The Big Conversation
This was an exercise by the Labour Party in late 2003. They said they wanted to get the public’s opinion on how the Labour government should move forward. The press seemed to think that is was either an admission that they’d run out of ideas, or a diversionary tactic to convince voters they weren’t ignoring them.
The web site set out the agenda, and invited comments in various media (including text messages, which seems ludicrous: can one give a considered opinion of complex issues in 160 characters?).
However cynical the exercise may have been (it’s impossible to tell), the questions to which the Labour Party were soliciting answers were important, and it seemed to me that I really ought to give them serious thought, whether or not I participated in the manner intended. They’re the sort of questions that anyone claiming to be interested in society ought to reconsider from time to time. Here they are:
13 questions in the Big Conversation
How do we build on economic stability? How do we do more to tackle poverty and inequality? How do we lead healthier lives? How do we make our communities safe? How do we give every child an excellent education? How do we balance work and family life? How do we ensure security and well-being in older age? How do we provide a modern transport network? How do we create a fair asylum and immigration system that benefits Britain? How do we safeguard our environment for future generations? How do we do more to connect politics and people? How do we make Britain stronger in Europe? How do we develop our concept of international community?
Other relevant links
Measure your bias with Chris Lightfoot’s political survey. A
Last updated 2005/02/27