Brexit is one of the most significant events the UK has faced in generations. And yet, the decisions that Britain is going to have to make about its future now that it has left the EU – while dealing with the COVID19 pandemic – have typically received little in the way of public debate. That is why we would like to give you the opportunity to have your voice heard on these issues.
We have invited people from across the country to come together for a weekend of discussion. The event will take place on the 3rd and 4th October 2020. We will be running the event virtually, using the video-calling software Zoom. There will be a mixture of talks and small group discussions over both days – with plenty of breaks in between!
We will be discussing things like how to make sure we have food that is safe to eat, how to ensure businesses treat their customers fairly, and who from other countries should be allowed to come to Britain to live and work. You will get the chance to talk to other people and quiz experts about what they think. All the discussions will be chaired by someone who is trained in ensuring that everyone gets the chance to have their say. We have put together some FAQs to help answer any questions you may have, you can read them here.
The event is part of an academic project being undertaken by NatCen in collaboration with academics at Stanford University and the University of Manchester. The aim is to understand what difference, if any, discussion and information makes to people’s views – and to provide impartial evidence to the politicians and policy makers who will have to make decisions about Britain’s future. The project is funded by a government body, the Economic and Social Research Council, which funds academic research in Britain. The results will be published in academic articles and books together with blogs and papers published on the internet.