Sir Menzies has appointed one of the Liberal Democrats’ new Peers, Lord (Paul) Tyler – a former Shadow Leader of the Commons – to convene the conference which will enable members of the public to have their say on the way the country is run.  The Conference will take as its basis the recent report of the Power Inquiry, a thorough exploration and analysis of the features and failures of British democracy.

Paul Tyler says he hopes the conference will attract young people in particular, “It is alarming that so few young people vote.  Fewer than 2 in 5 did so at the last general election.  Yet we know that this crucial age group – our future – are by no means apathetic.  So this conference is about finding out how our politics needs to change to engage their interest in the democratic and parliamentary process."

“Should we, for example, enable people to vote at 16, and to stand for Parliament or their local Council as soon as they reach 18?

“Should we enable more parties to be represented in Parliament with a new voting system?

“How should we make the House of Lords more democratic?

“How can our political institutions be made to listen to the people?”

Citizens of all ages can listen to Paul Tyler’s podcast on the Taking Power initiative and register to have their say when the conference gets underway in September at http://www.takingpower.org

ENDS