How to build cross-party support for controversial policies

Successive UK governments have tried to use independent commissions, cross-party agreements and public engagement to diffuse politically contentious issues. Most recently, the Johnson government has pledged cross-party talks on social care and a royal commission on justice, and six House of Commons committees are running a citizens’ assembly on climate change. This panel debate assessed the pros and cons of different approaches and how they can be deployed most effectively. Our panel included: Sir John Gieve, former Permanent Secretary at the Home Office Professor Sir John Hills, former Member of the Pensions Commission Dame Julie Mellor, Chair of Demos Professor Dawn Oliver, former Member of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords. This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.