Archived Press Releases

Parliamentary Public Engagement - how's Westminster doing?

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:15:00 GMT

UK Parliament compares well with legislatures around the world but can still learn from good practice elsewhere

A new report from the Hansard Society, Parliaments and Public Engagement: Innovation and Good Practice from Around the World, published today, reveals that the Westminster Parliament is one of the more innovative parliamentary institutions when it comes to engaging the public with its work but that there is still much it can learn from good practice in other countries.

Many legislatures around the world face a common problem: their public are neither knowledgeable about nor particularly satisfied with them as institutions. Yet, unless the public are informed about what parliaments are doing they cannot influence the institution; and unless they can influence the institution they cannot hold it and their elected members fully to account. Over the course of the last decade parliaments have had to grapple with the broad political challenges this problem poses, and in an effort to do so, public engagement programmes have become core business for many legislatures.

Parliaments and Public Engagement highlights examples of innovative and potentially transferable good practice in this fast developing field of parliamentary activity, setting out a broad menu of ideas designed to help parliaments consider what options might be the ‘best fit' for their own public engagement goals. The areas the report primarily focuses on are:

Information provision: for example, education and training materials, website presence
Parliament as public space: visitor facilities, access tours and exhibitions
Education: activities and initiatives on- and off-site for teachers, students, and the wider community
Outreach: civil society links, community partnerships and social inclusion programmes to engage with hard to reach groups
Facilitation: support platforms for parliamentarians and/or officials to engage with the public, particularly through e-forums or other online, digital democracy mechanisms
Media: initiatives with print media, broadcasting and new media platforms - both promotional and partnership work.

The report finds that each parliament grapples with many of the same difficulties: how to draw the line between political and parliamentary activity; how to balance the needs of political representatives with those of administrative officials whilst retaining the support of the former as the primary ‘face' of the institution in the public mind; how to develop an ‘ambassadorial' capacity; how to reach out beyond the ‘usual suspects' to engage with a broad range of individuals and organisations; how to go beyond traditional media outlets in communicating the best work of the parliament; and how, in the face of enormous market competition, to make best use of limited resources.

Parliaments and Public Engagement finds that initiatives which represent a major step change in public engagement practice are often the result of the parliament finding that it needs to respond to a crisis; it must react to a significant political shift in the country; or it seeks to take advantage of a milestone, such as the anniversary of the founding of the institution. These three factors - ‘windows of opportunity' - often lead to reviews of established practices and greater innovation as a consequence.

A ‘blank slate' approach as a new parliamentary institution is established (as for example, in Scotland and Wales as a result of devolution), or the appointment of new officials or a new group within the parliament, can also lead to a more proactive and innovative approach in this area of activity.

Dr Ruth Fox, Director of Research at the Hansard Society, commented:

‘Public engagement is now core business for most parliaments. Westminster is one of the parliamentary leaders in this area but there is a rich variety of ideas, initiatives and good practice emerging from institutions across the globe which could be used at Westminster and in other parliaments to add value to their existing work. They don't all cost a lot of money - indeed, some are important sources of income generation. We hope this report will act as a useful resource that parliaments can consult in order to learn about new ideas and innovations in public engagement that are being tried and tested in other places.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 0207 438 1225 or comms@hansardsociety.org.uk

Editors' Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity (www.hansardsociety.org.uk)
Parliaments and Public Engagement: Innovation and Good Practice from Around the World explores the public engagement work of over 50 parliaments encompassing a broad and representative range of political systems, geographical regions and developed and developing democracies.
The report highlights eConsultations, outreach Bill workshops and ‘Train the Trainer' programmes, the ‘MP for a week' and ‘MyUK' on-line educational games, and the Peers in Schools and Speaker's School Council Awards Scheme as among the Westminster Parliament's most innovative initiatives from which other legislatures might learn.
The report also provides international good practice examples from which Westminster and other parliaments might learn, including: a range of thematic tours and visits in the German Bundestag and on Canada's Parliament Hill; open days and night sittings in Switzerland, the Parliament of New South Wales and the Estonian Riiggikogu; the Capitol Hill visitor centre in the USA; online forums in the Chilean Senate; and educational programmes such as the Norwegian ‘Mini Ting' and the Danish ‘Politician for a day'.
The research was supported by the Group on Information for the Public, UK Parliament.
The author of this report, Dr Ruth Fox, will be giving evidence to the House of Commons Administration Committee's inquiry into visitor services on Monday 30 January at 5:15pm in Committee Room 16.

Celebrities deserve privacy, say young people - December 15

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:02:00 GMT

www.headsup.org.uk

Young people taking part in the HeadsUp forum - The Media...is it doing its job? felt that excessive media intrusion into the private lives of celebrities was unacceptable, particularly when it involved their children and families.

