Occupy London: A space for real debate

I visited Occupy London at St Paul's for the second time in as many weeks last night. It was the most exciting thing I have been part of for a long time.

What is most striking is how effective this initiative has been at opening up space for debate. While I was there, I joined an impromptu discussion in the middle of the street with people from all walks of life. A man who works in printing explained how he had saved his entire life to pay off his mortgage but was still struggling to make ends meet. One man who introduced himself as 'in favour of capitalism' argued for much greater political accountability. Another said the current economic model had brought considerable wealth but was no longer fit for purpose. We need new solutions.

And some were being offered. A student asked what had happened to social housing and why we are not giving people jobs to build sustainable and affordable homes. Another man asked why we do not pay — and therefore value — mothers or fathers who stay at home to look after children. A member of the public used his moment to speak to tell everyone about the free university on the camp. He said he had learned more in two weeks about the way the world and its major economies work than he had in years at school. It turns out there is a full programme of events, covering topics from the history of St Paul's to the process of money creation.

One participant argued we need a new political party. He said he had witnessed more real politics in two hours at Occupy London than in two days at a party political conference. Most were in agreement that we need to return to a value base and challenge the profit motive that is driving so many of today's political and economic decisions.

As Occupy London considers an offer from the Corporation of London to remain on-site until January, the importance of its location bears noting — if only for the extraordinary diversity of people its footfall encompasses.

And if occupiers and passers-by have one thing in common, it is a sense that they are looking for a brighter, fairer and more sustainable future than the one the current banking and political order has delivered.

Be careful what you wish for, Mr Prime Minister. This is people thinking big about their society.