Mark has invited me to write (yet another!) guest-post on Lib-Dem Voice about the Political Innovation project. Specifically, this one is to promote the events that we’re doing in Edinburgh and Belfast over the next few weeks – details can be found here.

The agenda? Well, these are ‘unconference’ events – largely bereft of big-name speakers or tied-down timetables. It’s a good deal more democratic than that, and anyone who hasn’t been to one of these type of conferences is particularly welcome. It’s a very democratic way of organising a day, and one that, ironically, works very well in many circles that don’t prize democratic discourse as much as we politicos claim to.

However, we’re hoping that attendees will pick up a few of the ideas that have been pitched as part of our ongoing essay series that has been cross-posted here on Lib-Dem Voice, along with any issues that they want to bring to the table. We’re hoping for sessions on citizen journalism, hyperlocality, open data and a range of other issues that interest those of us who take an interest in the space where interactive media meets politics.

Please come along – tickets are free! And push the idea out to any of your contacts in Scotland or Northern Ireland? There will be lots of political bloggers there – we’ve personally invited every one we can find in Scotland and we’re fairly confident that most of the Northern Ireland based ones will pick up the advert on Slugger O’Toole.

And if that isn’t enough, our hosts are offering lunch and some drinks to end the day off (Edinburgh) and lunch (Belfast).

If anyone knows a potential drinks sponsor for Belfast, we’d love to hear from them!

‘The Independent View‘ is a slot on Lib Dem Voice which allows those from beyond the party to contribute to debates we believe are of interest to LDV’s readers. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in contributing.