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Democracy 2015 (also described as D2015) is an independent political campaign and movement with the intermediate objective of encouraging 'non-politicians' to stand as parliamentary candidates in the next United Kingdom general election. The movement's stated aim is ultimately to achieve a House of Commons majority in 2015 and form a reformist government independent of parliamentary parties and composed of these non-politicians volunteering to stand for a single term only. It was initiated by Andreas Whittam Smith, co-founder of The Independent newspaper.
Origins
Historic
The rationale behind the movement is the idea that the long-term decline in voter turnout and parallel rise in popular discontent with the British party system are symptomatic of a general disillusionment with the existing parties and politicians in particular. A survey by the Hansard Society in April 2012 found that ‘less than half the population is now interested in politics at all and one in three is unlikely or certain not to vote at the next election.’ Generally, there was a measured decline in public faith in Parliament, with a majority believing Britain’s political system to be fundamentally flawed.
Politics as a profession
Another perceived reason for the public’s distrust in politicians is the increasing professionalisation of the political class in Britain. This professionalisation means that politicians are more likely to have completed their university studies at Oxbridge and more likely to have studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at undergraduate level. It also means that modern politicians are less likely to have had careers outside of the party political sphere, with many having gone straight from university to think tank, research or special adviser roles. For this reason, Aeron Davis argues that “we have a modern class of party leaders which are more proficient at winning elections and attuned to policy networks but, at the same time, are less connected socially to wider publics”.
The Blair, Brown and Cameron governments
Public dissatisfaction was also felt with inactivity from politicians to deal with crises, instead using events for their own electioneering ends, such as the Labour Party 'spin doctor' Jo Moore, accused of using the September 11 attacks as a cover for burying unpalatable government stories. The Cameron government’s handling of the recession in the UK triggered by the global financial crisis attracted plentiful criticism and more generally a negative perception emerged in public opinion of about the Government’s lack of accountability in financial affairs. This was compounded by a frustration at repeated reneging on manifesto promises, and undertaking"u-turns" on matters of policy. Widely publicised scandals such as the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal exacerbated wider public frustration with UK politicians. Shortly afterwards, Government’s reputation was tarnished further by proceedings at the Leveson Inquiry, which exposed that prominent British politicians had close relationships with journalists and publications.
4 September 2012 article
In an article published on 4 September 2012 in The Independent newspaper, columnist Andreas Whittam Smith heavily criticised the state of contemporary UK politics. It specifically targeted the unhealthy state of party politics and a lack of politicians with career experience before becoming MPs. Although Whittam Smith expressed concern worried about growing public apathy to the state of British politics, he appeals to the ‘strong democratic tradition’ of the UK. The article was followed the next day (5 September) by a manifesto expressing the precise deficiencies (as Whittam Smith viewed them) in the British political system. It furthermore contained a call for experienced career professionals to run for a one term election campaign in order to alter the state of British politics and government. Politicians elected from the Democracy 2015 campaign would take office for one term before standing down.