Methods of improving democracy in the UK

• Compulsory voting

  It could be detrimental if people that don't know or care much about politics are forced to vote as they wouldn't know what to do but are given no choice but to make a decision that affects the whole country
• Reform of the voting system

  If it done properly, it could greatly improve democracy but it would be very difficult to do it in a way that is better than the current system to justify the change, especially as it could make voting for the older generations harder
• Greater recall of MPs

  It would greatly improve democracy so long as it is not overdone as that would lead to more apathy but in moderation this could lead dto people being more familiar with their local MP making the system more democratic

  It may be somwhat impractical due to the amount of paperwork and organisation this would create but if systems are put in place this could work very well
• Reform of the devolved system

  It would represent more people more efficiently as specific needs are more likely to be met. There would be greater accountability and a less centralised government
• Codifying the constituition

  It would clarify the law and make it easier for people to understand making politics more easily accessible but also make it more difficult to change. It would also lose a lot of the traditions and conventions currently present.
• Reform of the House of Lords

  It would improve democracy by improving the legitimacy, however this would be a long and arduous process that could end with the Lords being arguably worse. Life terms in the Lords mean they gain experience and expertise which would be lost if they have to be voted in. The impartiality of the Lords would also be lost as they would likely vote in ways that support their reelection
• Reform of the Commons

  MPs would be able to debate more about topics that require their immediate attention. It would become more accessible to people so they can pay more attention to politics and understand more about the decisions they can make about their country
• Reform of the Monarchy

  It would relieve a lot of financial burden but wouldn't affect democracy much as their roles are now purely symbolic as opposed to politically active. Tradition and culture will be lost but ultimately the decision making processes will not significantly change
• E-democracy

  It could improve democracy as more people are online than ever before, but this could also exacerbate the digital divide as some older people don't have as much access to technology so they wouldn't like this change but for the working population this would make voting easier so it is likely turnout would increase, improving legitimacy

  E-democracy does also run the risk of cyber attacks so it must be secure for it to work properly