The British Political Tradition and Constitutional Policy: The Offer of Deliberative Mini Publics.

This article examines the challenges of constitutional policymaking within the UK's British Political Tradition (BPT), characterized by centralized, majoritarian control under the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. It identifies key problems including excessive government dominance, limited public involvement, constitutional short-termism, and self-reinforcing power dynamics that hinder meaningful reform. Drawing on findings from the Review of the UK Constitution project, the article explores the potential of Deliberative Mini Publics (DMPs)—small, representative citizen assemblies engaging in informed deliberation—to enhance democratic legitimacy, reduce partisan short-termism, and foster consensus in constitutional change. While acknowledging limitations and the need for integration into existing political processes, the article argues that embedding DMPs offers a pragmatic approach to improving constitutional policymaking and stability within the current UK political framework.