Civic Engagement & Digital Democracy
Giving citizens a real voice.
Together Britain Collective is committed to putting decision-making power in the hands of citizens. Our civic engagement and digital democracy policies create platforms for people to propose, debate, and vote on the issues that affect their communities and the nation.
What We Propose
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Digital Citizens' Platform
Propose and vote on community projects and policy priorities. A secure, accessible online platform where every registered citizen can submit ideas, comment, and cast votes on local and national initiatives.
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Participatory Budgeting
Communities decide how local funds are spent. Allocate a portion of local authority budgets to citizen-led decisions, so neighbourhoods choose which projects get funded.
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Citizen Panels
Consulted on national initiatives. Randomly selected, demographically representative panels advise government on major policy decisions before they are finalised.
Funding & Costings
| Item | Annual Cost / Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Citizens' Platform (build & run) | £80–120m/year | Development, security, hosting, accessibility, support |
| Participatory budgeting (local allocation) | £500m–1bn (allocated funds) | Portion of existing local budgets devolved to citizen vote |
| Citizen panels (administration & facilitation) | £30–50m/year | Recruitment, facilitation, reporting, expenses |
Total estimated cost: ~£600m–1.2bn/year (including devolved participatory budgets). Core platform and panel costs ~£110–170m/year; remainder is funds transferred to citizen-chosen projects.
Impact
- Strengthens trust between citizens and government
- Encourages participation and civic responsibility
- Makes government more responsive to local and national priorities
- Builds legitimacy for difficult decisions through inclusive processes