Vanya Marks of Wanstead Climate Action shares her experiences of Popular Assemblies and explains why she’ll be happy to see this new style of people’s politics established in Wanstead
There is something in the air. Citizens’ assemblies, democratic socialism, participative democracy, call it what you will, but the idea of people taking a stand when it comes to local affairs is gathering pace.
I have lately been involved with Popular Assemblies or ‘Pops’, currently operating up and down the country, including Walthamstow and coming soon to Wanstead. The idea is locals get together to discuss the issues that are affecting them locally and nationally. We break some bread, form small groups, and then everyone gets a chance to have their say – this includes the problems they are facing but also actions, solutions and ideas. Notes are taken and, at the end, the people vote on which areas to focus on.
So far, I’ve joined two Pop meetings in Walthamstow. It was a really welcoming space with a creche for small children and homemade soup, snacks and tea and coffee – all provided free. Concerns big and small came out of the meeting, from the price of renting to knife crime, cycling lanes to community allotments, smartphone addiction to NHS privatisation. The list goes on.
This month, a handful of delegates randomly selected from the E17 Pop and representatives from Pops all around the country will come together at Britain’s National Assembly. This will be a chance to amalgamate the issues decided by the people and bring together possible ways to fix things. The four or five most popular ideas will become the programme from this National Assembly.
In my opinion, our tired, two-party system of government, which has been operating for hundreds of years, is no longer fit for purpose. With massive issues facing us, such as the cost-of-living crisis, war and the rapidly escalating climate emergency, we can’t count on this system to deliver the goods. Even well-meaning politicians are unable to do a decent job because the entire system is broken and unable to function in the modern world.
Providing a space for people to connect and talk at Popular Assemblies creates a real sense of community, but also of empowerment. It is a fresh start, and we want people of all different personality types and ‘political colours’, who perhaps haven’t ever been involved in politics before, to jump onboard out of a genuine desire to change lives for the better.
We are hoping to bring a Popular Assembly to Wanstead soon with the help of former Redbridge councillor Shanell Johnson, who is a strong believer in the power of bringing about positive change from the ground up. With some truly daunting challenges on the horizon, both social and environmental, the time for everyone to come together – using real democracy – is now. Watch this space…
For more information, and to take part, visit humanityproject.uk
