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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 60 voters discuss policy at No 10 | 60 voters discuss policy at No 10 |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sixty British citizens are meeting ministers at 10 Downing Street to discuss government policy. | Sixty British citizens are meeting ministers at 10 Downing Street to discuss government policy. |
| The voters, representing a cross-section of society, will take part in the Citizen Forum to debate and vote on policies for public services. | The voters, representing a cross-section of society, will take part in the Citizen Forum to debate and vote on policies for public services. |
| Labour Chairman Hazel Blears will be among the ministers at the meeting, which is part of a six-month policy review by the government. | Labour Chairman Hazel Blears will be among the ministers at the meeting, which is part of a six-month policy review by the government. |
| The findings will be presented to a meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday. | The findings will be presented to a meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday. |
| The voters, chosen by pollsters Ipsos Mori as representative of British society, will discuss public services, the role of the state and crime. | The voters, chosen by pollsters Ipsos Mori as representative of British society, will discuss public services, the role of the state and crime. |
| Views heard | Views heard |
| Ben Page, from Ipsos MORI and one of the organisers of the forum, told BBC Five Live the forum was designed to let the government know what ordinary people think. | Ben Page, from Ipsos MORI and one of the organisers of the forum, told BBC Five Live the forum was designed to let the government know what ordinary people think. |
| He added: "I don't think this is actually going to make decisions, that's the role of government, that's the role of parliament, but what it does do is let them have a much better idea about how different people see things, and also how workable some of their ideas might be." | He added: "I don't think this is actually going to make decisions, that's the role of government, that's the role of parliament, but what it does do is let them have a much better idea about how different people see things, and also how workable some of their ideas might be." |
| The forum is part of the government's ongoing policy review process, a cross-departmental initiative which aims to look at the challenges for the UK in the next decade. | The forum is part of the government's ongoing policy review process, a cross-departmental initiative which aims to look at the challenges for the UK in the next decade. |
| I don't see how 60 people in a room is going to have an impact on policy that is already decided Participant Thea Price Citizens speak up | |
| Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion Hilary Armstrong and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms will also attend the meeting. | Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion Hilary Armstrong and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms will also attend the meeting. |
| In a pre-recorded video presentation to be played at the forum, Prime Minister Tony Blair tells participants that their discussions will help form government policy. | In a pre-recorded video presentation to be played at the forum, Prime Minister Tony Blair tells participants that their discussions will help form government policy. |
| Mr Blair also says previous forums around the country revealed that people's expectations of public services were rising, but that there was "a bigger understanding, in a way, than I expected of the limits to government and also people's sense that they have a responsibility as well". | Mr Blair also says previous forums around the country revealed that people's expectations of public services were rising, but that there was "a bigger understanding, in a way, than I expected of the limits to government and also people's sense that they have a responsibility as well". |
| 'Dialogue needed' | 'Dialogue needed' |
| Mr Blair suggests that the recent 1.8 million signatures against road pricing was prompted by media coverage and headlines, not by a full appreciation of the issues involved. | Mr Blair suggests that the recent 1.8 million signatures against road pricing was prompted by media coverage and headlines, not by a full appreciation of the issues involved. |
| Once people were informed about the problems of increasing traffic congestion, they would approach the debate differently, he says. | Once people were informed about the problems of increasing traffic congestion, they would approach the debate differently, he says. |
| Mr Blair goes on to say that politics is done a "power of good" when politicians "are able to have a far more profound dialogue and conversation with people". | Mr Blair goes on to say that politics is done a "power of good" when politicians "are able to have a far more profound dialogue and conversation with people". |
| But participant Thea Price, who has already taken part in a regional forum, told the BBC's Today programme that she did not expect it to have any impact on government policy. | But participant Thea Price, who has already taken part in a regional forum, told the BBC's Today programme that she did not expect it to have any impact on government policy. |
| 'No influence' | 'No influence' |
| She said it was "dangerous" to think that a small group of people with limited information could represent the entire country. | She said it was "dangerous" to think that a small group of people with limited information could represent the entire country. |
| "I don't see how 60 people in a room is going to have an impact on policy that is already decided.," she added. | "I don't see how 60 people in a room is going to have an impact on policy that is already decided.," she added. |
| "Real participation and engagement takes a lot longer and a lot more. | "Real participation and engagement takes a lot longer and a lot more. |
| Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, who has overseen the Citizen Forum process, said it was the job of a responsible government to ensure it was ready to tackle the long-term challenges facing the country. | Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, who has overseen the Citizen Forum process, said it was the job of a responsible government to ensure it was ready to tackle the long-term challenges facing the country. |
| "The Ipsos Mori Citizen Forums are just one way in which we are working with the public to capture their views and involve them in this discussion - we've done this already with similar structured consultations on pensions and health." | "The Ipsos Mori Citizen Forums are just one way in which we are working with the public to capture their views and involve them in this discussion - we've done this already with similar structured consultations on pensions and health." |