Unified Democracy Structure- A High-Capability Upgrade

As stated in Our Mission, the consequences and risks of continuing with our outdated and dysfunctional system of adversarial politics are now severe and clear. The potential benefits of transition to a new, cooperative 21st-Century capable model now clear and overwhelming.

The critical need is therefore to establish a more robust governance structure. One strong enough to ensure strategic continuity and to absorb deep social and political disagreements to avoid any risks of breaking down into autocracy or civil conflict (risks we are now seeing materializing under our current system). Needing to restore essential checks and balances to ensure integrity of policy.

This is the purpose of the UK Unified Democracy 4-Tier Model. A new benchmark of cooperative governance —promoting national unity and direct peer-to-peer sector-level coordination for shared challenges – both domestically (for Healthcare, Energy etc) and internationally (for pandemics, climate change etc.)

The UK Unified Democracy 4-Tier Model

The UK Unified Democracy model is based on our current democratic governance structure – making the minimum of necessary changes – enabling transition within a 2 to 3 year timeframe.

It is comprised of four tiers: the Executive, The Policy Council, The Legislature and the Constituency Structure.  Each of these tiers holds the one above it in place – so ultimate power always rests with The People.

Tier 1 – The Executive

This headed by an elected Cabinet – headed by a Prime Minister as the leader of the party with the most Votes (rather than FPTP).  The three senior positions of state (The Chancellor, Home Secretary & Foreign Secretary), are appointed by the Prime Minister.

Those Ministers responsible for the main economic sectors (Healthcare, Energy, Transport etc) are not appointed by the Prime Minister – but elected by a new second tier of Government called “The Policy Council” as the most capable incumbents across all parliamentary parties.

The Cabinet so formed is supported by a professionally- resourced Fiscal Office (headed by the Chancellor) and a Cabinet Office responsible mainly for resourcing, drafting policy requirements and cross-sector coordination.

The Executive no longer drives policy top-down, but establishes each Parliamentary Agenda and specifies the requirements for Bills in accordance with the proposals people have voted for. These are than passed down to Tier 2 of Government for the debate and drafting of policy.

Tier 2 – The Policy Council

This Sector-Devolved institution is the beating heart of a Unified Democracy and runs strategically-continuously across administrations.

It is responsible both for driving change strategically (in accordance with the directives of each elected Executive) and for the day-to-day operational performance of each sector (Healthcare, Education etc.). It comes under the ultimate responsibility of the current Prime Minister.

The Policy Council consists of teams called “Sector Management Groups” – 13 proposed in total. Each headed by a Leader – also acting as the Minister for that sector. These Leaders are peer-elected (with the exception of the SMGs for the Home & Foreign Offices – which remain PM-appointed). Each SMG debates and drafts proposed policy in their particular sector under the budgetary control of The Fiscal Office. Resourcing and cross-sector coordination managed by the Cabinet Office.

The Composition of SMGs is made-up of an equal number of elected politicians (each forming and representing the policies of their particular party) and of appointed Sector Representatives – real-world policy experts. Each SMG managing the associated associated Government Department from a policy perspective.

Tier 3 – The Legislature

This remains within the House of Commons, under the administration of the Executive. MPs elected as at present, each now having the single role and purpose of supporting the needs of their constituents (informing the Policy Council accordingly), rather than to toe-the-line of whipped party policy. All MPs therefore now become of individual influence – there no longer being the concepts of “A Party in Power” – nor of “Government Opposition”.

The House of Commons would therefore be reformatted from its current adversarial structure – organised geographically rather than by Party. With Ministers seated on a raised podium to be best placed to make announcements and to respond to questions.

Tier 4 – The Constituency Structure

This would remain unchanged – each constituency represented by an MP (either an Independent or from a Political Party) that won its highest vote. Retaining our current method of voting – although the Prime Minister and other Ministers would be appointed in a different way – as outlined above.

This significand unifying structural change forces a refocus from obstructive politics and internal power-positioning (charactering the current House of Commons), to become a cooperative, outward-facing model to meet the needs of its ultimate power-base (its Constituents).

Citizens’ Assemblies & Local Government Coordination

A second phase of Unified Democracy implementation would introduce Citizen Assemblies to strengthen cohesion between citizens and their MPs – and also between Local Councillors and central government. These assemblies (both physical and on-line) would convey the views and needs of communities directly to the Policy Council to better inform the drafting of proposed policy.

The House of Lords

This house would no longer be required due to the upgraded capability and checks and balances within the new structure – to be replaced by a new Upper House (The Policy Council) as described above (but in a different location).

No New Lords would therefore any longer be appointed. Post transition to Unified Democracy, the House of Lords would continue in its current advisory role to The Commons – but would become redundant over time by a process of natural wastage. Its premises would then be repurposed.