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by Rebecca Cole - 27th July 2025
House of the People was the first of what is hoped to be many truly democratic national assemblies, bringing 100 people from all over the UK together through a sortition lottery process, reflecting the real makeup of the UK, to build a new democratic solution to replace the House of the Lords, an outdated system that does not represent the people.
The three days I spent there, discussing, deliberating, informing, and listening was one of the truly most hopeful things I have seen in UK decision making spaces I think ever. It brought people from all walks of life to review findings from assemblies all over the UK, hear from experts, scientists and key witnesses to what is happening in our world, and enabled a space of open learning where people could ask questions and explore possibilities, with actual hope held in people's hearts that people DO HAVE THE POWER.
The venue, Conway Hall Ethical Society, London, provided an amazing wide space, renowned for being a hub of free speech and independent thought historically, and continued now, including hosting the suffragettes, political radicals, scientists, philosophers, artists, and more.
Grass roots decision-making
Grass roots decision-making
Here in this hall, we discussed many a thing, including the four key topics brought up in the first smaller assembly of the house of the people: Genocide and Unjust war, Climate and Ecological breakdown, Political corruption and a Democratic update, and finally Wealth inequality and Economic injustice.
The house brought in not only experts on these topics, but people who gave testimonies of their direct experience of these issues, including retired nurse and volunteer medic in Gaza, Leigh Evans, who gave a heart-breaking testimony of his time spent in Gaza and the atrocities that continue in Occupied Palestine, and Sam Smithson, a ecological justice activist who gave testimony to experiencing drastic flooding in her home in the UK and the year long aftermath of struggle because of this.
The assembly was a truly ground-breaking, grassroots decision-making space for the people by the people. Over the three days, we produced a plethora of ideas, demands, and solutions to add to the People’s Charter, the result of the House of the People. The People’s Charter was voted on by the 100 people in the assembly, with Mendeley of all things!
The following are the primary and most popular priorities for political action:
Tax wealth by removing tax loopholes and closing tax havens. As part of this, it calls for an end to pension tax subsidies. It also demands that the government charge the equivalent of NI on investment as income over £5,000 a year, and apply VAT to banking services.
Strengthen and enforce anti-corruption laws. This means prohibiting lobbying, gifting, and second jobs in politics.
A Future Generation Act. Implement a first principle act that ensures all government policy prioritises well-being, sustainability, and nature over GDP for all current and future generations.
An immediate total embargo on arms, trade, and support for all countries that are in violation of international law, with immediate priority to be given to Israel.
Long term decommodification of housing, ensuring renters rights. Councils should repurchase disused housing/empty homes/holiday homes to repurpose and build green council housing. It calls for the government to enshrine structural laws without loopholes and implement rent increase caps.
A space for everyone
A space for everyone
We discussed many, many more things, such as building community resilience hubs for mitigating and adapting to economic, social, and climate change, enforcement of transparency and fact-checking in the media and politics, adaptation of local and national assemblies for all decision making, a just transition for our food and energy systems, and mandatory political and environmental education available for all age levels.
This was an important space, one that shows what people are capable of when brought together, not just activists, not just scientists, not just experts, but bringing EVERYONE to the table. I am so, so privileged to have been invited to this amazing space and will continue to watch and help it grow to replace the House of the Lords (I am even thinking of volunteering as a steward!). I encourage you all, listen to the experts and testimonies available on YouTube (see links below), read the People’s Charter when published, put yourself into the lottery for the next assembly being planned for February 2026 in Liverpool.
Spaces like this where everyone can be brought together to discuss, question, and even diffuse conflict, seeing everyone’s side, are so, so needed, and I believe the House of the People will see a huge sway in the way the political system works, protecting people and the planet nationally and internationally.
Words and drawings by Rebecca Cole, 2025
To find out more about the House of the People, go to https://www.houseofthepeople.uk/
Videos of expert speakers and testimonies:
All drawings copyright Rebecca Cole 2025.
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