The debate - The Media...is it doing its job? - ran from November 21 to December 9, 2011. This was particularly opportune timing as the Leveson Inquiry was taking evidence throughout this period from celebrities familiar to young people such as JK Rowling and Charlotte Church. Many11-18 year-olds taking part in the HeadsUp forum expressed their support for celebrities who want to protect their privacy:

‘Celebrities should be able to keep their private photos a secret. They can't enjoy a day at the beach without the press watching their every move'

But some took the view that media interest in the lives of celebrities was acceptable to a degree and that most people who were celebrities knew this before they became famous:

‘Even though I do think that celebrities do deserve some freedom, the reason they are famous is because of the media and because everyone is interested in their lives'

The Media...is it doing its job? examined a variety of topics covering press intrusion, the media portrayal of young people and the reliability of information found online. The participants discussed whether the media should focus on serious news, entertainment or both and were particularly concerned about the negative portrayal of young people in the media:

‘I do think that sometimes TV makes all teenagers sound mopey, moany and stroppy and often rude and sometimes stupid or thick. This mainly because they feel that it will get better viewing because everyone ‘loves' watching a bunch of teens moan about their own issues''

‘Newspapers and TV constantly brand young people as binge drinking, drug taking, fire starting, pregnant at 16, violence causing nuisances. However this is clearly untrue... isn't it unfair that the media is constantly stereotyping ALL young people in these negative ways. Using a previous example of the August Riots, almost 90% of headlines mentioned teenagers as the sole cause, or almost sole cause, of the violence. But did you know that only 19% of arrests made and sentences given were to young people aged 11-18? Teenagers were unfairly blamed for the rioting and destruction when the majority of the crimes where actually committed by older people.''

Overall, the young people taking part understood many of the areas of concern that adults often have about young people and the internet. They were very clear about checking the reliability of information on the net and understood the importance of privacy of personal information, but many suggested that some elements of the law relating to the internet were still confusing:

‘I think the law should be more clear, as many people don't know what is illegal and legal'

For further information, contact Beccy Allen at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1214 or at beccy@hansardsociety.org.uk

Editors' Notes

All quotes come direct from the forum and are unedited. Fifty seven young people took part in the debate; there were 4,924 visits to the website, with 187 comments.
The full forum report for ‘The Media...is it doing its job?' can be downloaded here.
HeadsUp is an online debating space for 11-18 year-olds, run by the independent and non-partisan Hansard Society, to enable young people to discuss their views on political issues with their peers and influential decision-makers. It aims to build levels of political awareness and participation so that young people can play an effective role in the democratic processes affecting their lives. HeadsUp is also a space that politicians and political parties can use to consult with young people and find out their ideas, experiences and opinions.
HeadsUp was runner up in the Empowering Young People and Citizens category at the 2010 Nominet Internet Awards - recognising best practice use of the internet.
Two ways to register to take part in HeadsUp:

Young People - If you are 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form

The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.
There are currently over 1000 schools and youth organisations registered on HeadsUp.
The decision-makers supporting the forum were:

o Philip Davies MP - Member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee;

o John Hemming MP - Chair of the All-Party New Media Group;

o Jo Swinson MP - former Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport and Vice-Chair of the All-Party Media Literacy Group;

o John Thurso MP - former member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee;

o Baroness Morris - former Minister of State, Department of Culture, Media and Sport;

o Viscount Falkland - former Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport;

o Carolyn Quinn - BBC journalist and Chair of the Parliamentary Press Gallery;

o Daniel Booth - Editor, Web User magazine;

o Susanna Giner - Youth Media Agency.

The Media: is it doing its job? - November 15

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:10:00 GMT

11-18 year-olds to have their say on press freedom,

the recent hacking scandal and the effects of digital media

21 November - 9 December 2011

HeadsUp.org.uk

HeadsUp is an online forum for young people to explore political issues and learn about politics through debate with their peers and politicians. HeadsUp provides a direct line to politicians, allowing students to get their views across to real decision-makers and is a safe, moderated space that can be used by teachers as a resource for the teaching of Citizenship or PSHE.

All the debates are supported by lesson plans and activities for teachers and background information for students to ensure high-quality and informed debate.

The three week debate is happening online from Monday 21 November to Friday 9 December 2011 and all of the comments can be viewed throughout the three weeks without registration. The following topics will be discussed:

o Press Freedom: Should we ever be able to tell the media that they can't publish information in a democracy? Should celebrities be able to use the courts to keep embarrassing stories out of the press?

o The Role of the Media: Does the media have a duty to provide us with high quality information? Do you think that the media is good at checking what the government is up to? Is the focus on celebrity culture a problem?

o New Media: How do you know which information to trust? Does the internet give ordinary people more power? Should the government be able to shut down social networks if they think they are being used to break the law?

o Young People: Do you think that the media treats young people fairly? Does the news pay enough attention to young people and their concerns? Should the media include more young people in its news reporting?

The following decision-makers are getting involved, with more to be confirmed soon:

Philip Davies MP - member of the select committee for Culture, Media and Sport
Viscount Falkland - former member of the Culture, Media and Sport committee
Baroness Estelle Morris - former Minister in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
John Thurso MP - former member of the Culture, Media and Sport committee

Philip Davies MP said in his supporting statement for the forum:

"As a member of the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee since 2005, I have examined the workings of the British press, restrictions on the media and more recently, illegal activity in newsrooms. My starting point, as a libertarian, is that a free press is an essential part of a free society. Despite the phone-hacking scandal, the British press is a dynamic and vibrant industry that exposes wrongdoing and holds people to account."

For more information contact Beccy Allen at the Hansard Society on 0207 438 1214 or beccy@hansardsociety.org.uk

Editors' Notes

HeadsUp (http://www.headsup.org.uk/) is an innovative website where 11-18 year olds debate political issues and learn about the political process. The site is a non-partisan, cross-party educational resource that provides a secure, structured and student-centred discussion platform.
The forum schedule for the 2011-12 school year is as follows:

§ 26 September - 14 October 2011 :: How equal is Britain? [report now available]

§ 21 November - 9 December 2011 :: The Media...

§ 5 - 23 March 2012 :: Families...

§ 30 April - 18 May 2012 :: You and society...

§ 18 June - 6 July 2012 :: Olympic and Paralympic Games...

