Grassroots democracy organisation Assemble, which is part of Umbrella, have announced that they are hosting the launch event for a new and radical national institution, the House of the People, on the 11th August. It will be a free ticketed event with food, speakers, and musical performances. It will be held in the Grade II listed Heritage & Arts Centre at Holy Trinity Church, Bow. [1] [2]
You can get your free tickets to the event here: https://HouseOfThePeople.eventbrite.com
Attendees will get a first look at the outcomes of nationwide Assemblies which have been occurring over the past six months, and get a chance to shape the agenda for the House of the People’s first session later this year. [3]
Assemblies are open meetings, where people come together to build solutions to local, national and international issues, and plan to make these solutions happen. The House of the People will be a randomly selected, representative body of people in Britain who will make the final decisions on matters raised in local Assemblies. This form of deliberative democracy is proposed to be significantly more effective and representative than representative democracy alone.
Maddie Wheeldon, 32 years old, from Warringon is a hospitality worker and social enterprise founder. She was one of Assemble’s independent electoral candidates, and will be one of the facilitators at the House of the People launch event. She said:
“When we come together we can make change happen and build a more equal and fair society with room for all perspectives, cultures and faiths. The House of the People has the power to strengthen and focus the voice of the people of this country, breaking down the walls and party lines that divide us. It’s time to let the people who live the realities of the issues decide.”
A permanent citizens assembly, such as a House of the People, is the most popular alternative to replace the House of Lords. Rather than wait for the government to implement this, Assemble are creating the House of the People now. It will be a space where an accurate snapshot of the country listens to experts and lived experience, and makes decisions free from the influence of lobbyists and corporations. [1]
Molly Shelton, 25, an Assemble spokesperson said:
“Our inspiring and inclusive election campaigns were the start of a new way of doing politics. They showed that when people are empowered to participate in genuine democratic spaces, we can do so much better than our politicians want us to believe. At the launch for the House of the People on 11th August, everyone is welcome to come and have their say in the direction we take together.”
In the general election, Assemble endorsed 28 independent candidates, training and funding local people to create community-driven manifestos that the candidates ran on. This tactic of holding freely accessible meetings where the local communities create the policies was a game-changing way of doing politics – and it was just the start. One of these candidates, Shockat Adam, is now the independent MP for Leicester South.
Yaz Ashmawi, 29, is a spokesperson for Assemble. He said:
“A free, uncorrupted and unencumbered institution like the House of the People can create the sort of logical, proportionate and effective solutions to the enormous crises we are facing – genocide, inequality and climate collapse. This body will rival the Government and in time, seeks to replace the House of Lords.”
Assemble are building a broad coalition of people who know we need a new way of doing politics. During the election our campaigns came from many backgrounds, including the ex-Labour left, the Muslim community, the climate movement, and small town communities. The House of the People launch event will provide people with pathways to action to get involved in this movement.
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Email: [email protected]
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Notes to editors
[1]
[2] https://timetoassemble.org/house-of-the-people/
[4] https://www.sortitionfoundation.org/house_of_citizens_tops_public_poll_to_replace_the_house_of_lords