Simon Burall

<p>Simon Burall is director of <a href="http://www.involve.org.uk/">Involve</a>, an organisation that designs and promotes processes for public participation in government. </p>

E-petitions aren't enough - Britain should learn from the 'Oregon model' of citizen juries

For the first time in Britain, the public has used e-petitions to successfully push for Parliamentary debates - but we could go much further. We need only take some lessons from across the Atlantic, where Oregon has set up citizen juries and embedded direct democracy at the heart of government.

By Simon Burall and Janice Thomson

/ 22 Oct 2011

Local government's 'duty to involve' the English is being scrapped

Today, local authorities in England have a 'duty to involve' citizens in decision-making. Soon this will be scrapped, leaving only the 'duty to consult'. What is the difference, and what does this mean for English democracy?

By Simon Burall

/ 22 Sep 2011