Interested MPs, Peers, MSPs and AMs are invited to get involved in the debate - to take part please email Beccy Allen (above) for more information.
Two ways to register to participate in HeadsUp:

Young People - If you are aged 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form.

All HeadsUp forums are open to be viewed and the debate followed by the public. Participants need to register or login to post comments (11-18s and supporting teachers/youth workers only).
The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.
There are over 1,000 schools currently registered with HeadsUp.

Peers should use social media to connect with public, says Lord Sugar - October 31

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:05:00 GMT

Lords of the Blog

Writing on Lords of the Blog today, Lord Sugar calls on his fellow peers to break down barriers with the public by using social media as a part of everyday political life:

‘Social media means that people can have direct access to me as a Lord and as a businessman. Individuals, campaigning groups and external organisations should be able to contact us and, on some occasions, put us on the spot in public forums for the decisions we take on their behalf......The way I use social media means there are no barriers between me and the public.

‘We should be looking at the best way to break down barriers between the House of Lords and what happens in people's everyday lives; we need to get the message across that what happens in our House actually affects what happens in their house.'

For further information about Lords of the Blog contact Virginia Gibbons at mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1225

Editors Notes
·    The Hansard Society is hosting a special event as part of Parliament Week focusing on how the House of Lords engages with the public and what must be done to achieve a more connected Upper Chamber (hashtag #PeerTweet).

Parliament and the public: What difference does the Lords make?

6.30 - 8pm, Wednesday 2 November, Attlee Suite, Portcullis House

Introduction
o    Rt Hon Baroness D'Souza CMG (Lord Speaker)
Chair
o    Rt Hon Peter Riddell (Chair Hansard Society)
Panel
o    Mark Darcy (BBC)
o    Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat)
o    Lord Soley (Labour)
o    Professor Baroness Young of Hornsey OBE (Crossbench)
o    Professor Lord Norton of Louth (Conservative)

To attend, email hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk or phone 0207 438 1216

·    Lords of the Blog was launched by the Hansard Society in 2008 to encourage dialogue between the public and Members of the House of Lords. It is the only cross-party blog of any legislature in the world.
·    Lords of the Blog attracts an average of 5,000 comments per year.
·    There are 12 bloggers who write regular blog posts related to life and work in the House of Lords. Lord Sugar is the latest guest blogger on the site.
·    Lords of the Blog has been mentioned in 15 debates in the House of Lords and has informed the Lords Information Committee inquiry ‘Are the Lords Listening?'
·    Blogging peers regularly ask for opinions and evidence from the blog's audience to inform debates they are speaking in or questions they ask in the House.

Westminster World Heritage Site and Parliament Square a national disgrace

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:25:00 GMT

New vision which puts citizen and visitor at its heart is needed, says new report from the Hansard Society

A new report from the Hansard Society - A Place for People – Proposals for Enhancing Visitor Engagement with Parliament’s Environs - exploring how better use can be made of the Westminster World Heritage Site and Parliament Square concludes that rather than a place of national pride this landmark area is a national disgrace.

A Place for People describes the area, which attracts over 30 million visitors a year, as unwelcoming: ‘a noisy, polluted, inaccessible place, seething with traffic and pedestrians and pockmarked by fortress-like security’. The report sets out a range of ideas for the development of a new vision for the area which puts the citizen and visitor at its heart, and which would unlock the potential of the site in ways commensurate with its international status and reputation. The report calls for a new vision to be implemented with the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta in 2015 in mind.

In the past 30 years there have been several proposals for improvements to the area but little progress has been made.* A Place for People provides recommendations to improve both physical and intellectual access to the area, including:

Improving traffic management and pedestrianising Parliament Square;
Rationalising the World Heritage Site by expanding the boundary to include Parliament Square, Victoria Tower Gardens, Abingdon Street Gardens and Canning Green;
Turning Parliament Square into a forum for both spontaneous and organised citizenship, similar in style to a Speakers’ Corner. As well as a site for protest, it should be a place for a rich and diverse programme of events, lectures and discussions managed by an independent Square Steering Group;
Improving signage and information provision throughout the World Heritage Site and neighbouring areas;
Establishing new guided walks - for example:

a new Magna Carta Walkway (to mark the 2015 anniversary) supported by maps, guidebooks, and multi-media guides;
a cultural corridor linking Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square to Tate Britain through the provision of signage, information maps, leaflets and digital applications to relate the democratic story through the mix of art, statuary and sculpture en route.

Improving access to and use of Victoria Tower Gardens, including the introduction of a ‘People’s Terrace’ facility offering visitor amenities;
Converting the Parliamentary Bookshop on Bridge Street into a Visitor Information Centre where maps, leaflets, multi-media guides as well as gifts and souvenirs can be obtained;
Converting 6/7 Old Palace Yard into an exhibition and interpretation space for Parliament supplemented by improved interpretation space at the Jewel Tower;
Converting the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre into a multi-stakeholder World Heritage Site Visitors’ Centre.

The current management model for the World Heritage Site clearly does not work. This report therefore also calls for a new, more collaborative approach: membership of the World Heritage Site Management Plan Steering Group should be revised and implementation of a new management plan should be overseen preferably by a new Westminster World Heritage Trust or the appointment of a co-ordinator.

Dr Ruth Fox, joint author of A Place for People and Director of the Hansard Society’s Parliament and Government programme, commented: ‘The current state of the area does not say much for our sense of national pride and civic values. Those tasked with responsibility for the area have been negligent in their stewardship. Our proposals offer a new vision which puts the citizen and visitor at the heart of the area.

