In Peckham, independent candidate Stefan Harvey is standing for election, with the key promise to represent a new series of people’s assemblies. A vast majority of people feel that neither of the two main parties represent them [1]. After 14 years of Conservative austerity and public neglect, Labour may gain a huge majority but are yet to announce any particularly bold solutions to the economic turmoil the country finds itself in. The solution to this disillusionment is people’s assemblies. These events bring people together to support each other, and work to pressure elected representatives to listen to the communities that they’re supposed to be accountable to.

Stefan and his team have been grabbing people’s attention with a board that has photos of Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, and a potato, and asking them “what’s more useful to you?” out of the three. Giving people stickers to place on the board, the potato has been the overwhelming favourite (Potato for Number 10?!). This gimmick aims to highlight the disillusionment that so many people have with party politics and open up conversations about alternatives, such as the people’s assembly Stefan is answering to.

We spoke to a civil servant who didn’t want to be identified: “Civil servants can hardly ever implement long-term policy goals based on research given how quickly ministers change and want to push through their own flagship policy. It gets to the point where detailed research and advocating for its implementation almost seems like activism.”

A parish pastor walked past and spoke to us the other day. They had been considering voting reform but were very on board with the concept of a people’s assembly, as they were currently setting up their own tenants and residents association in their estate. It’s great to see how grassroots movements appeal to people across the political spectrum, which should combat a lot of the polarisation our current system produces.

Stefan Harvey, 30, schools’ workshop facilitator and translator, Peckham resident & Independent Candidate, said:

“When we give an explanation of people’s assemblies and what they work to do, the response is very enthusiastic! While we have to manage expectations about what they can change overnight, people are quick to understand that politics doesn’t have to just be about big economic policy and can start with people’s lived experience on the ground.“

Andrew Feinstein, a candidate working closely with people’s assemblies in Holborn and St. Pancras, has previously worked closely with Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress in South Africa, having first-hand experience with fighting apartheid and working with people’s assemblies. Members of Stefan Harvey’s team have previously worked personally with Andrew Feinstein on his campaign in the same constituency as Keir Starmer. Over 45 assemblies have been created across the UK, including Belfast, London, and Port Talbot, by a group called Humanity Project, which aims to revamp UK democracy [2]. Similarly, a group called Assemble is supporting independent candidates across London and the UK, including Shannel Johnson of Leyton and Wanstead [3], Hassan Kassem of Tunbridge Wells [4], Khalid of Edmonton and Winchmore Hill [5], and Andrew Feinstein of Holborn and St Pancras [6]. Other independent candidates such as Faiza Shaheen and Jeremy Corbyn are also standing as independents in the 2024 General Election, but are not currently affiliated with any people’s assemblies.

Independent candidate Hassan Kassem said, “Our democratic system is broken and unable to address the major issues of today. Our politics is just not working for local communities or our environment. We’re in urgent need of reform. It’s time people shaped the change that affects them, so we can create practical solutions using real-life experience. Local citizens’ assemblies… help create a more people-centred politics that actually works in the public interest.”

People’s assemblies have also had notable success in Ireland, focusing on issues such as climate change, ageing, and abortion; in Barcelona, leading to the election of the city’s first ever mayor; and in Jackson Mississippi during the civil rights movement.