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UK Democracy Bulletin, 21st March 2023

UK Democracy Bulletin, 21st March 2023
CIVICUS Monitor downgrades UK rating to ‘Obstructed’

Fortnightly news, jobs, grants and gossip from across the democracy sector, brought to you by James Moulding, Louise Dunmore and Max Roche of the UK Democracy Network. Read by 400+ democracy organisations. We read everyone’s newsletters & research so you don’t have to. If you want us to cover yours, let us know: democracynetwork@involve.org.uk

Highlights

  • CIVICUS Monitor downgrades UK civic space rating to ‘Obstructed’
  • Public Order Bill proceeds to Commons
  • Politics Project launch #ElectionCountdown
  • Distress Signal charities, unions and human right groups pen letter to United Nations
  • Voter ID Democracy Network event series starts this Friday 24th
  • BBC backs down over Lineker, announces independent review, faces calls for change

Thanks to our contributors

Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for our Democracy Meetup. We were joined by Myf Nixon — mySociety, Luke Temple — University of Sheffield, Titus Alexander — Democracy Matters and Josh Russell — Forward Democracy.

Opportunities to Collaborate

Building a Youth Manifesto — UK Youth

UK Youth are keen to chat to anyone that is interested in building a youth manifesto for the next election. The aim of this piece of work is to produce a manifesto outlining what young people want to see from the Government at the next election, not just on youth policy but on all areas of policy from justice to health. For anyone interested, please contact kate.roberts@ukyouth.org

Association for Citizenship Teaching looking for collaboration on lobbying for politics and citizenship education

Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) are keen to chat to any organisations that might be interested in collectively lobbying for politics and citizenship education. For anyone interested in a chat about that work, please contact Liz via info@@teachingcitizenship.org.uk

Contributions welcome for new blog series The Loop

Titus Alexander of Democracy Matters is working alongside the European Consortium for Political Research on a new blog series The Loop. Titus has kicked off contributions to this new series with a challenge in his article Can political science save democracy? Contact Titus to get involved.

Upcoming Legislation

House of Lords passes single amendment to Public Order Bill, Bill heads back to Commons

Despite a vigorous debate in the House of Lords earlier this month, only one amendment was successfully passed by the Lords last week. The amendment tabled by Lord Coaker, to introduce two safeguards to suspicionless stop and search powers, was passed by a majority of 50. The amended Bill now moves back to the House of Commons to be voted on again before proceeding quickly to Royal Assent (passing).

Suspicionless stop and search re-inserted into the Public Order Bill in the Commons

Earlier this month suspicionless stop and search, previously removed by Lords amendment, was re-inserted into the Bill on a 281–236 vote, majority of 45.

Lords’ amendment to remove SDPOs from Public Order Bill rejected by House of Commons

Previously the House of Lords had amended the Bill to remove Serious Disruption Prevention Orders (SDPO) made otherwise than on conviction from the Public Order Bill. The Commons has now overturned this amendment on a 280–232 vote, majority of 48. This means that these protest banning orders can be imposed on members of the public regardless of whether they have been convicted, for more information on these draconian measures see this recent parliamentary briefing.

New clause added to National Security Bill to combat foreign financing of UK political parties

The Government has been defeated in the House of Lords over an amendment to the National Security Bill which will require political parties to publish policy statements to ensure any donations from foreign powers are identified and highlighted. The new clause will also require parties to provide annual statements to the Electoral Commission on risk management relating to donations from foreign powers.

Minimum Service Bill ‘almost certainly’ against international law, says leading labour lawyer

Jeffrey Vogt, co-Founder of the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network (ILAW) — a global coalition of 900 workers’ rights lawyers — has said the government’s ‘anti-strike’ legislation will most likely be struck down as illegal under international law due its lacking a stated minimum service — a prerequisite under international law for introducing legislation of this nature.

Illegal Migration Bill passes second reading in House of Commons

The Government’s Illegal Migration Bill, which would see anyone arriving in the UK by so-called illegal means, passed its second reading by 312 votes to 250. A Labour amendment seeking to block the bill was defeated by 249 votes to 312. The Home Secretary acknowledged in a letter to Conservative MPs and Peers that there was a ‘50% chance’ that the legislation was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, but stated that the government intended to pass it nonetheless.

Campaigners call on the government to scrap the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill

25 civil society organisations including human rights campaigners, trade unions and criminal justice organisations, have written to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan MP, calling for the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill to be scrapped. Abigail Burke, Policy Manager at Open Rights Group said, ‘the bill weakens data subjects rights and corporate accountability mechanisms, politicises the Information Commissioner’s Office, and expands the Secretary of State’s powers in numerous, undemocratic ways’.

