A new constitution for Scotland? Electoral Reform Society events at Scottish Labour conference

• Ops note, not for use. Electoral Reform Society Scotland, 25^th February 2019

Electoral Reform Society Scotland will be holding two fringes in partnership with other campaigners and politicians at Scottish Labour conference in Dundee.

The fringes bring together key Labour politicians and thinkers, presenting fresh ideas for how to reorganise and revive local democracy in Scotland, and to debate what a new constitutional settlement for Scotland and the UK would look like.

Friday 8^th March

Local Democracy: How can we get real power to communities?

• 5pm, Committee Room 1, Caird Hall, DD1 3BB. Refreshments provided

Following years of community and civic engagement, ERS Scotland have drawn up bold proposals [1] for a new way to organise Scotland’s Local Government, focused on participatory democracy. What does Labour think about how local democracy should work?

• Alex Rowley MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government
• Willie Sullivan, Director ERS Scotland
• Maggie McTernan, Labour Councillor
• Chair: Katherine Sangster, National Manager, Scottish Fabians

Event page: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/join-the-movement/events/local-democracy-how-can-we-get-real-power-to-communities-labour-fringe/

Saturday 9^th March

Remaking the state: Transforming Scotland for Worker and Citizen Power 

• 12:30pm, Committee Room 5. Caird Hall, DD1 3BB. Buffet lunch provided

What should be Labour’s approach to federalism? How should the institutions and rules of British politics be democratised so that people really have power?

Pauline Bryan was tasked by Jeremy Corbyn last year to help develop the party’s constitutional policy, including on federalism and House of Lords reform.

• Baroness Pauline Bryan, Labour Peer
• Dr Jess Garland, Director of Policy and Research, Electoral Reform Society
• Angela Feeney, Vice Chair UNISON Labour Link and PPC Motherwell and Wishaw
• Chair: Neil Findlay MSP, Red Paper Collective

Organised by Politics for the Many [2], UNISON and the Red Paper Collective.

Event page: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/join-the-movement/events/remaking-the-state-transforming-scotland-for-worker-and-citizen-power-labour-fringe/

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The UK-wide ERS will also be at the Liberal Democrats’ spring conference in York in March: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/join-the-movement/events/citizens-assemblies-how-can-ordinary-people-inform-politics-lib-dem-fringe/

[1] https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17297410.power-to-the-people-ministers-urged-to-put-public-in-charge-in-radical-scots-local-government-reforms/ See the ERS’ briefing on the new proposals here: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Scottish-Local-Government-reform-consultation-response-briefing-FINAL.pdf

[2] Politics for the Many is the trade union campaign for democratic reform.