Flatpack democracy: the new English political revolt | Anywhere but Westminster

While Scotland has blazed a new trail, much of England seems to have stuck to politics as usual.
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In fact, under the media radar, a growing number of self-styled independents are trying to kick out the big parties and take over the parts of government closest to local communities. John Harris goes to Frome, the Somerset town where this ‘flatpack democracy’ movement started; and to Winchester, where a new grassroots grouping wants to overthrow the Tory-run city council.
Music: I’m For Frome by Al O’Kane, singer-songwriter and Frome town councillor
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[@mrward6510]

I like this, no party politics just people representing their people ☺

[@nodifference4151]

Ironically, this is PRECISELY how party politics can be successful. Let LOCAL voters see LOCAL successes by a group of LOCAL people, and faith in a movement or party can grow.
I've been talking "flatpack democracy" here in the US for over 10 years now, but there are few, if any, real takers. (But thanks for the terminology; it's got a name now.) Trouble this side of the Big Pond is that the moment you start talking ANY kind of politics, the focus immediately shifts to national politics, skipping past city, county, and state, and directly to who will be the next president who will save us.
Truly bottom-up, genuinely grassroots politics like this can be the underpinnings of much greater things. At some point, party politics becomes necessity, as more and more people assemble to achieve similar ends, whether that "thing" is called a party or not.
Leaders of local branches of US political parties should take heed of this breed of polity and exploit it here. I always knew it could work, and here are at least 2 examples. A lot of work, but it has huge payoffs.

[@elliotjones3324]

I live not far off porthcawl, South Wales. They have an independent local council as it is separate from Bridgend. They have got so much domes whereas before you had people from political party's who were using it as a stepping stone for people wanting too become councillors in Bridgend. Crack on I say!!

[@landofold]

Good, pure democracy. More of it.

[@Danster82]

The next stage in democracy is direct democracy. It's not about party politics it's about individuals creating and voting on initiatives using your phone or computer. Local governments will be the best place to start implementing it.

[@dancingfishfilms]

Interesting stuff. A possible issue is that a lot of voters won't bother to look past the party affiliation of their candidates, so might not even realise that these Independents are a bit different.

[@peterupton2420]

Just reacting to a point made by one of the Frome independents early on in this: lots and lots of ultra-efficient street lights still contribute to light pollution. Bring in street lighting that switches off after 1am - or even if half the lights went out, or dimmed after midnight. Most street lighting is wasted energy, unnecessary and spills skywards.

[@NeverRubARhubarb]

Branding yourself as Tory, Labour, Lib Dem, etc has the effect of creating opposing tribes. I'd be much happier seeing issues solved co-operatively with the focus on inclusion. The bitterness & division that party politics and FPTP causes has to be swept away somehow. Especially because there's so much more that unites us than divides us. Interesting stuff as always from John.

[@unstoppablefalse]

Anybody else notice the middle finger windows on the Cheese & Grain? Made me chortle

[@susieenglish302]

Not one of those people at that meeting was under 40. And that's generous

[@kaze987]

I love this idea of flatpack democracy. Party based politics has become too entrenched and it only matters who the leader is anyways, at least here in Canada. Judge each candidate (esp at the local level where each councilor has so much power) as they come on their own independent platform and merits. Enough blind voting you get with parties and do your own research - attend meetings and debates and listen and above all, compromise!!!

[@JamesPeploe1]

Fantastic work. I wish I knew he was Winchester, I would have loved to have met him

[@kc3vv]

I love that series!

[@dancthegr]

They are a political party. By standing as a group together they cease to be independents and become a political party

[@blahdelablah]

To be a party you need to have party policies, as well as mechanisms to keep members of a party in line with this vision. Independents don't need this.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Interesting new video required updated.

[@artfulldodger100]

really like this show but I swear the host looks like barney rubble

[@MrKillingGuy]

Anwyehere but Westminster bad annotation 3:58

[@theGuardian]

+Em Blackburn Cheers, will fix that now.

[@MrKillingGuy]

The Guardian If you do it again I'll have to put you on the naughty step.

[@theGuardian]

I may as well go and stand there now, then.

[@petetong3166]

+The Guardian what a job, commenting on vids for a renowned publication p.s great series