Pledge your support for the Elected Representatives (Code of Conduct) Bill ahead of second reading in Commons

On 24th March, Debbie Abrahams, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, will present their Elected Representatives (Code of Conduct) Bill to parliament for its second reading. The bill aims to codify the Ministerial Code, empower the Commissioner for Ministerial Standards to independently oversee the code, establish a Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and launch an Independent Ethics Commission, with citizens assemblies to engage the public on the ongoing reform of our political system. Debbie, and the team at Compassion in Politics, are calling for signatures in support of the bill which will be sent to the leaders of each political party before the second reading.

Democracy Sector

Democracy Bulletin & Democracy Meetup moving to new monthly schedule

Please add your updates to this week’s Check-In document. Our last fortnightly Democracy Bulletin will be published next week, before we move to our new monthly schedule. Please subscribe to the Democracy Network calendar and have our key network events, such as the Meetups, Democracy Drinks, Coworking, popped in your calendar every month automatically.

Democracy Drinks this wednesday, 22nd March

Join Unlock Democracy, Electoral Reform Society, UK Democracy Network and more at this week’s in-person London Democracy Drinks — register here.

Add key elections dates to your calendar

Thanks to Harriet Andrews, Director at the Democracy Classroom, for setting up this subscribable public calendar providing key election dates up until the 2023 Local Elections — add the dates to your calendar now.

Democracy Network Voter ID event series

Join Democracy Network for their voter ID event series workshops starting this Friday 24th March. The first event is aimed at ensuring UK democracy organisations are all on the same page when it comes to voter ID guidance, with Martyn Harris, Head of Elections at North Warwickshire and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Councils, and Matteo Bergamini, Founder at Shout Out UK, providing the critical insight. There will two further events on the 30th March and 5 April, stay tuned for more on those — register now for Friday’s event.

Democracy Classroom developing shared resources for civic education collaboration

Democracy Classroom have been working on developing databases of organisations and projects to aid with on-going collaboration across the civic education space. If you would like to find out more or take part in the new initiative, contact Harriet and the team. You can also view the ongoing list of offers and asks from Democracy Classroom and their partners on their new Sharing Hub.

Civic Tech Field Guide are offering pro-bono democracy tech consultations

Civic Tech Field Guide has received grant funding from the National Endowment for Democracy and are portioning some of it to provide pro bono democracy tech consultations. If you are actively engaged in defending, improving, reforming or promoting democracy through a non-violent project or campaign, apply now for a chance to get personalised guidance on how you can harness technology to improve your democratic engagement. The deadline to apply is the 31st of March.

Public Interest News Foundation and Opus Independents hiring new network coordinators

Networks are apparently all the rage at the moment, with both Opus Independents and Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) hiring for new network coordinator roles.

Friends, Families and Travellers release new Police Act guidance, campaign on energy grants

The Gypsy and Roma and Traveller community has been hard hit by the new policing legislation, with the communities directly targeted by new powers involving, for the first time, prisonable offences. The new materials from Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) aims to provide clarity on the new legislation for GRT communities across the UK. FFT have also started a new campaign at justice for GRT communities and itinerant live-aboard boaters who have been specifically excluded from receiving energy grant support.

New Constitution Unit report suggests options for Lords reform

New report House of Lords reform: navigating the obstacles from The Constitution Unit Director, Meg Russell, takes a closer look at public opinion on the House of Lords, discussing the successful and unsuccessful proposals for reform in the past and considering what the contemporary key reform objectives should be. If they form the next government, Russell suggests Labour should implement a series of small-scale and immediate changes to the Lords that don’t require significant legislation, whilst opening a consultation on the options for larger reform.

Multiple opportunities to join the team at mySociety

mySociety is currently hunting for a new Chair of Trustees to help steer the board and the organisation as a whole. They are also looking for a Policy and Advocacy Manager to help shape their approach towards engagement with government and decision-makers and a User Support Officer who will respond to the various types of correspondence coming through their service. And for anyone more suited to a sales role, there’s an opportunity to join them as a Regional Business Development / Account Manager (North).

Sortition Foundation is looking for a digital campaigner

The new Digital Campaigner role at Sortition Foundation will work with their campaign working group to drive multi-platform digital campaigns to help build a case for House of Lords reform and broader democratic renewal. Apply by Monday 27th of March.