The opportunity to showcase the area during next year's Olympics and Diamond Jubilee - the biggest events attracting people to the capital in a generation - has largely been wasted. But there are new opportunities ahead, particularly linked to the 2015 Magna Carta anniversary. The worst outcome of all would be for the stakeholders, as in the past, to adopt an all or nothing approach. Implementation of any of the proposals set out in this report would be an improvement on the status quo.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1225 or 07812 765 552

Editors’ Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity.
The research for A Place for People was supported by the Group on Information for the Public, UK Parliament.
The report’s findings are based on desk and archive research, supplemented by discussion groups, one-to-one interviews and consultations with key stakeholders.

* Previous reports include:

1970 Greater London Council’s Three Square’s Project
1998 – World Squares for All Masterplan
2006 – World Squares for All - Parliament Square Regeneration: A Framework for Action

Inequality to blame for riots, say young people - October 20

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:56:00 GMT

www.headsup.org.uk

Seventy-one per cent of 11-18 year-olds taking part in the first HeadsUp forum of the new school year, How equal is Britain? thought that inequality was either mostly or partly to blame for the riots in English cities this year.

The How equal is Britain? debate, running from September 26 - October 14, attracted a record number of comments from young people. The forum covered a variety of issues ranging from the role of inequality in the recent riots to equal representation in Parliament and sexism in sport. You can read the full report of the debate here.

Opinion was divided on the reasons for the riots:

"I believe that the people who got involved in the riots had a reason. Maybe it was because the government were not really taking care of them. They have got nothing left, so they have got nothing to lose."

"I don't think there was a message behind the riots because it could have started for a reason but most people that were involved with it were doing it for the excitement and money that looting provides."

Those taking part in the forum were asked if inequality played a part in the riots:
·   31% thought inequality was mostly to blame
·   40% thought that inequality was partly to blame
·   16% thought people involved were responsible for their own actions
·   13% were not sure what caused the riots

Equal representation of women in Parliament also attracted a lot of posts, with many agreeing with Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP, who took part in the debate:

"Over half the population is female, yet we have a situation in which the important decisions about the future of the country are taken by men."

There was some debate as to how this might best be achieved, with some students supportive of fairer gender representation but stopping short of endorsing quotas:

"People should be chosen to become MPs based on how well they will be able to do their job, not on their gender, sexuality or race."

There was also extensive discussion of women in sport. Posters felt that women had fewer sporting opportunities than men, owing to limited TV coverage, stereotypes about specific sports for each gender and poor P.E. lessons at school:

"When I was younger I was put off sport, because I never saw female players, which made me think that women weren't allowed to participate. It totally put me off sport and I never tried because I didn't think it would be a job possibility."

For further information, contact Beccy Allen at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1214 or at beccy@hansardsociety.org.uk

Editors' Notes
o   All quotes come direct from the forum and are unedited. Over 100 young people took part in the debate; there were 4,254 visits to the website, with 1,169 posts.
o   The full forum report for How equal is Britain? can be downloaded here.
o   HeadsUp (http://www.headsup.org.uk/content/) is an online debating space for 11-18 year-olds, run by the independent and non-partisan Hansard Society, to enable young people to discuss their views on political issues with their peers and influential decision-makers.

It aims to build levels of political awareness and participation so that young people can play an effective role in the democratic processes affecting their lives.

HeadsUp is also a space that politicians and political parties can use to consult with young people and find out their ideas, experiences and opinions.
o   HeadsUp was runner up in the Empowering Young People and Citizens category at the 2010 Nominet Internet Awards - recognising best practice use of the internet.
o   Two ways to register to take part in HeadsUp:
·   Young People - If you are 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
·   Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form
o   The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.
o   There are currently over 1000 schools and youth organisations registered on HeadsUp.
o   The decision-makers supporting the forum were:
·   Angela Burns AM - Conservative Shadow Minister for Education;
·   Christine Chapman AM - Member, Children and Young People Committee;
·   Caroline Lucas MP - Leader of the Green Party;
·   Siobhan McMahon MSP - Member, Equal Opportunities Committee;
·   Ian Mearns MP - Member, Education Committee;
·   Baroness Estelle Morris - former Minister for Education;
·   Meg Munn MP - Vice-Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women and Enterprise;
·   Jenny Rathbone AM - Member, Children and Young People Committee;
·   Tim Woodhouse - Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation.

How equal is Britain? September 22, 2011

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:49:00 GMT

11-18 year-olds to discuss the recent riots, and equality

of opportunity in education, sport and youth employment

26 September - 14 October 2011

HeadsUp.org.uk

HeadsUp is an online forum for young people to explore political issues and learn about politics through debate with their peers and politicians. HeadsUp provides a direct line to politicians, allowing students to get their views across to real decision-makers, and talk about the political issues that are important to them.

The first debate of the school term will be ‘How equal is Britain?' and is supported by comprehensive BackUp information for students and Teachers' notes to help plan lessons around the debate topic.

The three-week debate is happening online from Monday 26 September to Friday 14 October 2011 and all of the comments by the legislators and forum users can be viewed throughout the three weeks without registration. The following decision-makers are getting involved, with more to be confirmed soon:

Caroline Lucas, Leader of the Green Party
Siobahn McMahon MSP, Member of the Equal Opportunities Committee
Ian Mearns MP, Member of the Education Committee;
Baroness Morris, Former Secretary of State for Education.

