A welcome message

Thank you for visiting the website of the Commission on Political Power.

Having retired recently from leading a national charity working on justice and public safety, I wanted to use my expertise and contacts to address issues that have increasingly concerned me as I worked with government and political power. I am grateful to Julian Richer for offering to fund this initiative.

The Commission is a group of eminent individuals who have come together to consider new ideas for addressing the failing power and democratic structures in the UK. It is not a new organisation but a time-limited thinking space to look to the future and how things could be done better. The Commissioners are giving their time and expertise without remuneration.

Democracies are under pressure and long term damage can be done - we only have to look at the USA to see the ramifications when lies are told by leaders and power is abused. There have to be better ways of doing things that are based on probity, honesty and civic engagement.
The Commission will link with the research and expertise of other organisations and individuals working on these issues.

We will work for only two years, launching formally in Spring 2022. The first step will be a short publication that sets out some ideas for reform as a tool for triggering public debate. We will reach out to engage with people across the country. A second publication will set out our proposals based on our thinking over the next year or so.

I hope that you will engage and that political leaders will give consideration to our ideas. Something must be done, our aim is to point to a direction of travel to make political power function with more integrity and accountability.