Citizens’ Assemblies: What are they good for?

Citizens’ assemblies are in the news. Six Commons select committees have just announced that they will convene one on ways of tackling climate change. The Scottish government and the Welsh Assembly are each holding one to examine their respective countries’ constitutional futures. A cross-party array of politicians, including Lisa Nandy, Caroline Lucas, and Rory Stewart, have suggested one to help break the Brexit impasse. Local authorities across the country are planning them too.

But how exactly do citizens’ assemblies work in practice? What are they good for? Are there topics or circumstances for which they are not suitable? This panel discussion will bring together some of the leading experts and politicians working in this area.

Confirmed speakers:

Joanna Cherry QC, MP for Edinburgh South West and SNP Justice and Home Affairs Spokesperson at Westminster

Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South and Chair of the House of Commons Transport Committee

Graham Smith, Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster, and author of Democratic Innovations: Designing Institutions for Citizen Participation.

Sarah Allan: Head of Engagement at Involve

Chair: Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL, and Director of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit.

Further reading:

https://www.involve.org.uk/resources/blog/opinion/citizens-assembly-climate-change-how-would-it-work