The following topics will be discussed:

How equal is Britain? Is Britain divided? Were the riots in London, Birmingham and Manchester a reaction to inequality in our society? How can we make sure that Parliament is more representative of British society? How can the gender pay gap be closed? Does the British monarchy need reform?
Young people - Have you ever experienced age discrimination? Should there be a younger voting age? Do you know your rights? Are young people more affected by government cuts than other groups in society?
Education - Are school dress codes fair? Does everyone have an equal chance in our education system? Do schools do enough to include students with special education needs and disabilities? How well does your school tackle issues such as bullying and racism?
Sport - Are sports still sexist? Should men and women compete in the same sports together? Can women's sports ever reach the same status as men's? Do you think mixed sports teams at schools are a good idea?

Caroline Lucas MP commented:

"If we are to make our democracy stronger and improve the political system for future generations, it's crucial to ensure that the views of young people are fully heard and understood. So I warmly welcome this HeadsUp online debate on what is perhaps the most fundamental issue of our time: inequality."

Baroness Morris commented:

"It's difficult to find a time in history or a country in the world that hasn't relied on education in a quest to bring about greater equality. That's why, in any debate about equality in Britain, the performance of the education system must come under scrutiny."

For more information contact Beccy Allen at the Hansard Society on 0207 438 1214 or r.allen@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

HeadsUp (http://www.headsup.org.uk/) is an innovative website where 11-18 year olds debate political issues and learn about the political process. The site is a non-partisan, cross-party educational resource that provides a secure, structured and student-centred discussion platform.
The forum schedule for the 2011-12 school year is as follows:

§ 26 September - 14 October 2011 :: How equal is Britain?

§ 21 November - 9 December 2011 :: The Media...

§ 5 - 23 March 2012 :: Families...

§ 30 April - 18 May 2012 :: You and society...

§ 18 June - 6 July 2012 :: Olympic and Paralympic Games...

Interested MPs, Peers, MSPs, AMs and MEPs are invited to get involved in the debate - to take part please email Beccy Allen (above) for more information.
Two ways to register to participate in HeadsUp:

Young People - If you are aged 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form.

All HeadsUp forums are open to be viewed and the debate followed by the public. Participants need to register or login to post comments (11-18s and supporting teachers/youth workers only).
The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.
There are over 1,000 schools currently registered with HeadsUp.

Half the public don’t know and don’t care about Parliament - August 18 2011

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:41:00 GMT

Connecting Citizens to Parliament - research from the Hansard Society published today - demonstrates that half the public (52%) are not really interested in Parliament and do not want to be involved in what it does.

The research explores which communities and social groups are not engaging with Parliament, why and how this might be redressed. It concludes that connecting with ‘hard to reach' groups cannot be achieved by a sudden radical change of approach, but demands a number of smaller cumulative step-changes, many of which Parliament can initiate or suggest but cannot necessarily lead.

The Connecting Citizens to Parliament research is based on a quantitative survey of 2,005 adults and five qualitative semi-structured focus groups. It confirms that social class and age are the strongest determining factors for engagement. Barriers to engagement include:

Parliament itself because of arcane traditions and the complexity of its processes and procedures
The narrow range and overall lack of parliamentary coverage in the media
Weaknesses in the delivery of political literacy education in schools, in the community and voluntary sector
The dearth of informal learning opportunities through public libraries and social networks.

Connecting Citizens to Parliament identified the importance of face-to-face contact and the local area as key themes combined with the value of Parliament coming to the people rather than expecting people to come to Parliament and the necessity of placing information about Parliament in accessible places where citizens live out their daily lives. Recommendations for action include:

Availability of easy-to-read information on Parliament's business and relevance to local life and topical issues in a number of different formats (print and digital)
Wider engagement in third-party online spaces such as MumsNet and MoneySavingExpert.com
Use of popular newspapers to advertise when public consultations are being held
Development of a programme for trainee journalists to raise awareness of an interest in the work of Parliament
Wider use of Citizen Juries and local meetings in order to feed back the public's views
Development of a national network of educators/ambassadors at local and regional level who can actively disseminate information in their own community spaces and workplaces.

Dr Andy Williamson, Director of the Hansard Society's Digital Democracy programme, commented: ‘Parliament has done a lot of work to improve public awareness but is still only able to reach a fraction of the public. There remains a large group of citizens who don't know and don't care about Parliament. This can't be good for our democracy. Our recommendations for action involve not just Parliament but other vital players such as educationalists and the media who can take the lead in encouraging citizens to learn more about how Parliament affects their lives and what part they can play in its work'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity.
The Hansard Society Digital Democracy Programme's thought-leading research has been a formative part of an emergent digital Britain from the internet's impact on Parliament, to better government engagement with citizens and the potential for civil society to harness digital media. The Digital Democracy Programme undertakes research and produces publications and commentaries with a focus on online political communication and citizen engagement, exploring the many faces of digital inclusion, citizen engagement, political campaigning and parliamentary process.
Connecting Citizens to Parliament survey was carried out online by ICM with a random sample of 2,005 adults (aged 18 or over) across Great Britain between August 25 and 26, 2010.
Connecting Citizens to Parliament focus groups were held in Peterborough, Poplar, Nairn, Sheffield and Usk between April and August 2010.

Hansard Society at Festival of Politics

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:49:00 GMT

Has Twitter changed the world? Social media and Scottish politics

Thursday August 25

1.30 - 2.30pm Room P1.02

Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Road

This event is free to attend

(Registration required at www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk )

This year's Festival of Politics in Edinburgh runs from 20 - 27 August and presents a diverse programme of events bringing together politics, media and the arts through performance, discussion and debate. One theme of this year's Festival is an exploration of how technological and cultural revolutions are influencing politics in an increasingly transparent and interactive world. The Hansard Society will be hosting an event which will consider whether the use of Twitter (and other social media) by participants in events such as the Arab spring has lessons for parliamentary democracies like Scotland.

