Pragna Patel - The power of the people in democratic governance

Over the last few years, we have seen a dramatic fall of public trust in politicians and political parties in the UK, with findings that other institutions such as the judiciary and the civil service were more trusted by the people.

This crisis of confidence is one of the reasons why I joined the Commission for Political Power: to explore how we improve democratic inclusion and participation through constitutional reform driven not just from the top but from the grassroots up.

How to win back trust in politics is a question that urgently needs to be addressed if we are to defeat the forces of corruption, sectarianism, hatred and violent extremism that threatens to engulf large parts of Europe and the world. The resurgence of Far-Right violence in August 2024 in cities and towns in the UK was a manifestation, not just of mindless thuggery, but also of a profound failure of citizen engagement with the values and systems of democracy. We live in a deeply unequal and divided society where power is increasingly centralised and exercised without consent and restraint, which has fostered a culture of disinformation, disengagement, cynicism and the loss of hope.

This is the crisis that was inherited by the current government when it came into power in July 2024 with a commitment to bring about constitutional and democratic reform tied to the pursuit of wider economic and social rights. Following Gordon Brown’s report entitled ‘A New Britain’, the government set out plans that included, amongst other things, the devolution of power away from the centre, the abolition of the House of Lords and a return to standards and integrity in public life.

In practice, there appears to be little appetite on the part of this government to drive through the meaningful change that is required, either from below or from above. There is a move to introduce a mandatory retirement age alongside the abolition of the rights of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords, but there is little else to suggest a radical transfer of power from the centre to the people.

Grahame Allen in an earlier blog piece (1 August 2024) talked about the role of citizen’s assemblies in growing democracy from below, arguing that they are ‘modern democracy’s greatest success story’.  This resonates with my experience in my working life amongst some of the most marginalised black and minority women, helping to instil in them a sense of entitlement to exercise their right to participation in democratic processes and to realise their own political power. Like young people and other powerless sections of society, they care deeply about social justice issues, and yet could not be more disposable or excluded from the exercise of political power.

It is extremely shortsighted of this government not to prioritise the need to reinvigorate civic engagement: for example, the far-right rioters in August 2024 were stopped precisely by citizen activism and the power of the people taking to the streets in vast numbers to save lives, foster cohesion and defend democratic values. To ignore the role of civil society is to cut off the very life blood of democracy which depends ultimately upon those who hold power to account.

The task before us is urgent precisely because the post war democratic achievements that have been won are in danger of slipping away from our grasp. No one knows this better than the women that I have worked with.  

Pragna Patel

Commissioner, Commission on Political Power

A founding member, Chair and Director of Southall Black Sisters, the women's rights organisation and is a solicitor and campaigner