Engagement and Participation: What the Public Want and How our Politicians Need to Respond

Abstract

Following the parliamentary expenses scandal, an array of parliamentary and constitutional reforms has been proposed as a means to re-establish public trust and confidence in MPs and Parliament. Populist measures designed to enhance public engagement and participation through more direct and participatory decision-making mechanisms have particularly gained traction in this debate. But many of these proposals fail to take account of what the public really wants in terms of engagement and participation. A more nuanced policy approach, which takes account of the complexity of public views, is required. Utilising the Hansard Society’s annual Audit of Political Engagement this article analyses these complexities and suggests that two reforms in particular—enhanced political literacy education and a new House of Commons Petitions (Public Engagement) Committee—would make a difference in developing and sustaining public engagement and participation in the long-term. SEEKING TO dissipate public wrath amidst the wreckage of the expenses scandal, regain control of the daily news cycle and out-do each other’s reformist credentials, the party leaders have attempted to cleanse the Augean parliamentary stables by suggesting a wide range of political, constitutional and parliamentary reforms. Following a hasty examination of the pathology of the scandal, many politicians and commentators alike concluded that a link could be drawn between the visible affliction of the expenses debacle and the deep-rooted political infirmities that manifested themselves in other areas of our democracy. Far-reaching systemic reform was, they concluded, necessary. The resulting smorgasbord of reform options proffered by the party leaders did at least indicate that they understand the Herculean nature of the task they now face if they are to regain public trust and confidence and re-establish the democratic ‘chain of command’ between the elected and electors. 1 But the inchoate range of options—everything from a House of Commons business committee and select committee reform, to a bill of rights and a written constitution, from electoral