Chair:

Lesley Riddoch - journalist and broadcaster

Speakers:

Andy Williamson - Hansard Society Director of Digital Democracy,
Peter Cruickshank - Research Fellow, International Teledemocracy Centre, Edinburgh Napier University.
Joan McAlpine MSP - SNP
Kezia Dugdale MSP - Scottish Labour

For further information on the Hansard Society event at the Festival of Politics, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

Find out more about the Festival of Politics programme and tickets :

Online from www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
By telephone: 0131 473 2000 (calls via RNID Typetalk: 18001 0131 473 2000)
By post: to the Festival of Politics, Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE.
In person: The Scottish Parliament or The Hub.

Full details of the festival programme are available from www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
The Hansard Society is the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity which exists to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics. (http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/)

Hansard Society welcomes Commons e-Petitions initiative

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:56:00 GMT

A well-designed process will help public engage with work of Parliament

Today's announcement by Sir George Young MP, Leader of the House, that a new petitions site will be opened on DirectGov is welcomed by the Hansard Society which has long campaigned for the Westminster Parliament to initiate an e-Petitions system to help revitalise public engagement with Parliament.

Dr Andy Williamson, Director of the Hansard Society's Digital Democracy programme commented: ‘The ePetitions proposal is a very realistic step forward using methods and process that increase the opportunity for the public to propose subjects for parliamentary debate and enhance the role of the Backbench Business Committee to take relevant petitions forward.

‘The value of the proposed system is that it contains an underlying process which guarantees an authentic and considered response to the concerns raised in the petition in contrast to the now defunct Downing Street venture which offered no parliamentary response. The examples in Scotland and Wales prove that an ePetitions system can be an effective way to update the procedure to bring it into line with the way modern society thinks, works and communicates. The Hansard Society's Audit of Political Engagement consistently tells us that signing a petition is the democratic activity people are most likely to do other than vote. Petitions matter as a potential on-ramp to democratic re-engagement.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity.
The Hansard Society Digital Democracy Programme's thought-leading research has been a formative part of an emergent digital Britain from the internet's impact on Parliament, to better government engagement with citizens and the potential for civil society to harness digital media. The Digital Democracy Programme undertakes research and produces publications and commentaries with a focus on online political communication and citizen engagement, exploring the many faces of digital inclusion, citizen engagement, political campaigning and parliamentary process.
Read more about the Hansard Society's recommendations on ePetitions - ePetitions a Step Closer for Parliament and Parliamentary Reform Briefing Paper

Parliamentary Affairs Summer Issue Available now

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:25:00 GMT

Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary politics

Discounted rate for Hansard Society members

The summer issue of Parliamentary Affairs (July 2011) contains a variety of articles including an examination of the antecedents of the Big Society, a survey of ideological tendencies among Conservative Party members and an analysis of legislative committee activity in the Scottish Parliament .

As well as abstracts from the articles (see Editor's Notes), Parliamentary Affairs podcasts are also available. These are interviews with the authors designed to explore themes from their work. The podcasts are between 10 and 15 minutes long, and designed to inform researchers and to serve as teaching tools to stimulate discussion amongst students.

Parliamentary Affairs is a long-established quarterly journal published by Oxford University Press in association with the Hansard Society. Individual subscriptions to Parliamentary Affairs cost £62 a year but if you become a member of the Hansard Society for £60 a year, included within this cost is a special reduced subscription to Parliamentary Affairs for just £25 a year.

Become a member of the Hansard Society (£60 a year) and receive a reduced subscription rate to Parliamentary Affairs included within this cost.
Individual subscriptions cost £62 a year from jnls.cust.serv@oup.com or Journals Customer Service Department, Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1225

Editors' Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity which exists to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics.

The July 2011 issue of Parliamentary Affairs contains the following articles. Click on the title to read an abstract from each article:

Paul Webb and Sarah Childs Wets and Dries Resurgent? Intra-Party Alignments Among Contemporary Conservative Party Members
Charles Pattie and Ron Johnston How Big is the Big Society?
Tom Louwerse The Spatial Approach to the Party Mandate
Jennifer M. Piscopo Rethinking Descriptive Representation: Rendering Women in Legislative Debates
John Coakley The Challenge of Consociation in Northern Ireland
Martin Battle Second-Class Representatives or Work Horses? Committee Assignments and Electoral Incentives in the Scottish Parliament
Steve Williams and Peter Scott The Nature of Conservative Party Modernisation Under David Cameron: The Trajectory of Employment Relations Policy
Liam Weeks Tolerable Chance or Undesirable Arbitrariness? Distributing Surplus Votes Under PR-STV
Dean McSweeney Early Voting and Informed Voters in America
Matt Korris Standing up for Scrutiny: How and Why Parliament Should Make Better Law

Reviews

Jonathan Tonge reviews Devolution and the Governance of Northern Ireland by Colin Knox
Kevin Hickson reviews Losing Labour's Soul? New Labour and the Blair Government 1997-2007 by Eric Shaw and The Conservative Party: From Thatcher to Cameron by Tim Bale

We need more education about Parliament, say the public

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:05:00 GMT

Political literacy and digital media are key to engagement

Parliament 2020: Visioning the Future Parliament - international research from the Hansard Society published today - demonstrates that effective political literacy education and greater use of digital media are priorities to bridge the gap between elected representatives and the public.

