New book lifts lid on Bristol Council and Government
A Bristol City Councillor has written a book lifting the lid on local and national politics, concluding that government is broken.
Clive Stevens, who has represented Clifton Down as a Green Councillor for four-and-a-half years gives an insight into how political decisions are made in After The Revolution, published by Bristol independent publishers Tangent Books.
In over 400 pages he sets out lessons from local government on designing a dynamic democracy and along the way gives the inside story of many council decisions over the last five years.
The work has had ringing praise even from his political opponents with Labour’s Councillor Paul Smith, who has just stepped down as housing chief on the council saying in an online review: “It is a telling study of the limitations and possibilities of local government in Britain today, the role of elected councillors, how to navigate the system and importantly how it could be changed to work better for the people. An essential read for any in local government and anyone trying to work with it (or battle against it).”
Clive, who has worked in business and academia and been involved in local activism, introduces “the mathematics of power” which he says is driving politics at this time. This is the fact that to gain and stay in power political parties only have to keep 30% of the population on board and have fallen into a system where they spend their time in power repaying those 30% rather than always acting for the greater good.
Clive says rewarding self-interest groups to the detriment of broader society is sadly not new.
“We get the behaviour from politicians we deserve if we are content with them gaining and keeping power when voted in by as little as 30% of the electorate,” he added.
“Our leaders have to favour those who have put them into that position – whether it be the CBI or the unions – and will ultimately have to pay them back (with our money).
“Sadly, that means other groups don’t get their share of the funding as a result.”
Clive believes as we take stock of a post-Covid world, now is the time to insist on proportional representation to restore and enable new thinking about democracy.
The book has numerous examples from local and national government which support his theory.
“Voters need to see what’s going on, care about it, and be involved with finding the solutions.
“That starts with openness of information, scrutiny and selecting a representative selection of citizens to be involved in local and national decision making.
“We will still need elected representatives, but in addition the public will be involved in citizens’ assemblies discussing the huge questions of the day.
“The public will help determine local issues too. They will be selected to reflect all demographics and be paid for their time.”
After the revolution: lessons from local government on designing a dynamic democracy is available from Tangent Books www.tangentbooks.co.uk £20 (ISBN 978-1-910089-94-1). Contact: richard@tangentbooks.co.uk
