More than a third of MPs polled would not take part in ‘deliberative democracy’

Fewer than three out of 10 MPs think bodies such as citizens panels could be used to solve entrenched problems in society – with more than a third of MPs surveyed saying they would not take part in such a process.

The number of MPs who would not take part in what is termed “deliberative democracy” – the use of bodies such as citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries, and citizens’ panels in the policy making process – was found to be a “substantially higher proportion than in any devolved legislature”.

The first of its kind research saw elected parliamentarians in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales questioned about the use of such bodies.

The study, carried out by Carnegie UK, found politicians at Westminster had the “least experience with deliberative democracy and were the most sceptical” about it.

Of the 100 MPs who were questioned for the study, almost a third (31%) had never heard of this – and more than a third (36%) said they would not consider taking part in it.

Polling by Savanta, carried out for Carnegie UK, found only 35% of MPs questioned said they thought such practices could increase trust in the democratic process.

Further only 28% of MPs polled believed this way of working could help solve entrenched problems, with almost half (45%) fearing bodies such as citizens assemblies could duplicate the work done by parliamentarians.

In contrast more than half (56%) of MLAs in Northern Ireland who took part in the research believed involving bodies such as citizens panels could help increase trust, with 44% of Members of the Senedd in Wales who were questioned and 44% of MSPs in Scotland also of this view.

Of the MLAs questioned 53% believed bodies such as citizens’ panels could help resolve entrenched issues in society.

Meanwhile over three quarters (77%) of Senedd members questioned said they were open to working with such bodies – compared to 73% of MSPs questioned, 72% of MLAs and 64% of MPs.

As well as speaking to 100 MPs, the Carnegie research questioned 44 MSPs, 33 MLAs and 32 Members of the Senedd – with the survey work carried out between September and December last year.

Overall the research said that MSPs at Holyrood “demonstrated the highest levels of awareness and prior engagement with deliberative democracy”, with the report stating that a “large majority” were already familiar with such processes.

It added: “There was an openness to deliberative democracy, with around three‑quarters of MSPs saying they would consider taking part in a deliberative process.”

In Wales the report said that the majority of Senedd Members had heard of deliberative democracy before the survey, adding that “openness was relatively strong, with roughly three‑quarters saying they would consider taking part”.

However, the report also found that “less than half of MSs felt that deliberative democratic processes could improve trust between the public and democratic institutions”.

In Northern Ireland it was found that “overall, MLAs were the least familiar with deliberative democratic initiatives, yet they expressed comparatively strong optimism about their potential”.

Sarah Davidson, chief executive of Carnegie UK, said the report came after its annual wellbeing index report found that “trust in UK politics and democracy is in trouble”.

She stated: “One means to reverse this trend could be the rollout of more deliberative approaches like citizens’ panels.

“But this groundbreaking poll of politicians reveals a range of attitudes towards these initiatives.

“A big share of our lawmakers worry that such processes could duplicate their work. And lots of elected members don’t understand how these approaches would interact with existing political and governmental systems.”

Ms Davidson continued: “We’re seeing governments and parliaments across the UK experiment with involving the public in their deliberations.

“Decision-makers should use these moments not just to address the big issues of the day, but also to learn how such approaches can best work alongside existing political institutions and processes.”