A Future For Politics: Ways to reform our political system

Article

In this short volume of essays the leading think tanks debate the pros and cons of a range of approaches to putting democracy in the United Kingdom on a firmer footing. It features contributions from CentreForum, Demos, the Fabian Society, IPPR, Policy Exchange, Progress and Reform.

The scandal of MPs expenses has catalysed an important debate not only on the propriety of our MPs, but also about larger questions such as trust in our political system, the role of MPs and the power they have to influence change, the extent to which Parliament and MPs are accountable to the public, the way political parties are funded, and electoral reform.

IPPR approached colleagues in other leading UK think tanks to contribute their considered thoughts on these subjects. As think tanks and research organisations with differing values and standpoints, we are united in the importance of a healthy and well-functioning democracy and the power of politics to achieve change. We all believe that ideas matter and that politics benefits from high levels of participation and engagement by the public and that trust in politics and our politicians is crucial. Of course, we differ over the specifics, but there is a surprising amount of shared ground.

Related items

  1. Train and cars on a motorway with London skyline in background

    Planes, trains and automobiles: How green transport can drive manufacturing growth in the UK

    Transport is essential to our lives. Unfortunately, it is currently also the largest source of UK domestic carbon emissions. 

  2. Regional economies: The role of industrial strategy as a pathway to greener growth

    Regions like the North should have a key role to play in the development of a green industrial strategy.
  3. A mother and child walking in a field with hills in the distance

    Achieving the 2030 child poverty target: The distance left to travel

    On 27 March, the Scottish government will announce whether Scotland’s 2023 child poverty target – no more than 18 per cent of children in poverty – was achieved.