Charter 88 began as a special edition of the New Statesman magazine in November 1988, to be swiftly followed by a newspaper advertisement in the Guardian Newspaper signed by 348 people. It was a protest to challenge establishment complacency about the health of our democracy. People were invited to ‘add your names to ours’ and make a donation towards future ads. They did so in their thousands.

A year later the idea became an organisation, born of public demands. It had two aims – to lobby and persuade within the existing system and to build a powerful mass movement for change. It is widely credited for creating the political mood that lead directly to the constitutional reforms – devolution to Scotland and Wales, a Freedom of Information Act and the Human Rights Act – following New Labour’s election win in 1997.

The New Politics Network was established in December 1999 following the transformation of Democratic Left. Democratic Left was the legal successor organisation to the Communist Party of Great Britain.

A think tank concerned specifically with issues relating to democratic renewal and popular participation in politics, the Network’s most prolific project was on party funding reform.

In 2004, Charter 88 and the New Politics Network set up a joint working relationship to make the most of their resources. This lead to, among other things, the establishment of the Elect the Lords campaign. The two organisations decided to formalise their working relationship in 2006 and, following an all member ballot of both organisations, decided to merge as Unlock Democracy in November 2007.

For more about Unlock Democracy’s past – and future – buy our new anniversary book:

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