Are we in danger of taking our democracy for granted? Professor Fred Robinson fears the freedoms we enjoy are under threat

OUR democracy is in crisis. It may not look that bad; after all, we live in a country where we can kick out the Government, without bloodshed. We have free and fair elections. The press, TV and social media operate without censorship. We have opinion polls, on-line petitions and occasional referendums. We live in a free society where everyone can have a say on how things are run.

But of course it’s not as simple as that. There’s a developing crisis that threatens the health of our democracy. And it’s not just about messy squabbles about Brexit, or the popularity of anti-Establishment figures like Nigel Farage. The old-fashioned and predictable systems are breaking down. The creaking, rusty machinery of democracy is losing legitimacy; our institutions are in trouble.

Some of the signs of trouble are fairly obvious. Fewer and fewer of us are bothering to vote in elections. Politicians aren’t just disliked, they’re loathed. Too many of us cling to our prejudices and make very little effort to understand what’s happening and why. Propaganda and ‘fake news’ undermines debate. Some people are angry and active, but many others are indifferent to politics. There’s not much evidence of the eternal vigilance needed to sustain a healthy democracy.

Underlying that mood there are some real structural problems. All the noise has been about the weaknesses of the EU, the tyranny of Brussels bureaucrats and the need to regain control of our country. But actually, the dysfunctional character of the UK itself is a much bigger problem – especially for us in the North East.

The structure of government in the UK isn’t fit for purpose. We in the North East have very little power or influence in an over-centralised country. London surges ahead; more than ever, the South feels like another country. Very few of our MPs have any chance of influencing a Conservative government comprising MPs from the South East. The institutions we used to have, such as the Regional Development Agency, have been abolished. We’ve been offered a very limited amount of devolution, with Mayors and a share in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ – but really, it doesn’t amount to much. Scotland has its own government. We in the North East are peripheral and powerless within England.

Our local councils are pretty powerless too. Their funding is controlled by central government and, after years of cuts, they have little room for manoeuvre. Too few of us know who our local councillors are. We get angry when the local council does something we don’t like, but very few of us bother to complain. We have such little faith in the political process that we don’t believe it would make much difference.

And a great deal of what happens isn’t subject to much, if any, democratic accountability. It’s very hard for members of the public to stop a hospital closure, control a university’s expansion plans, or influence the actions of a Local Enterprise Partnership, even though all are publicly funded. It’s well-nigh impossible to challenge the decisions of businesses.

Our democracy is weak and its influence is limited. Surely that’s all the more reason to cherish, nurture –and improve -- the institutions that we do have? They give us a chance of creating a society ‘that works for everyone’, even benefitting places and people that are quite powerless.

So what does that mean, what needs to be done?

First of all, we need to inject some vitality into our politics. End that ridiculous taboo that says we shouldn’t discuss politics or religion. We must talk about foodbanks, library closures or capital punishment. Life is political; ‘common sense’ is political. Let’s talk about this stuff at home and elsewhere, get passionate about it -- and listen.

Second, we need better education about democracy and why it matters. The best bet may be to focus on the young. Let’s explain to young people what their local council does, how the government works and how they can get involved. It’s time to reduce the voting age to 16.

Third, we need a thorough review of democratic processes. An encounter with a battered ballot box every five years isn’t enough. Our institutions should be making much greater use of social media, citizens’ juries and participatory budgeting. We should be moving big parts of government out of London.

And the North East needs a voice that’s not just the voice of businessmen, politicians and –dare I say it—those who write letters to the Echo. Structures and institutions that can encourage debate and amplify different voices are necessary, but it’s also about respect. Everyone deserves to be heard and should be able to believe that their opinion counts. That’s the mark of a healthy democracy.

Fred Robinson is Professorial Fellow at St Chad’s College, Durham University and a specialist advisor to House of Commons Select Committee inquiries into Coastal Towns and Coalfield Communities.