Baroness backing Real Change
She will chair group aiming to galvanise democracy
Published:
ONE of the UK Government’s leading critics on the Labour benches in the House of Lords will today announce her backing for a non-party initiative to change the way politics is conducted in Britain.
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC will chair the new group, Real Change, which is due to launch next month.
It has the backing of figures from the worlds of politics, law, the arts, academia, the unions and civil society, and says its aim is “to galvanise a growing network of engaged citizens to create a democracy that works”.
Speaking at today’s No Turning Back conference of the left-leaning think-tank Compass, Lady Kennedy will announce her involvement in the group and call for “a sea change in the framework of how politics is conducted in the UK”.
Real Change co-chairman Anthony Barnett said: “There has never been a more urgent need to strengthen and extend democracy in the UK.
“The economic climate, the threats to our liberty in the name of counter-terrorism, the recent European elections and the continuing MPs’ expenses scandal has caused every section of the population to lose faith in our political system and has seen trust in politicians and parliament disintegrate.
“I’m thrilled that Helena has agreed to support Real Change, she is an inspiration to everyone calling for real change and we look forward to working with her ahead of our launch in July.”
Other members of the group’s steering committee include human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman, OpenDemocracy website editor Tony Curzon Price, historian Timothy Garton Ash and journalist Henry Porter. The group claims supporters include former Lord Chief Justice Lord Bingham, author Philip Pullman, columnist Suzanne Moore, musician Brian Eno, former director of public prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald and the journalist Simon Jenkins.
