Reform means different things to different people. In the mid nineteenth century, the Chartists fought for universal suffrage and the end of the dominance of the landed classes in parliament, while at the start of the twentieth, the Suffragettes spearheaded the campaign to include the right to vote for women in the reform debates of the time. In present day Scotland, one of the key reform topics is the relationship between the parliaments at Holyrood and Westminster, whilst for others the focus lies with the often unrepresentative system which is used to elect members of the parliament in London. However, whether in chaining one's self to railings or voting in the referrendum that called for the reestablishment of a Scottish Parliament, all reform movements seem to have at their core an extraordinary interaction between ordinary members of society and the powers that seek to represent them.

The serious questions that have been asked of the relationship between elected representatives and those who elect them in the wake of the expenses controversy, only serve to further highlight the need for the opinions of the most important component of any democratic society - the electorate - to have their say, and in a meaningful way.

The devastating impact the recent scandal has had on the trust that the public has in parliamentarians has been well documented, whilst growing public apathy, exemplified in a declining turnout reaching below 60 per cent in 2001, highlights that an increasing number of people are disenfranchised with the current political system.

In many ways the general election that will be held within the next nine months will be a crossroads for democracy in Britain. The three main parties at Westminster all have ideas about how to reform the parliamentary system and, despite the sizable damage that has been done to the reputation of parliament, the chance to embrace change is one that many see as positive. Most importantly, it presents the opportunity to invoke a raft of measures that have the potential to strengthen British democracy.

Power2010 offers a fascinating opportunity for the public to engage with the process of reforming the British parliamentary system that is slowly grinding into action at Westminster. Rather than presenting another MP filled committee inquiry that is confined to the corridors of power, the project will give the thousands of people throughout Britain who have ideas about how to make the parliamentary system more accessible and engaging the chance to have their voices heard.

Through this campaign we will begin to see indications of the changes that have the ability to reinvigorate trust in the political process. It would be difficult to try and predict the results of such a survey given that one of the main attributes of the process is that people will be able to suggest whatever changes they believe are necessary; those suggestions that may at first glance provide difficult reading for the powers that be, are those that may be the most important. It is these potentially far reaching suggestions - changes to the electoral system and public interaction with parliament to name but two - that have the ability to give a new lease of life to the decaying relationship between the represented and their representatives.

The success of Power2010 rests on its potential to interact with a wide mix of the electorate, and then the ability of campaigners to lobby for support from candidates. But if those who hold the reins of power ignore the results of this exercise, it will be to the detriment of democracy and public engagement in politics. The answers to the questions of reform can only come from those who have for so long have no voice in these debates: it is time for their voice to be heard.