Thread by @DrPhillipLee

Thanks for getting back to me. That is a big question and I don’t have all the answers, but I’ll have a go at explaining a bit about where I stand....
The first thing to say is that I think our governance system is fundamentally unfit for the 21st century and needs a major reset

https://twitter.com/PaddyJDavies/status/1381595793799413762

This isn’t an issue for which there are quick fixes because that system (including politics, government, the Civil Service and the unwritten contract with the people) grows out of our society. That’s the beauty of our democracy and means it ought to self-correct. In theory.

Our problem though is that our governance system has become chronically detached from society over recent years. People talk about the ‘Westminster bubble’ but it’s much more serious than that and until we correct this fundamental flaw, we’re just rearranging deck chairs

How do we sort out the big flaw? Well one thing would be an ambitious and apolitical review of government and governance in the 21st century, reaching into all parts of our society, focusing on the next generations’ challenges/opportunities, and laying the ground for major reform

Meanwhile there are a few deck chairs we could usefully rearrange, eg:
1. It is very telling that most people I meet never give a moment’s thought to their role as citizens in a democracy. It’s not just voting. We all need to understand our responsibilities and how to take part.

2. Linked to this, I also find that almost all people don’t really know how politics and government actually work and affect us in our daily lives at a practical level. We need to do better at explaining that in our schools and through public service broadcasting

3. People need more ways to contribute to the life of the country, given that politicians and civil servants don’t have the monopoly on ideas, skills or capability. Our processes should be more participative. Should be easy enough, given the opportunities created by technology

4. The Nolan Principles are great but next to pointless; they need to be backed up with capability (eg to create safe spaces to challenge and understand) and teeth - legislative, etc.

It is hard to see how necessary change, however incremental, starts without that societal pressure, though. There are too many vested interests in the current system for it to be reasonable to expect it to evolve of its own accord.