Is there proportional representation in Scotland? For most of the 20th century, every election in Scotland was conducted under the First Past the Post system, from elections of MPs to local councillors. Much like in the rest of the UK, this... Posted 05 Sep 2019
ERS in the Press – August 2019 August saw talk of a constitutional crisis come to the fore – and it was a long time coming. The confusion is what happens when a centralised Westminster system and winner-takes-all mentality clashes with the... Posted 03 Sep 2019
Another election under Westminster’s broken voting system is unlikely to get us out of this crisis Back in May, our Westminster Beyond Brexit report raised a prescient question: “Do we want a democracy that gives the power of an absolute monarch to one party, or a government which is representative and... Posted 03 Sep 2019
‘Democracy denied’ as report reveals how voters are left voiceless across England ERS Research Officer Ian Simpson introduces his new report: Democracy Denied: The 2019 Election Audit If two party politics isn’t dead, it has certainly taken a big hit over the first half of 2019. The... Posted 22 Aug 2019
200 years since the Peterloo Massacre, Westminster is still broken The events of 2019 have put the problems of Westminster’s system into sharp focus. From discussions about the Prime Minister proroguing parliament, to MPs leaving main parties to form their own (only to splinter within... Posted 16 Aug 2019
Brexit pacts: The latest desperate attempt to game a broken first-past-the-post system The decision by both Plaid Cymru and the Greens to stand down at last week’s Brecon and Radnorshire by-election has sparked a lot of talk in Westminster about political pacts. Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price... Posted 09 Aug 2019
Thinking about standing for ERS council? Here’s Clare Coatman on why you should Nominations for our ERS Council have just opened, and we’re looking for passionate reformers prepared to share their time, energy and ideas to stand. The ERS Council the driving force behind our Society. It is the... Posted 08 Aug 2019
ERS in the Press: July 2019 July was a busy month in Westminster before MPs headed off for the summer recess. Brexit and the Conservative leadership election dominated the headlines – and we found plenty of opportunities to keep reform of... Posted 01 Aug 2019
Voters are going beyond left-right divides – and the system can’t handle it During the first half of 2019, party affiliation among the British electorate became more fragmented and volatile than ever before. In the English local elections on 2 May the Liberal Democrats and Greens – as... Posted 17 Jul 2019
Ed Davey – Liberal Democrat Leadership Interview Electoral Reform Society Chief Executive Darren Hughes spoke with Lib Dem leadership candidate Ed Davey Darren Hughes: Ed, thank you very much for joining us as part of your campaign I know that you’ve always... Posted 12 Jul 2019