Data

Collections
The POLITICIZE Project on Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe
Location
United Kingdom
Scope of Influence
National
Links
The POLITICIZE Dataset of 105 Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe, 2000–2020
The POLITICIZE Project
Case Study: The People's Panel
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Approach
Evaluation, oversight, & social auditing
Spectrum of Public Participation
Consult
Total Number of Participants
5000
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Limited to Only Some Groups or Individuals
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Stratified Random Sample
Targeted Demographics
Racial/Ethnic Groups
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Recruit or select participants
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Sortition
Deliberation
Civic Lottery
Legality
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Decision Methods
Opinion Survey

CASE

UK People’s Panel (Online)

April 8, 2021 Jaskiran Gakhal, Participedia Team
March 24, 2021 Joyce Chen
Collections
The POLITICIZE Project on Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe
Location
United Kingdom
Scope of Influence
National
Links
The POLITICIZE Dataset of 105 Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe, 2000–2020
The POLITICIZE Project
Case Study: The People's Panel
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Approach
Evaluation, oversight, & social auditing
Spectrum of Public Participation
Consult
Total Number of Participants
5000
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Limited to Only Some Groups or Individuals
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Stratified Random Sample
Targeted Demographics
Racial/Ethnic Groups
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Recruit or select participants
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Sortition
Deliberation
Civic Lottery
Legality
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Decision Methods
Opinion Survey

In 1998, the new Labour government commissioned MORI to create the “People’s Panel”. Its aim was to create a large representative population that could measure public opinion on various public issues. The People's Panel was dissolved in 2002.

Problems and Purpose

The “People’s Panel” was meant to measure public opinion on various public issues from transportation, local government and democracy, to leaflets on genetically modified foods. They were able to conduct interviews, focus groups, and to seriously consider a variety of topics, until the panel's dissolution.

Background History and Context

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

By 2001, the People’s Panel had cost about £12,112,735. It was dissolved in 2002.

Participant Recruitment and Selection

A trial was run first with 353 people to test participation, and organizers found that there was a difficulty recruiting younger people. This was taken into account when the final panel was conducted. Around 5000 members of the public were used to consider a variety of decisions. They were chosen to represent the population in terms of age, location, and gender. They also recruited over 800 people that balanced the representation of ethnic minorities.

Methods and Tools Used

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

It was considered too costly and government judged that individual departments were doing enough of their own consultation work for it not to be necessary anymore. It was disbanded in 2002. Its effect, if any, on policy prior to that is unclear. There were annual reports written on results from the panel.

Analysis and Lessons Learned

See Also

References

External Links

Notes

This entry is based on the POLITICIZE dataset. More information can be found at the following links:

  • Paulis, Emilien; Pilet, Jean-Benoit; Panel, Sophie; Vittori, Davide; Close, Caroline, 2020, "POLITICIZE Dataset", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/Z7X6GT, Harvard Dataverse, V1
  • Pilet J-B, Paulis E, Panel S., Vitori D & Close C. 202X The POLITICIZE Dataset: an inventory of Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe. European Political Science.