Are generative AI good for democracy? Demos investigates

According to ChatGPT’s own algorithm. ‘language models like ChatGPT have the potential to both support and undermine democracy, depending on how they are used and the context in which they are applied’. Join Demos on the 23rd of March for a deeper dive into whether generative AI really is good or bad for democracy. Speakers on the day will include Laura Giesen, Programme Manager, Democracy Technologies, Carys Afoko, Senior Director for Communications and External Affairs, Mozilla and Ellen Judson, Head of CASM, Demos.

Compass to discuss the Labour Party’s Forde report

The Forde Inquiry involved sifting through thousands of submissions, finding ‘little evidence of mutual respect and a great deal of evidence of factionalism so deep-rooted that the Party has found itself dysfunctional’. Little has been done, however, to follow up and the findings of the report. Now Compass is hosting an event alongside Director of Compassion in Politics, Jennifer Nadel, Human rights academic, Francesca Klug OBE, and President of the US/Middle East Project Daniel Levy, to discuss the findings of the report and explore how our political culture needs to change to reinvigorate our democracy. Register now.

Act Build Change is hiring

Exciting new opportunities to join the team at Act Build Change. They’re on the hunt for a Programme and Operations Assistant to join them 3 days a week and a Collective Care Trainer to join them 4 days a week.

Byline Times festival returns in July

The Byline Times Festival returns this year in July for more music, talks, food, dancing and ideas about how the world could be changed for the better. Speaking at the festival this year will be a number of journalists from The Byline Times as well as politicians and various other political commentators. Book your tickets asap!

Elections

Democracy Club take a look at what’s up for election this year

Peter Keeling of Democracy Club takes us on a tour through the 8,519 councillors and four mayors who are to be election this year across England and Northern Ireland — making this the largest set of elections since 2019. Find out more over on Peter’s blog.

Parallel Elections kick off meeting

This month Save the Children held a kick off meeting for organisations looking to collaborate on the national Parallel Election. They are continuing to hold meetings throughout this month to consult on the design of the project. If anyone wants to get involved, please contact Meg at Save the Children.

The Politics Project launch their #ElectionCountdown

This month The Politics Project launched their #ElectionCountdown programme for the local elections, with a range of resources and support for schools and youth groups. You can learn more and sign up to receive content packs through the campaign here.

My Vote My Voice Campaign Launch

This week United Response launched their #MyVoteMyVoice Campaign to encourage people with learning difficulties and autistic people to use their vote.

Luke Temple and Ana Ines Langer working on democracy activism research piece

Luke Temple, University of Sheffield, and Ana Ines Langer, University of Glasgow, have produced a research paper examining the democracy activism scene in the 2017 and 2019 general elections. The piece is currently under peer review, and they have published a short briefing note on the work. For anyone interested in the details of the longer form piece, please contact Luke Temple.

New Channel 4 polling sees the Conservatives losing all 45 ‘red wall’ seats at the next GE

A new poll carried out by Channel Four has found that if an election was called tomorrow, the Conservatives would be ‘completely wiped out’ in all red wall seats. Check out this video for a quick digest of the poll.

Devolved Democracy / Local Democracy

Dormant Asset Scheme finds £76m for social enterprises and community wealth funds

The government has announced community wealth funds will become one of the primary beneficiaries of the funding made available through the Dormant Asset Scheme. The funds will be controlled by local communities, with residents directing spending as they see fit to develop social infrastructure and social capital. Find out more here.

New Localis report explores prospects for devolution and local government options

The new report Moving Through The Gears by Localis builds on conversations with local government leaders, experts and academics, on their thoughts and assessment of the future of devolved and local government finances over the next political cycle. Read the report.

Integrity & Transparency

UK human rights groups issue ‘distress signal’ to the UN

Over 60 charities, unions and campaign groups, including Liberty, Unison, JustFair and Mermaids, have penned a ‘distress signal’ letter to the UN warning of an erosion of human rights in the UK. The letter comes as the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) begins its assessment of the UK’s human rights record. The letter refers to an attack on civil liberties through recent legislation such as the Police, Crimes, Sentencing and Courts Act, Public Order Bill and raises fears over proposed legislation to scrap the Human Rights Act.

UK Government monitoring human rights lawyers

Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Jenrick MP, has announced that the government is monitoring human rights lawyers within the UK and accused them of ‘abusing the law’.

Landmark independent report finds London Metropolitan Police institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic

Commissioned in the wake of Sarah Everard’s kidnap, rape and murder at the hands of serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, Dame Louise Casey’s 300 page independent report is a damning indictment on the operation of the force, with campaigner Andrea Simon of End Violence Against Women Coalition remarking the report ‘leaves the Met with nowhere to hide’, even PM Sunak failed to back the Met Police on live TV when asked about his confidence in the force in the wake of the report.

