It is fair to say that the moment of the information superhighway has arrived. Over the past decade, the world wide web and evolution of technology has thoroughly transformed our daily lives and interactions. Whether you are direct messaging a fellow Tweeter the most recent contentious post or having a Facebook group chat with, the internet has proven a truly progressive tool that can open up days for communication and networking like never before. The ability to break down barriers between assorted interests and classes has never been as obtainable as in our digitized age.
It is with this attitude to down to earth digitization that Labour should welcome this week’s report by the Digital Democracy Commission, which offers an impressive vision of how digital technology can re-engage the British public with politics. From more obvious recommendations such as for select committees to make greater use of social media to raise awareness of their work, to allowing citizens to digitally contribute to the parliamentary legislative process, and making the bold case for electronic voting by 2020, this is a seminal report. As traditional forms of political allegiance die out the digitization of parliamentary participation can ensure a citizens’ contribution to the government from his/her smartphone on the way to work or on their iPad as they grab a coffee.
Far from being what would once have been a hip gimmick for technologically able kids or part of a far-into-the-future science fiction adventure, the move towards digitalizing our democracy is the next step to re-engaging the wider public in the modern political process. In an era where our children are being taught to code as early as primary school, and where university students at places such as the London School of Economics have set up their own coding club for all capabilities, is it any surprise that within the next few years we should be preparing the mother of all parliaments for the digital age? It is no secret that members of parliament regularly tweet from the commons chamber bringing the news of parliamentary proceedings to the screens of many a casual Twitter user.
I myself can testify to the empowering force of interactive technology. Years ago, it would not have been possible to study a graduate diploma in law using just my laptop and a good internet connection. The inventive use of the internet to deliver what once could only be delivered by a mandatory physical presence at a set time and day can create a truly liberating and convenient experience for those whose days are cluttered with an assortment of changing tasks and responsibilities.
Some cynics have already nailed their colours to the mast, notably the Telegraph’s James Kirkup, who invokes the memory of public sector IT catastrophes, conjuring up an imagined super combination of Iain Duncan Smith’s maligned universal credit computer system and the introductory hiccups in the genesis of Obamacare. Such an argument reeks of the fear of venturing into new innovative territory, as pessimistic as Peter Hitches deriding votes at 16 on account of 16 year olds being ‘unwise’ and comparatively untested in life.
Just as Labour took a risk by creating great empowering reforms such as the national health service, comprehensive academies, nationwide devolution and the Human Rights Act, so once more Labour needs to take a leap into the breach of hope and optimism to rebuild our nation’s politics from the ashes of cynicism.
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James Gill is a member of Progress. He tweets @JamesGill13
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