The government published a summary of responses to its draft legislative programme for the 2009-10 session of Parliament.
Source: The Draft Legislative Programme 2009/10: Government's Response and Summary of Consultation, Cm 7739, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Nov
A think-tank report examined a range of approaches designed to put democracy on a firmer footing, and to restore trust in the political system.
Source: Tim Finch and Carey Oppenheim (eds.), A Future for Politics: Ways to reform our political system, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100) and six other organizations
Links: Report | IPPR press release
Date: 2009-Nov
An article examined the use of public consultation by the Northern Ireland central government between 2000 and 2004.
Source: Michael Murray, Honor Fagan and Paul McCusker, 'Measuring horizontal governance: a review of public consultation by the Northern Ireland government between 2000 and 2004', Policy & Politics, Volume 37 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Oct
An organization linked to the Labour Party published a report that called for a programme of political and constitutional reform.
Source: Lewis Baston et al., Real Reform Now: Why progressives should embrace democratic renewal and how we get there, Progress (020 3008 8180)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Sep
An article examined two contrasting approaches used by governments to engage the citizen to promote better public policy outcomes: nudging citizens using the insights of behavioural economics, or giving citizens the space to think through and debate solutions, as indicated by proponents of deliberative democracy.
Source: Peter John, Graham Smith and Gerry Stoker, 'Nudge nudge, think think: two strategies for changing civic behaviour', Political Quarterly, Volume 80 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Aug
A report examined why minority-ethnic women were excluded from power.
Source: Zohra Moosa, Lifts and Ladders: Resolving ethnic minority women's exclusion from power, Fawcett Society (020 7253 2598)
Links: Report | Summary | Fawcett Society press release
Date: 2009-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs said that government in Britain fulfilled many of the conditions for good government, to a lesser or greater extent: there was, however, scope for it to improve. Recommendations for improvements included: encouraging a tighter, clearer focus in government, which might involve reducing the number of government ministers; placing greater emphasis on ensuring good standards of basic administration than on responding to short-term media and political pressures to take new initiatives or introduce new laws; decentralizing power wherever possible, in order to empower frontline public service workers and citizens; and following more thorough and considered processes for making policies and laws, including effective parliamentary pre- and post-legislative scrutiny.
Source: Good Government, Eighth Report (Session 2008-09), HC 97, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jun
A think-tank report said that political power should be held at the lowest level possible: instead of 'devolving' power, the assumption should be that power was vested in people. Only when there was good reason should power be consolidated upwards to communities, local agencies, national government, or international bodies.
Source: Richard Reeves and Philip Collins, The Liberal Republic, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report | Summary | Demos press release
Date: 2009-Jun
A think-tank report said that Prime Ministers used their power to reshuffle ministers too often. Ministers spent too little time in post – the average tenure had fallen to 1.3 years. This encouraged an unhelpfully short-term approach to policy. High churn rates also gave expert civil servants too much power relative to elected representatives. A new convention should be established whereby ministers were appointed for three-year 'terms'.
Source: Hugh Cleary and Richard Reeves, The 'Culture of Churn' for UK Ministers and the Price We All Pay, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Jun
A think-tank report said that the political system was unrepresentative and over-centralized. It called for reform of Parliament, greater powers for local government, and greater public influence over public services.
Source: Jonty Olliff-Cooper, Resuscitating Democracy, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Date: 2009-Jun
The government published a plan for Britain's future, describing it as 'a radical vision for a fairer, stronger and more prosperous society'. The plan incorporated a consultation on the government's legislative programme for 2009-10 in draft, in advance of the Queen's Speech. A total of 11 Bills were planned, including Bills in the following areas: improving schools and safeguarding children; equality; child poverty; policing, crime, and private security; energy; digital economy; and constitutional renewal.
Source: Building Britain's Future, Cm 7654, Prime Minister's Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Summary | Hansard (1) | Hansard(2) | Cabinet Office press release | TUC press release | Conservative Party press release | Guardian report | Local Government Chronicle report | Community Care report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jun
The government published an overview of the importance and nature of civil service reform. It set out some of the major interventions over the previous 10 years; what was known about the drivers and rationale for further civil service reform; and how best to implement change and reform.
Source: Civil Service Reform: Working paper, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Paper
Date: 2009-Mar
A think-tank report said that the civil service was 'not fit for purpose', and that its deficiencies harmed delivery of policy. Giving ministers power to personally appoint senior civil servants would make officials more accountable and effective.
Source: Andrew Haldenby, Lucy Parsons, Greg Rosen and Elizabeth Truss, Fit for Purpose, Reform (020 7799 6699)
Links: Report | FT report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Mar
Three essays were published on future democratic reform, each written by a representative of one of the main political parties.
Source: David Howarth MP, Charter 88 and Liberalism, Unlock Democracy (020 7278 4443) | Charles Clarke MP, Continuing the Journey Towards a Modern Constitution for Britain, Unlock Democracy | Daniel Hannan MEP, Time for a Tory Democracy, Unlock Democracy
Links: Essay (1) | Essay (2) | Essay (3) | Unlock Democracy press release
Date: 2009-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs said that the ethics of the activities of lobbyists should be overseen and regulated by a rigorous and effective single body, with 'robust input' from outside the industry. There should be a register of lobbying activity provided for in statute, independently managed and enforced, to include information provided by both lobbyists and those being lobbied.
Source: Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall, First Report (Session 2008-09), HC 36, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Telegraph report | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2009-Jan
A new book (by a Conservative MP and MEP) set out a radical plan for devolving political power – from Brussels to Westminster, from Whitehall to local authorities, and from the state to citizens.
Source: Douglas Carswell MP and Daniel Hannan MEP, The Plan – 12 Months to Renew Britain, Douglas Carswell (self-publication)
Links: Summary | Unlock Democracy press release
Date: 2009-Jan
A think-tank report offered a set of principles for policy-makers, based on research – across the policy areas of economic development, children in care, and criminal justice – that found that making visible and valuing the outcomes that mattered most to individuals, communities, and society led to more informed policy-making.
Source: Eilis Lawlor, Jeremy Nicholls and Eva Nietzert, Seven Principles for Measuring What Matters: A guide to effective public policy-making, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report | NEF press release
Date: 2009-Jan