The Phoenix Party believes that true democracy means giving power directly to the people, not just electing representatives who then rule unchecked for five years.
The Current Democratic Deficit
UK citizens have no direct say over ordinary legislation. Once a government is elected, it can pass almost any law it wishes until the next election, with no nationwide mechanism for citizens to propose, challenge or veto laws.
This system grants elected governments near-absolute power between elections – often described as an "elective dictatorship".
In contrast, countries like Switzerland empower citizens through binding referendums triggered by public petitions, ensuring politicians remain accountable to the people at all times.
A New Era of People Power
We will introduce a robust system of citizens' initiatives, allowing the public to propose new laws and trigger binding national referendums on existing or proposed legislation.
A realistic signature threshold (e.g. 100,000 verified signatures) will enable citizens to force a nationwide vote on key issues.
Referendums will also be available to repeal unpopular laws passed by Parliament.
The Threat to Free Speech
The Online Safety Act grants Ofcom sweeping powers to monitor online content, forcing platforms to censor material deemed "harmful" – a vague and subjective term that can easily be weaponised against legitimate political debate, satire, and dissenting views.
It introduces a chilling effect whereby tech companies, fearing massive fines, proactively remove lawful speech to avoid regulatory risk, effectively outsourcing censorship to unelected bureaucrats and foreign corporations.
End-to-end encrypted messaging services face intolerable pressure to introduce backdoors or client-side scanning, undermining privacy and security for all citizens.
A Better Approach to Online Safety
Real online harms – such as child sexual exploitation, terrorism, and serious criminal activity – are already illegal under existing laws and should be tackled through targeted policing and prosecution, not blanket content moderation.
Parents, schools, and individuals must take primary responsibility for online safety, supported by voluntary tools and education rather than state compulsion.
Robust competition and user choice in platforms will drive better standards without sacrificing fundamental rights.
A Phoenix Party government will immediately repeal the Online Safety Act in its entirety and replace it with legislation that protects genuine victims of crime while safeguarding free expression and privacy.
We will defend the principle that no British citizen should fear prosecution or censorship for expressing lawful opinions online.
Freedom of speech is not negotiable – it is the foundation of democracy itself.
Adopt a Codified British Constitution
The Phoenix Party believes it is time for Britain to modernise its governance with a clear, written constitution that places real limits on state power and guarantees the rights of citizens.
The existing uncodified constitution – scattered across statutes, conventions, and precedents – leaves fundamental rights vulnerable to erosion by temporary parliamentary majorities.
It enables excessive executive dominance where governments can push through sweeping changes with minimal checks between elections.
Citizens lack a single, accessible document outlining their rights and the rules of government, making it harder to hold politicians accountable.
A Modern Written Constitution
We will establish a fully codified British Constitution through an inclusive, citizen-led process, enshrining protections for free speech, privacy, property rights, and equality before the law.
It will include robust checks and balances, stronger judicial oversight of legislation, and mechanisms for direct citizen involvement such as referendums on constitutional amendments.
The constitution will reaffirm parliamentary sovereignty within clear boundaries, preventing abuse while preserving Britain's pragmatic traditions.
Our Commitment
A Phoenix Party government will launch a national citizens' convention to draft the constitution, followed by a binding referendum for final approval.
We will ensure the new constitution is protected from casual amendment, requiring broad consensus or public vote for changes.
This reform will restore trust in democracy and put power firmly back where it belongs – with the British people.