Democracy Day | UK Parliament

The BBC marks the 750th anniversary of the De Montfort Parliament – England’s first parliament – with a day of live events, discussions and debate, produced in collaboration with the House of Commons and the House of Lords as part of their 2015 ‘Parliament in the Making’ programme. They will be broadcast across the BBC from both inside Westminster and from the BBC Radio Theatre.

Democracy Day will look at democracy, past and present and encourage a debate about its future. Panels of politicians, international academics and writers will discuss such issues as the relationship between Islam and Democracy and whether technology provides an opportunity or threat to the democratic process.

As part of the day’s offering, Today in Parliament will bring Radio 4 listeners a day in the life of other international Parliaments and the BBC’s Public Philosopher Michael Sandel will venture inside the Palace of Westminster, challenging an audience of MPs, Peers and public to apply some critical philosophical thinking to what democracy really means. The BBC will also turn the spotlight on itself, opening up several of its news planning meetings to public scrutiny and broadcasting them live, inviting listeners worldwide to comment and contribute to the day’s output.