Josh Westerling
Policy Manager
Linda Hien
Insight Manager
Nick Plumb
Director of Policy and Insight
About the report
Our democracy’s in poor health. Trust and satisfaction with political parties and government has hit a new low.
But it’s not a strongman leader people want to change this. Brand new polling from More in Common for Power to Change shows the public want to see more citizens getting involved in democracy.
The research shows that people who are involved in associational organisations – from book clubs to working men’s clubs – are more likely to have trust in democratic institutions than those who are not. This suggests one route to renewing our democracy lies in grassroots civil society.
The report sets out concrete recommendations to government and political parties to close the void between citizens and democratic institutions, drawing on original public opinion research.
Watch the webinar:
On 8 May 2025, our report authors discussed the research alongside Charlotte Hollins, Manager of Fordhall Farm and We’re Right Here campaign leader, Deborah Mattinson, a political consultant, and Marc Stears, Director of UCL Policy Lab.