Democratic Drift

Tracking how legislation trends over time. If these lines move, democracy is measurably shifting.

Freedom Impact Over Time

Average freedom axis score of bills receiving Royal Assent each year. Negative = more restrictive.

Government Power Over Time

Average government power axis. Higher = more authority granted to the state.

Public Spending Over Time

Average spending axis. Higher = larger fiscal commitments.

Representation Gap

Gap = |Public Vote - MP Vote|

This metric will activate when DISSENT has public vote data.

If this line goes up, representatives are measurably drifting from the population.

Text DISSENT to contribute your voice.

What Is Democratic Drift?

Democratic Drift measures the gap between what citizens want and what their representatives do. It is calculated as:

Democratic Drift = Average(|Public Opinion - Government Action|)

When this number increases over time, democracy is measurably drifting away from the population it is supposed to represent.

The three charts above show the direction of legislation — whether laws trend toward more restriction, more government power, or more spending. Combined with public vote data, they reveal whether Parliament is moving in the same direction as citizens.

This is not commentary. It is measurement. The system does not tell you what to think. It shows you what happened, and lets you decide.

Data Behind These Charts

Year Freedom Gov Power Spending Bills
2015 0 0 3 1
2016 0.27 0 1 15
2017 -0.12 0 0.44 34
2018 0.13 0 0.39 31
2019 -0.13 0 0.39 31
2020 0 1.33 1.2 15
2021 0.07 0 0.54 28
2022 -0.1 0 0.71 21
2023 -0.15 0 0.45 33
2024 -0.03 0 0.43 35
2025 0 0 1.29 7
2026 0 0.33 1 6