Latest by-elections reveal flaws of First Past the PostThe two UK parliamentary by-elections, held on 19 October 2023, saw some dramatic outcomes. In Mid Bedfordshire, Labour overturned the biggest majority (24,664) in any by-election since at least 1945. In Tamworth, Labour achieved its...Posted 20 Oct 2023
SNP Conference: ERS Scotland’s packed fringe event rings out for strengthening local democracyA vibrant and powerful local democracy creates the basis for building strong communities. From the pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis people have shown they are willing to devote time and care to those in need....Posted 19 Oct 2023
Democracy is major theme at Labour conferenceFollowing last year’s successful motion on proportional representation, electoral reform and improving our democracy remained some of the biggest topics of discussion at Labour conference this year. The Electoral Reform Society team organised and spoke...Posted 13 Oct 2023
Making the case for electoral reform at Conservative ConferenceAs a non-partisan organisation, we attend all the major party conferences to make the case for electoral reform. There is a long history of electoral reform supporters in the Conservative Party, with Conservative Action for...Posted 05 Oct 2023
Support for electoral reform is strong at the Liberal Democrat’s 2023 conferenceHeading to the Liberal Democrats’ 2023 conference in Bournemouth to promote electoral reform is not the hardest task I’ve been handed in my working life! Saying that, our task was more to find out if they...Posted 28 Sep 2023
Voter ID rules criticised by MPs, election watchdog and election administratorsThis week three separate independent reports have exposed the extent of the unnecessary damage voter ID has wrought to our democracy. Voter ID was rushed through for the local elections in May which meant voters...Posted 15 Sep 2023
The Mid Bedfordshire by-election shows how First Past the Post warps our politicsIt finally happened. After weeks of speculation and, more latterly, mounting criticism, Nadine Dorries officially resigned her seat in Mid Bedfordshire, triggering yet another by-election. Since the former culture secretary announced her resignation back before...Posted 29 Aug 2023
Short, long, or in-between: How long do parliaments last?Regular elections are a core part of any democracy, but how regular should they be? There has been a lot of variety on what the right length is, both around the world and in the...Posted 25 Aug 2023
First Past the Post locks many talented people out of politicsThis week, Politics Home reported that Regional Tories Are Snubbing Parachuted MP Candidates In Favour Of “Local Champions”. It seems that number of Conservative candidates with a background in local government is increasing at each...Posted 11 Aug 2023
Where are the policies for renters? First Past the Post keeps the focus on homeownersWith the current cost-of-living crisis and soaring interest rates, mortgages and mortgage holders are all anybody can talk about, including our political parties.Posted 28 Jul 2023