Hello friends,
Today, I’m excited to introduce you to: Suffrago.org. This is my life’s work coming together, a project grounded in decades of involvement across the political spectrum and deep respect for everyone working to make our democracy stronger.
Here, you’ll find the culmination of insights I’ve gathered over the years—especially from my recent experience with the Selby and Ainsty by-election, which illuminated just how much citizens and MPs need more connected, nuanced conversations.
What is Suffrago?
Suffrago.org is designed to enhance democracy by providing each UK constituency with its own data dashboard, specifically crafted to empower MPs and constituents alike. We’ve built 650 individual dashboards, one for every constituency, featuring key insights like crime rates, income levels, housing data, and more. Here’s a sample dashboard for Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, with rankings to see how each constituency compares.
Each dashboard offers MPs and residents a way to grasp local issues deeply and in real time, not just in general terms but with specifics that matter.
But this is more than data. Alongside Dr. Simon Wallace, my incredible co-founder who helped launch the first AI-powered political manifesto with me in July 2023, we’ve created a platform that harnesses both data and dialogue. Simon is an expert data scientist with a gift for making complex data accessible, and together, we’ve built features that help MPs keep a “weekly pulse” of their constituency through anonymised, interactive polling tools inspired by projects like Polis.
Why Anonymity Matters
Over my last four years at the Crowd Wisdom Project, I’ve seen just how essential anonymity is to detoxifying political discourse. People rarely fit neatly into a left vs. right box; anonymity helps them share their real, nuanced views. MPs often only hear from a vocal, dissatisfied few, missing the fuller, quieter spectrum of perspectives in their constituency. At Suffrago, we’re flipping that dynamic, giving MPs a direct line to nuanced, representative feedback.
Most MPs don’t have easy access to demographic data on pensioners, young families, or income levels in their constituency, often leading to decisions based on assumptions rather than facts. With Suffrago, we aim to change that, providing MPs with the tools they need to see the bigger picture and, in turn, make better choices on our behalf.
Simplifying the Complex
The life of an MP is complicated. What they do in Westminster spans a lot of ground, and decisions aren’t easy. Suffrago provides them with clear data and insights that go beyond the daily noise, allowing MPs to focus on what truly matters.
We know the platform has significant room to grow – and she will. Technology only improves with time. Simon, now just back from his wedding, and I—after a four-day hospital stint—are committed to making it better. But to make this dream a reality, we need your help. Pretty please, with sugar on top, subscribe to Suffrago, log in, and share Suffrago with your networks, friends, with anyone really!
This isn’t just my project—it’s for everyone who believes that better data, better dialogue, and better representation can lead to stronger decisions for us all. If you’d do me this favour, you’d be contributing to a healthier democracy, one where MPs and citizens are genuinely connected.
Thank you all for your ongoing support,
Andrew
P.S. If you have thoughts, feedback, or want a demo, reach out anytime at andrew.gray@suffrago.org. This is just the beginning.