CIVICUS Monitor downgrades UK civic space rating to ‘Obstructed’

The UK joins 39 other countries rated as ‘obstructed’ in the CIVICUS Monitor annual report on civic space People Power Under Attack. This puts the UK in the same categories as countries such as Hungary, South Africa, Poland, Brazil and Indonesia. The main factors warranting this downgrade CIVICUS cite include the extension of police powers introduced via the recent Police Act and Public Order Bill. In addition to the legislation, the report emphasises how climate and anti-racism protesters are being targeted by police, with legal observers experiencing high levels of intimidation, harassment and aggression. Read the CIVICUS Monitor report.

Home Secretary may have broken ministerial code with attack on civil service

The Home Secretary stands accused of breaching the ministerial code for a second time after an email surfaced in which she accused ‘left wing’ civil servants of blocking her plans to crack down on boat crossings. In the email she said, ​​’we tried to stop the small boats…But an activist blob of left wing lawyers, civil servants and the Labour Party blocked us.’

Coalition of trade unions accuses government complicity in refugee attacks

A collection of UK trade unions including GMB, UNISON, RMT, have issued a joint statement criticising the government for inciting violence against refugees through their dangerous rhetoric and oppressive policies. In the statement they said, ‘anti-migrant politics are an attempt to divide working class people against each other…The people to blame for this are politicians, billionaires and big corporations, not migrant workers or refugees forced to live in temporary accommodation.’

UK politics needs stronger independent regulation to uphold ministerial integrity, finds Constitution Unit report

A survey of 4,000 members of the public carried out by The Constitution Unit in August and September 2022 found half of participants (52%) thought politicians had lower ethical standards than ordinary citizens, whilst just 5% said they thought politicians had higher ethical standards. 79% said that reform is needed so that politicians are made more accountable and act with integrity, whilst just 6% said the system should stay as it is.

Democracy & Media

BBC backs down over Gary Lineker controversy, announces independent review

Earlier this month leading sports commentator and BBC freelancer Gary Lineker remarked on the British Government’s new asylum policy, leading to severe criticism from leading politicians, including the Home Secretary and the Labour Leader’s office. Following this the BBC required Lineker to step down, triggering fellow BBC sports commentators and personalities to withdraw their own labour in solidarity with Lineker, forcing the BBC to reduce and cancel its sports coverage of Premier League fixings. The BBC has now backed down, reinstating Lineker and announcing an independent review of the Corporation’s social media guidelines, particularly in relation to freelancers.

Jon Alexander suggests an independent BBC citizens’ assembly board

Echoing the Media Reform Coalition’s calls for a Peoples’ BBC and the Institute of Welsh Affairs’ citizens’ panel on media policy in Wales, as well as suggestions from the Voice of the Listener and Viewer on running a citizens’ assembly on a new funding model for the BBC — Jon Alexander suggests a randomly selected, representative citizens’ assembly board for the BBC reminiscent of Independent SAGE.

Index on Censorship is organising a hybrid day event on SLAPPs

On the 23rd of March, Index of Censorship will host an in-person and online day event to discuss all things SLAPPs — how they work, who tends to use them and what can be done to stop them. A collection of lawyers, journalists, academics, politicians, and campaigners, will be speaking on the day as well as from keynote speakers, UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor. The conference is free so be sure to reserve a spot.

And Finally…

Permanent citizens’ assemblies set up in Copenhagen and Brussels

A permanent citizens’ assembly is being trailed as part of a two-year pilot which will help inform the workings of Copenhagen’s municipal parliament. Over the next two years, two groups will be selected from the local population to work on themes relevant to the city’s development. Similar steps are being taken in Brussels where a 100-person citizens’ assembly is being set up to provide recommendations on climate change and how the city can transition.

Fancy a political argument with a bot?

Then John Bryden has built just the thing for you — a prototype chatGPT derived political ‘argument clinic’ bot that’ll argue with you on political talking points — Go on, get arguing.

The UK Democracy Network maintains a full database of events from across the democracy sector.

View the database here — Have we missed something? Add it here!

View the full database of upcoming job listings here — have we missed any? Add them via this form.

Apply ASAP

Jobs with upcoming deadlines

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We’ve been experimenting with the format of this email and the accompanying meetup, if you have any feedback we’d be glad to hear it.

If you can’t make our fortnightly meetup, you can always drop in to the meetup document of the current fortnight and add to it by going to democracymeetup.org.uk.

See you next time, add to your calendar

James, Max, Louise and the UK Democracy Network team