The focus of Parliament 2020: Visioning the Future Parliament is on how parliaments can improve processes, enhance communication and better engage with citizens. The participants in the research project comprised parliamentarians, parliamentary officials and members of the public from four countries (Australia, Canada, Chile and the UK). The barriers to engagement they identified include:

Lack of effective political literacy education
Lack of accountability, transparency and access to information
The use of complicated and archaic language
Lack of opportunities for interaction between elected representatives and the public
Ineffective use of new technologies
Insufficient resources for parliamentary engagement

Although each parliament studied is unique, the concerns were universal. The Hansard Society has drawn up recommendations for improving legislatures' relationships with the public based on this study, including:

More political literacy education in schools, better related to ‘real world' subjects - including visits from elected representatives
More use of digital media to open up the work of parliament, build more channels for two-way dialogues with citizens, increase the level of public scrutiny and build interest in the democratic processes
Modernising parliamentary processes by adopting clear, understandable and engaging language and presenting legislative documentation in context online
Allowing open access to all parliamentary documents and data without restrictive conditions on re-use.
Better allocation of resources to enable representatives to use new technologies to their full potential

Dr Andy Williamson, Director of the Hansard Society's Digital Democracy programme, commented: ‘The parliaments we studied all suffered greatly because their public see them as distant and out-of-touch. This research shows that it is vital for people to feel confident in their knowledge of how the political system works if they are to engage effectively in the process. There is a clear expectation that more is needed from parliaments and elected members in terms of how they engage with the public and that digital media (open data and social media in particular) is a pivotal tool in bridging the gap.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity.
The Hansard Society Digital Democracy Programme's thought-leading research has been a formative part of an emergent digital Britain from the internet's impact on Parliament, to better government engagement with citizens and the potential for civil society to harness digital media. The Digital Democracy Programme undertakes research and produces publications and commentaries with a focus on online political communication and citizen engagement, exploring the many faces of digital inclusion, citizen engagement, political campaigning and parliamentary process.
Parliament 2020: Visioning the Future Parliament undertook project work in parliaments in Australia, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom using a variety of means including focus groups, interviews and a public survey.

Why are political blogs dominated by men?

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:21:00 GMT

A new Digital Paper, Gender and Digital Politics, published today by the Hansard Society, examines the online political participation of women and men and concludes that the gender imbalance online is the result of wider political exclusion, not digital exclusion.

Gender and Digital Politics examines overall levels of internet access and activity and finds generally similar levels across the genders. However, when it comes to more active online political participation, such as writing blog posts or commenting on blogs, the figures are usually male dominated:

80% of MPs' blogs are by men
85% of political media blogs are by men
93% of councillors' blogs are by men
85% of individual blogs in Total Politics Political Blog Awards 2010 were written by men
79% of blog posts and 90% of comments on Lib Dem Voice blog (to November 2010) were written by men

The gender pattern in the world of digital politics is similar to the gender composition of Parliament (only 22% of the MPs elected in May 2010 were women), and to the gender balance of candidates standing in the last election (again only 22% were women). However, although the numbers of women MPs are small, their use of online tools is not dissimilar to that of their male counterparts:

49% of female Labour MPs and 45% of male Labour MPs use Twitter
41% of female Conservative MPs and 30% of male Conservative MPs use Twitter
43% of female Liberal Democrat MPs and 56% of male Liberal Democrat MPs use Twitter (there are only seven female Liberal Democrat MPs)
Across the parties, 55% of new female MPs and 50% of new male MPs use Twitter

Dr Andy Williamson, Director of the Hansard Society's Digital Democracy programme, commented: ‘While writing and commenting on political blogs seems to be dominated by men; it mirrors other offline and non-political activities such as writing letters to newspapers for publication. Overall, the evidence for online politics suggests that the more an activity involves self-promotion, the more likely there is to be a male dominance. Where women are active in politics, they are equally as likely as their male counterparts to be digitally active.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity.
Gender and Digital Politics is the fifth in an occasional series of short Digital Papers from the Hansard Society Digital Democracy Programme. It was written by Dr Andy Williamson and Freddy Fallon from the Hansard Society's Digital Democracy programme and Dr Mark Pack, Head of Digital at MHP Communications and Co-Editor, Liberal Democrat Voice.
The Hansard Society Digital Democracy Programme's thought-leading research has been a formative part of an emergent digital Britain from the internet's impact on Parliament, to better government engagement with citizens and the potential for civil society to harness digital media. The Digital Democracy Programme undertakes research and produces publications and commentaries with a focus on online political communication and citizen engagement, exploring the many faces of digital inclusion, citizen engagement, political campaigning and parliamentary process.
The Fawcett Society, the Hansard Society, the Electoral Reform Society and the Centre for Women and Democracy have joined together to form the Counting Women In campaign to address the lack of women in politics.We believe the under representation of women in Westminster, the devolved assemblies, and town halls around the UK represents a democratic deficit that undermines the legitimacy of decisions made in these chambers. Together, we will be fighting to ensure women have an equal presence and voice within our democratic system.

Lord Speaker Hustings - June 28, 2011

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:21:00 GMT

Tuesday June 28, 5pm - 6.30pm, Queen's Robing Room, House of Lords

The Hansard Society is hosting the first ever Lord Speaker Hustings on Tuesday, June 28 between 5pm-6.30pm in Queen's Robing Room, House of Lords. This event has been planned in respect of the election of a new Lord Speaker after Baroness Hayman announced her intention not to seek re-election in May 2011.

