Our democracy
is precious.
But right now,
it's in a mess.

Our democracy
is precious.
But right now,
it's in a mess.

It's up to us to reset democracy.
If we don't do it now it will be too late.

The problems are there for all to see: in the chaos over Brexit, in our inability to respond to the climate crisis and in an economic system that keeps failing.

These are all symptoms of the same disorder: the way we make decisions isn’t working. Our democratic system is in urgent need of renewal. Right now:

  1. Power is too far away from people.
    We need the power to make changes in our lives and our communities. But too often we don’t know who can help or who is responsible.
  2. Parliament and elections are stuck in the past.
    The structures and systems are in urgent need of an upgrade. And under the current system too many voters are simply ignored.
  3. No one knows what the rules of our democracy are.
    They should be set down properly, so that everyone can understand and follow them.


At times of social and political change, we need our democracy to keep pace.

Today, we are all connected to one another, but our democratic system lags far behind the technology and its promise of participation. 

To solve the challenges we face, we need to transform democracy to make it fit for the 21st Century and to create a political culture that invites people in, rather than puts them off.   

Parliament and politicians cannot get this done alone. We have to work together, showing how we can make decisions across divides and find solutions that work for everyone.

To do this, we need a special assembly of the people. 

Learning from examples around the world, we need to bring together a group of citizens, the same way we select juries, and give them the best advice and the space to think through the challenges. Parliament must act on their recommendations. 

In the UK, this work has already begun: we have a plan for how to do this and a growing alliance of supporters. 

Join them in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a democratic settlement that works for us all. 

Unless thousands of us sign up and put pressure on the politicians, this won't happen.

It’s up to us. 

See who has already signed

Indra Adnan, Co-Founder, The Alternative UK; Jon Alexander, Co-Founder, New Citizenship Project; Graham Allen, Chair of the Board, Citizens’ Convention on UK Democracy; Christine Armstrong, Author of The Mother of All Jobs; Joanna Arnold, CEO, Access Intelligence; Richard Askwith, Author of People Power: remaking Parliament for the populist age; Anthony Barnett, Former Director of Charter 88; Nick Beddow, Shared Future CIC; Matteo Bergamini, CEO & Founder, Shout Out UK; Hazel Blears, Co-operative Group; Alex Bradbury, XR Citizens' Assembly Working Group; Beatrix Campbell, Author; Alvin Caparo, CEO, The Fourth Group; Paul Cartledge, Author of Democracy: A Life; Professor Stephen Coleman, University of Leeds; Hilary Cottam, Author of Radical Help; Dr Mark Davis, The Bauman Institute, University of Leeds; Professor John Denham, Centre for English Identity and Politics, University of Winchester; Irenie Ekkeshis, Co-Founder, New Citizenship Project; Kathy Evans, Chief Executive, Children England; Paul Feldman, Assemblies for Democracy; Frances Foley, Citizens’ Convention on UK Democracy; Professor Jeremy Gilbert, University of East London; Sue Goss, Former Chair of Charter 88 Council; Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden London Borough Council; Valerie Hannon, Board Director, Innovation Unit; Brett Hennig, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Sortition Foundation; Loughlin Hickey, Former Global Executive Team, KPMG; Professor Susan Himmelweit, The Open University; Rob Hopkins, Transition Movement; Michael Jacobs, Executive Chair, Economic Change Unit; Peter Jenkinson, Cultural activist; Klina Jordan, Founder & CEO, Make Votes Matter; Pat Kane, Co-Founder, The Alternative UK; Professor Francesca Klug, LSE Human Rights; Dr Eric Laurier, Institute of Geography and the lived environment, University of Edinburgh; Neal Lawson, Executive Director, Compass; Stephanie Leonard, Founder, Act Build Change; Professor Ruth Lister, Loughborough University; Dr Jo Littler, Director, Gender and Sexualities Research Centre, City, University of London; Corrina Lotz, Assemblies for Democracy; Andy Martin, CEO, Firetail; Brendan Martin, Managing Director, Public World; Sarah Matthew, Director, Sortition Foundation; Robin McAlpine, Director, Common Weal; Amy McDonnell, XR Citizens' Assembly Working Group; Julie, Mellor, Chair, The Young Foundation; Joe Mitchell, Democracy Club; Professor Dame Henrietta Moore, Director, Institute for Global Prosperity, UCL; Professor Chantal Mouffe, Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), University of Westminster; Jennifer Nadel, Co-Founder, Compassion in Politics; Professor Daniel Nettle, Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University; Reverend Paul Nicolson, Taxpayers Against Poverty; Andy Pace, Assemblies for Democracy; Anthony Painter, Chief Research and Impact Officer, RSA*; Simon Parker, Author of Taking Power Back; Professor Nick Pearce, Bath University; Robert Phillips, CEO, Jericho Chambers; Dr Harry Pitts, University of Bristol; Jonathan Porrit, Founder Director & Trustee, Forum for the Future; Minnie Rahman, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants; Adam Ramsey, Co-Editor, OpenDemocracyUK; Dr Simon Reid-Henry, Director, Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London; David Robinson, The Relationship Projects; Alex Runswick, Director, Unlock Democracy; Ed Saperia, Dean, The London College of Political Technologists; Professor Richard Sennett, Author of Together: The Rituals, Pleasures and Politics of Cooperation; Satbir Singh, Chief Executive, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants; Andrew Simms, Rapid Transition Alliance; Professor Graham Smith, Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), University of Westminster; Professor Ken Spours, UCL Institute of Education; Professor Guy Standing, Department of Development Studies, SOAS, University of London; Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director, UK Women’s Budget Group; Willie Sullivan, Senior Director, Electoral Reform Society Scotland; Dr Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, Co-Editor, Renewal a Journal of Social Democracy; Dr Henry Tam, Director, Question the Powerful; Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner; Professor Paul Thompson, Stirling Management School; Stuart Weir, Director, Democratic Audit and Founder of Charter 88; Rachel Whale, Chief Executive, Koreo; Professor Stuart White, Department of Politics and International Relations, Oxford University; Jonny Will Chambers, Head of Engagement, Koreo; Shelagh Wright, Cultural activist; Steve Wyler, Co-Convenor, A Better Way; Dr Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director, The Equality Trust; Martin Yarnit, Talk Shop; Ned Younger, Deputy Director, Koreo