It is commonplace to argue that our democracy is flawed. We see conflicts between parliamentary democracy, referenda, representation and the ‘will of the people’. Some argue that our electoral system is flawed, while others rail against the hollowing out of local democracy. There is no agreement where power should lie between government (the Executive), parliament and the courts. The union of the UK is deeply strained. Voters do not believe they are effectively represented. Less clearly understood is that these problems are rooted in the multi-faceted collapse of English assumptions about the UK constitution that would have been unchallenged at the time of the last coronation. This talk will pick those roots and argue that a radical new view of England and of the UK is needed to restore faith in democracy, empower local communities and heal a divided nation.

• Monday 5th June
• 7pm
• Bishop Kenneth Room, Portsmouth Cathedral

About the speaker

Professor John Denham is a former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister and is currently Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Southampton.