Parliament Week, designed to connect members of the public across the UK to Parliament and democracy, commences from 16th November 2015.
The primary aim is to encourage people, particularly those of a young age, to develop an interest in politics.
The event is currently being promoted on Twitter under the hashtag #dodemocracy. Parliament Week aims to shed the image of the government being run by middle-aged Oxbridge graduates, encouraging those from both working and middle class backgrounds to become actively involved.
The House of Commons coordinates Parliament Week and it is supported by the House of Lords, who have collaborated with over three-hundred different organisations throughout the UK.
These include several museums, organisations, charities, and schools, Events will be set up throughout the UK promoting Parliament Week, including five being held in Newcastle alone.
This week, South Shields will host an event although the majority will be hosted in London.
David Walker, an academic from Northumbria University, will host a talk on Sunday at Castle Keep which will be based on ‘John Lilburne: Local Boy, Leveller, and Civil War Radical’ and his relevance for contemporary debates about public democracy and human rights, which gives the events a personal regional touch,
The discussion is open to members of the public and free to attend. The vast majority of events held in Newcastle will be located at either Newcastle or Northumbria University although anyone can create an event and add it to the event site on Parliament Week’s website.
Other events occurring this week are “How to Engage with Parliament” and a question and answer session with a local MP which intend to shed light on how Parliament works. Another event that is being held on 20th November aims to highlight Newcastle’s radical past and dissent through song and stories, in “Tyneside Radicalism in Story & Song”.
The evening will feature short talks on historical radicalism in Newcastle and will be accompanied by performances of local radical songs from musicians including Benny Graham and Tony Corcoran. The event will take place at Northumbria University and is open to the public free of charge.
