Last night marked a pivotal moment for democracy in Greater Manchester as 21 people from across 4 of Greater Manchester’s boroughs - Stockport, Manchester, Trafford, Salford - gathered at Friends House for the inaugural 858 Project community meeting. The goal was clear: to learn, connect, and begin planning how to establish a permanent assembly, selected a bit like a jury, for the Greater Manchester metropolitan region. This initiative represents an exciting step towards transforming local politics and empowering ordinary people.
Greater Manchester is a fitting birthplace for this movement, embodying a strong and proud history as a leader in social-political change. Historically, the city has been a hub for progressive movements, and discussion covered legacies like that of the Peterloo massacre in 1819 to the suffragette movement led by the Manchester-born Emmeline Pankhurst. Today, a clear gap in legitimacy and accountability exists within the region's governance. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and its mayor operate with a small, indirectly elected legislature, offering citizens only limited direct input beyond a vote every few years. A permanent citizens' assembly offers a simple and powerful solution to this democratic deficit, aligning perfectly with Manchester's legacy of reform and innovation.
A new Greater Manchester Assembly would comprise ordinary people, selected much like a jury. This process, known as sortition, ensures decisions are reached by a truly representative group reflecting the full breadth of society, including nurses, engineers, shopkeepers, teachers, and every type of person you might meet in the streets of Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs. The fundamental principle is to create a system where decisions are made by those affected by them. These are our friends, family, neighbours and community members, who we can trust to do right by us.
This represents a vital move away from an all-powerful political class, perceived as untrustworthy and out of touch, with annual salaries that would take the average Mancunian almost 30 years to make. These assemblies are designed for deliberation, not division, bringing valuable real-world insight and experience to complex issues. They also listen to a range of invited specialists, who testify rather than being solely "guided by experts".
The energy at Friends House was palpable as attendees discussed how to build this people-powered movement. Participants recognised that, much like updating our phones or computer software, it's time to upgrade our political system to reflect the needs of today's society. This local campaign is not only about delivering tangible improvements for Greater Manchester but also about providing a powerful living example that a national House of Citizens to replace the House of Lords would be effective and preferable to the current system of inherited privilege and political party patronage, where places like the North West of England are underrepresented.
This initial gathering is a vital step in transforming regional politics and empowering citizens. The 858 Project believes there is no credible alternative to this kind of citizen-led oversight for true accountability. This bold move by the people of Greater Manchester would demonstrate that meaningful political change is achievable when ordinary people lead, inspiring other regions to follow suit, as the government proposes more regional mayors in its devolution bill.
To join this growing movement and help transform democracy in Greater Manchester, sign the petition for a Greater Manchester Assembly today and make your voice heard. Together, we can build a political system we can all be proud of once more.
