, Compass Deputy Director Frances Foley argues that deeper democratisation could not only win Labour votes but, in the longer term, liberate them from the contortions and constraints demanded by First Past the Post.
• Winning With Communities: Growing Empowered Communities and Empowering Local Government, Colin Miller and Matt Scott set out the pitfalls Starmer and his party are likely to face and detail how best to overcome them.
• Democracy Works, in this report Sue Goss makes clear the urgent need to democratise key spheres of our lives, from local and national government to the workplace; to build in greater public participation and give people collective control over their lives.
• We’ll Have What They’re Having: How Decentralisation in Germany Created the Conditions for ‘The Great Transformation’, Reflecting on her part in a recent delegation of Labour MPs and civil society organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Compass Deputy Director Frances Foley digs deep into how the German government approaches ‘levelling up’ and the material differences reflected by their more ambitious term of ‘the Great Transformation’.
• Labour, Pluralism and Creative Constitutionalism, by Stuart White, traces the intertwined histories of campaigns for democratic reform – from the English Civil War through to today – and of the Labour Party to show how this isn’t an excessive demand of the party and follows in the spirit of John Smith’s ‘Citizen’s Democracy.’
• The Electoral Case for a Deeper Democratic Approach, by Jess Garland, explains how embracing and championing democratic reform is necessary for political parties to gain electoral credibility; and for their ability to deliver solutions to the crises we face from the climate emergency and inequality to preparedness for future pandemics.
• English Democracy: Electoral Reform, England and the Future of the United Kingdom, by John Denham reveals from PR to English votes for English laws how progressives can reverse two decades of decline in England and ensure a union fit for the 21st century.