Rafael Behr is right in so many ways about current political priorities (‘Get the Tories out’ will carry the election, but it won’t fix the faultlines of a broken politics, 21 February), but seems to misunderstand the role and purpose of citizens’ assemblies.
In this country, decisions are not “delegated” to citizens’ assemblies. They are part of decision-making processes but have never, to my knowledge, ever actually taken decisions. The Irish discussions on abortion and same-sex marriage had citizens’ assemblies which discussed the issues that then went to referendums. The assemblies themselves did not take the decision. This is one of the aspects of citizens’ assemblies that has been criticised in some quarters – their lack of bindingness. Citizens’ assemblies have informed policy processes; elected politicians can then make final decisions with a greater understanding of citizens’ views and values on the issue.
