New political funding rules sneak inWhen people are asked about the problems with money in politics, few raise the issue of there not being enough. In fact, the public are deeply concerned about big money in politics with the majority...Posted 24 Nov 2023
There is a dangerous loophole in our political financing rulesShadowy dining clubs and millions of pounds in donations. This is the realm of ‘unincorporated associations’ one of the least-regulated areas of political finance in the UK. Last week, Politico reported that these little-known entities...Posted 12 Jun 2023
How we could make the House of Lords gender equal overnightIt is a quiet scandal that 105 years after women first won the vote they are still grossly under-represented in Parliament. Women make up just over a third of MPs in the Commons and the...Posted 08 Mar 2023
Ed Davey – Let’s make the next general election the last fought under First Past the PostThis week we supported a panel with Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey, as part of a rescheduled conference event. The ERS attends all the major party conferences, but this year’s Liberal Democrat conference was cancelled...Posted 01 Dec 2022
Voter ID that you can use in UK elections – and how to get itAll voters now need to bring a form of photographic identification to vote. The government has now confirmed in secondary legislation which photo IDs will be accepted, in a list which leaves few options for...Posted 22 Nov 2022
Voter ID list gives few options for younger votersLong-awaited details of the government’s voter ID scheme have now finally been released including details of which IDs will be accepted at the polling station. With no alternatives for voters who turn up on the...Posted 11 Nov 2022
Johnson’s resignation honours list will last a lifetimeWith the Prime Minister set to exit Downing Street in the near future, attention has turned to who’s staying behind: his resignation honours list. It is tradition for departing PMs to create new life peerages...Posted 28 Jul 2022
Democracy Made in England: Where Next for English Local Government?In the context of the changing nature of UK governance, England remains an anomaly. While the centres of power in the rest of the UK have shifted away from Westminster over the last two decades,...Posted 09 Mar 2022
Expensive Voter ID scheme is neither necessary nor proportionateThe UK government’s Election Bill containing controversial Voter ID provisions is progressing with haste through parliament this month, despite significant alarm over its potential impact. Whilst the government claims the bill will increase ballot security,...Posted 22 Oct 2021
Sweeping undemocratic changes are being rushed through without consultationA major change to the voting system for Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners has been slipped into the Elections Bill at Committee Stage – after MPs and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee...Posted 06 Oct 2021