A think-tank pamphlet argued that a permanent social democratic transformation of society would be achieved only through a 'radical deepening of democracy' that engaged with the complex and dispersed nature of social power. Experiments in participatory budgeting had shown how the active involvement of voters in informed debate and deliberation could produce better decisions and socially progressive outcomes. The renewal of the public sector had to go forward on the basis of worker and user empowerment within a public service ethos, not the further extension of market mechanisms and business models of organisation.
Source: Angela Eagle MP, A Deeper Democracy: Challenging market fundamentalism, Catalyst, available from Central Books (020 8986 4854)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Dec
A new book examined social protest movements, including case studies of those concerned with women's rights, ethnicity and race, mental health, peace and privatisation. It explored issues of youth and political involvement, free speech, unemployment, and the role of voluntary and community groups in challenging traditional perspectives on democracy.
Source: Malcolm Todd and Gary Taylor (eds.), Democracy and Participation: Popular protest and new social movements, Merlin Press (fax: 020 7497 0309)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Dec
The Labour Party launched a 'Big Conversation' with voters on around 150 policy questions. Consultative events were planned throughout the country until March 2004. Voters would be urged either to come along in person or email and text their views. Labour promised to collect all the ideas generated and then nominate the 'best' for possible inclusion in its manifesto for the next general election.
Source: A Future Fair for All: Big issues need a big conversation, Labour Party (08705 900200)
Links: Report (pdf) | Speech by Tony Blair MP | IPPR press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Nov
A former Conservative prime minister criticised the Labour government for presiding over a weakening of parliamentary government, caused by an excessive emphasis on public presentation of policy. He also attacked the 'politicisation' of the civil service and the 'manipulation' of government information.
Source: John Major MP, The Erosion of Parliamentary Government, Centre for Policy Studies (020 7222 4488)
Links: Report (pdf) | CPS press release
Date: 2003-Oct
A new book considered the distribution of power between the different levels of the contemporary constitution. It explored factors such as the emerging contribution of European Union law, the Human Rights Act 1998, and devolution.
Source: Nicholas Bamforth and Peter Leyland (eds.), Public Law in a Multi-Layered Constitution, Hart Publishing (01865 245533)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Oct
The government said it agreed that the ministerial code should be amended to make clear that all Ministers were personally accountable to the Prime Minister and to Parliament for the management and discipline of their special advisers. It also reaffirmed its acceptance of the case in principle for establishing the civil service in statute, and said that it would publish a draft Bill for consultation; and it accepted that the appointment of the First Civil Service Commissioner should be made after consultation with opposition leaders. But it rejected a proposal that special advisers should be defined as a category of government servant distinct from the civil service, and that Parliament should set a limit on their number. The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life said the government s response represented 'a seriously missed opportunity to enhance public trust in the processes of Government'.
Source: The Government s Response to the Ninth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 5964, Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 11 September 2003, columns 33-34WS, TSO | Press release 11 September 2003, Committee on Standards in Public Life (0800 692 1516)
Links: Response (pdf) | Hansard | Downing Street press release | CSPL press release | CSPL report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
The government established a Faith Community Liaison Group (chaired by a junior Home Office minister), designed to give Christian organisations and other faith groups a greater say in policy-making and ensure that faith played a key role in government decisions. The working group will include Christians, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and Hindu representatives. The initiative was welcomed by the Christian Socialist movement: but the Conservative Christian Fellowship said that the two-year delay in launching the group (originally announced in 2001) did not suggest there was an urgency in government to seriously engage with the churches.
Source: Press release, August 2003, Christian Socialist Movement (020 7233 3736) | Press release 8.8.03, Conservative Christian Fellowship (020 7984 8160)
Links: CSM press release | Evangelical Alliance press release | CCF press release | Hansard
Date: 2003-Aug
A think-tank report (prepared by an independent commission) called for radical reform of the monarchy, including: placing the royal prerogative powers on a statutory basis, with Parliament deciding who should exercise them; ending the scope for political discretion in the exercise of the sovereign s constitutional powers; ending the position of the head of state as Supreme Governor of the Church of England; ensuring that the monarch and royal family associated themselves with all parts of the country and with its many different social groups and activities; reducing the number of members of the royal family receiving public funding; combining the various sources of income for the royal family into a single, transparent and accountable public revenue stream, subject to a vote in Parliament; and transferring the ownership of the Crown Estate and the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall formally to the nation.
Source: Fabian Commission on the Future of the Monarchy, The Future of the Monarchy, Fabian Society (020 7227 4900)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jul
The opposition Liberal Democrat party called for eight government departments to be scrapped, saving 5 billion a year in Whitehall costs.
Source: Speech by Charles Kennedy MP, 15.7.03
Links: Text of speech
Date: 2003-Jul
The government began consultation on a draft order designed to complete the framework for holding referendums under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, in time for the proposed referendums on regional assemblies.
Source: Press release 29.7.03, Department for Constitutional Affairs (020 7210 8500)
Links: DCA press release | Draft order (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jul
The House of Commons Library produced a background research paper summarising the debate over future reforms to the role of the civil service, including the question of a Civil Service Act.
Source: Whither the Civil Service?, Research Paper 03/49, House of Commons Library (web publication only)
Links: HOC Library research paper (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
A report from the official committee on standards in public life examined the boundaries and relationships between ministers, special advisers and the Civil Service. It called for the creation of an 'adviser on ministerial interests' and the identification of special advisers separate from the Civil Service.
Source: Defining the Boundaries within the Executive Ministers, special advisers and the permanent Civil Service, Ninth Report, Cm 5775, Committee on Standards in Public Life, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2003-Apr
A research study cast doubt on the reliability of internet polling. It said that it risks producing flawed results, irrespective of the weighting techniques applied.
Source: Ken Baker, John Curtice and Nick Sparrow, Internet Poll Trial: Research report, ICM Research (020 7436 3114)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian analysis
Date: 2003-Jan