Politicians of all parties are beginning to identify the abuse of the expenses rules as a wider systemic problem which has its roots in the powerlessness the public feels in the face of our over-centralised institutions and political culture. The leaders of the main parties are talking the language of political change, but our democracy belongs to all of us and it cannot be left to politicians in Westminster alone to determine the next stage of reform.

The fact that constitutional reform has proceeded in such a piecemeal fashion points to the lack of consensus between the main parties, and it is unlikely that, on their own, politicians will reach the necessary state of agreement to make real reform possible. A few politicians have recently called for a Constitutional Convention to determine changes to the constitution which have evaded Parliamentary consensus to date. We believe that alongside a number of other reforms, a Convention made up of citizens could help to end the deadlock on a number of constitutional issues, at the same time as putting citizens at the forefront of designing the shape of a constitutional settlement for the next era.

A Citizens' Convention should be brought together to determine the following issues:

• House of Lords reform
• Parliamentary reform including fixed term Parliaments and strengthening Select Committees and other ways of holding the Executive to greater account
• Funding of political parties
• Changing the voting system to more closely reflect voters' preferences resulting in a referendum on the day of the next general election
• New routes into politics including primaries and directly elected mayors
• Greater devolution of power, accountability and funding to local government

The moment for seizing the day is upon us. Letting politics slide back into business as usual cannot be allowed to happen. Not everyone will agree with all of the reforms listed above, but individual preferences may have to give way to a package of measures which can form the real change our democracy deserves now. In making these changes we could create a future where power truly resides with the many not the few.

1. Jessica Asato, Acting Director, Progress
   
2. Stephen Twigg, Chair, Progress
   
3. Professor Brian Brivati, Director, John Smith Memorial Trust
   
4. Professor David Marquand, Visiting Fellow, University of Oxford
5. Patricia Hewitt MP, former Secretary of State for Health
6. Peter Hain MP, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
   
7. Martin Linton MP
8. Barry Gardiner MP
9. Mark Lazarowicz MP
10. Guy Lodge, Associate Director, ippr
    
11. Lewis Baston, Electoral Reform Society
    
12. Roger Liddle, Vice-Chair, Policy Network
13. Nick Smith, Labour PPC for Blaenau Gwent
14. Sunder Katwala, General Secretary of the Fabian Society
    
15. Wes Streeting, National President, National Union of Students
16. Mary Honeyball MEP
17. Oona King, former MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
    
18. David Rowntree, Labour PPC for Cities of London and Westminster and musician
    
19. Simon Fanshawe, Writer and Broadcaster
    
20. Anne Campbell, former MP for Cambridge
    
21. Luke Bruce, Former Labour Party Assistant General Secretary (Policy and Political Development 2004-2006)
    
22. Steve Reed, Labour Leader, Lambeth Council
23. Gabe Trodd, Founder, The Stand up Tall Project
    
24. Matt Cooke, Councillor, Labour Borough of Haringey
    
25. Kevin Bonavia, Labour PPC for Rochford and Southend East
    
26. Kevin McKeever, Labour PPC for Harborough
    
27. Jonny Reynolds, Councillor, Tameside
    
28. Luke Bozier, Former Downing St Adviser on E-campaigns
    
29. Bambos Charalambous, Labour PPC for Enfield Southgate
    
30. Tom Flynn, Labour PPC for Southend East
    
31. Emily Georghiou, Womens Officer, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
    
32. Alex Hilton, Labour PPC for Chelsea and Fulham
    
33. Jude Robinson, Labour PPC for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle
    
34. Phil Taylor, Norwich North CLP
    
35. Catharine Arakelian, Labour PPC for Chingford and Woodford Green
    
36. Alex Smith, Editor, LabourList
    
37. Richard Angell, Chair, Brixton and Streatham Hill Labour Party
    
38. Tim Shand, Labour PPC for Guildford
    
39. Andy Burkitt, Member Bristol West CLP and Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
    
40. Peter Kyle, Deputy CEO, ACEVO
    
41. Patrick Vernon, Labour Councillor, London Borough of Hackney
    
42. Jon Harvey, Member Buckingham CLP
    
43. Ed Williams, Labour PPC for Meriden
    
44. Terry Ashton, Former General Secretary, London Labour Party
    
45. Swatantra Nandanwar, Labour PPC for Maldon Essex
    
46. Councillor Catherine West, Leader, Islington Labour Group
    
47. Kate Groucutt, Chair, Young Fabians (in a personal capacity)
    
48. Ken Ritchie, Member Daventry CLP
    
49. Steve Munby, Labour Councillor, Liverpool City Council
    
50. Sue Sturgeon, Chair, Tewkesbury CLP
51. James Asser, LGBT Labour and member Hove CLP
52. Paul Burgin, North East Herts CLP Press Officer and Mars Hill blogger
    
53. Terry Philpot, writer and journalist
54. Rick Muir, Senior Research Fellow, ippr
    
55. James E Siddelley, Labour Party North-West Regional Board
56. Darren Barrenger, Labour PPC for Harwich & North Essex
57. Dean Newby, LGBT Labour & Brent Central CLP member
58. Simon Redfern, Labour Communications Network
    
59. Anna Chester, Chair of Rotherham CLP and Vice Chair, Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Board
60. Dean Rogers, PCS Union National Officer, Environment, Transport and Trade
    

See more signatories to the statement.