The Hustings will be chaired by Rt Hon Peter Riddell, Chair of the Hansard Society. Participants in the Lord Speaker Hustings are:

Lord Colwyn
Professor Lord Desai
Rt Hon Baroness D'Souza
Rt Hon Lord Goodlad
Baroness Harris of Richmond

Also standing is Lord Redesdale who is unable to take part in the Hustings.

The audience will consist of peers, the media and Hansard Society members. The format of the meeting will be that each potential candidate for the position of Lord Speaker will speak between five and seven minutes, then questions will be asked by fellow members of the House of Lords. Members of the media and the Hansard Society will be present as observers only and will not be called to ask questions. The aim is not to have a debate between contenders but more an interaction between those peers who are standing for election and their fellow peers.

This event will be modelled on a similar event organised by the Hansard Society in June 2009 for the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons.

If you would like your name added to the press list, contact Virginia Gibbons at the Hansard Society

on mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1225 or 07812 765 552

Editors Notes:

The Hansard Society is the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity which exists to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics. (http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/)

The Hansard Society Speaker Hustings will be televised on the BBC Parliament channel. Transmission date to be confirmed.

All Members of the House who have taken the Oath are eligible to be candidates, with the exception of those who are:

Ø Subject to statutory disqualification;

Ø suspended from the service of the House; or

Ø on Leave of Absence.

Voting will take place on Wednesday 13 July from 10 am to 8 pm in the Queen's Robing Room.

The Lord Speaker is elected for a term of five years. The new Lord Speaker will be the second in the House of Lords' history after the post was established in 2006.

The new Lord Speaker will take up post on September 1, 2011.

Animal welfare...how much do you care? June 20 2011

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:15:00 GMT

11-18 year olds to debate issues around animal welfare on HeadsUp

Monday June 20– Friday July 8.

www.headsup.org.uk

The next HeadsUp online forum for 11-18 year-olds will be focusing on animal welfare. HeadsUp.org.uk provides a platform for young people to participate in political debates and voice their opinions to decision makers. Animal welfare is consistently in the news with recent calls to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, as well as legislation progressing through the European Parliament to ban cosmetic testing on animals and to increase the size of battery cages for egg laying hens.

Themes up for debate include:

· Born to be wild? Should animals be used for our entertainment? Do zoos have a role to play in conservation and education or would animals be better off in the wild? Should circuses be allowed to use wild animals, like elephants, in their acts? Should the government do more to stop horses and dogs used in racing from being killed or abandoned once their racing careers are over?

· Our pet topic- Should there be heavier penalties for animal cruelty and neglect? With 1 in 3 dogs overweight, how can we make sure everyone is a responsible pet owner? Will compulsory micro-chipping of dogs solve the dangerous dog problem? Should schools should do more to teach young people how to become good pet owners?

· Animal extinction – Should governments be doing more to protect wild animals and their habitat? How do the products you buy affect species in danger of extinction? Does the government take climate change and its impact on animals seriously enough?

· Farming and animal welfare – Would you take notice of buying meat with ‘improved welfare’ labels? Would you go veggie to help save the planet? Should all farms be free range or would this make meat too expensive? How can we make fishing more sustainable?

Neil Parish MP, Chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) is taking part in the forum and he had this message for the young people getting involved:

‘Animal welfare is important for a myriad of different reasons and has an impact in many of the decisions we make from the food on our plates, to the medicine and cosmetics we use and the clothes we wear. Animal welfare issues are often seen as barriers to progress by many decision makers as they impose additional costs and regulations but it is important for members of the public, and indeed Members of Parliament, to remind government of their duty to uphold and protect the welfare of animals’.

Baroness Gale is also taking part and she said:

‘I am very pleased that the Hansard Society is holding this debate on Animal Welfare.
I care very much about how animals are looked after, and how we as a society treat animals’.

Decision makers and NGOs taking part so far include:

· Neil Parish MP - Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton and Chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare

· Andrew Rosindell MP – Conservative MP for Romford and co-Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Greyhound Group

· Baroness Gale - Former Vice-chair Labour Animal Welfare Society

· Keith Taylor MEP - Green Party MEP for the South East of England

· Elaine Murray MSP – Labour MSP for Dumfriesshire and Vice Convenor of the UK Pet Advisory Committee

· Jamie Johnson - Youth Education Officer for The Vegetarian Society

· Tracy Genever - Education Manager for the Blue Cross

· Claire Robinson – Government Relations Manager for the RSPCA

Read the statements already provided by those decision-makers taking part here

If you would like to take part in the forum, please contact Beccy Allen at, r.allen@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1214.

HeadsUp is an online debating space for 11-18 year-olds, run by the independent and non-partisan Hansard Society, to enable young people to discuss their views on political issues with their peers and influential decision-makers. It aims to build levels of political awareness and participation so that young people can play an effective role in the democratic processes affecting their lives. HeadsUp is also a space that politicians and political parties can use to consult with young people and find out their ideas, experiences and opinions.

For more information please contact Beccy Allen

r.allen@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1214

Editors' Notes

HeadsUp (http://www.headsup.org.uk/content/) is an innovative website where 11-18s debate political issues and learn about the political process. The site is a non-partisan, cross-party educational resource that provides a secure, structured and student-centred discussion platform.

Two ways to register to participate in HeadsUp:

Young People - If you are 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form.

All HeadsUp forums are open to be viewed and the debate followed by the public. Participants need to register or login to post comments (11-18s and supporting teachers/youth workers only).

The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.

There are over 1,000 schools registered on HeadsUp.