How is local government organised in England?England’s local government can sometimes be quite confusing. The history of devolution within England is one of ad hoc, piecemeal, top-down reforms united in their lack of a clear vision. This has left different areas...Posted 16 Mar 2022
For local democracy to flourish our representatives need the power to deliverNew ERS research finds over two-thirds of councillors feel they lack the powers to represent the needs of their local community. Local government is at the front line of our democracy. It’s the closest level...Posted 10 Mar 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
Should I rank all the candidates in the Scottish council elections?On Thursday 5 May, 2022, voters will go to the polls to elect councillors for each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. This will be the fourth time that Scottish councils will be elected using a proportional system,...Posted 25 Feb 2022
Ministers just sneaked out a serious, undemocratic change to our voting system in England and WalesThe government is trying to sneakily force through plans to impose First Past the Post for Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections – a move which would cast the views of voters on the...Posted 16 Sep 2021
Conservative councillor: How the Single Transferable Vote broke open Scotland’s one-party fiefdoms"With STV, we are trying to steal a march on other parties, while at the same time cooperating for the public good."Posted 05 Aug 2021
The PM’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda is another victim of Westminster’s warped electoral logicThe Prime Minister’s Levelling Up agenda – announced with great fanfare on Thursday – risks leaving swathes of the country ignored. In not very subtle terms, the PM suggested new powers would only go to ideologically-aligned parts of...Posted 16 Jul 2021
Elections 2021: Rotten boroughs are rife in England, as voters are hit by warped resultsWe’re already seeing a plethora of rotten results – with parties taking nearly all the seats on a fraction of the vote.Posted 07 May 2021
These government plans will hit 44m voters with less choice and a weaker voiceMillions of people went to the polls this Thursday in England and Wales to elect PCCs, plus Combined Authority mayors and the London mayor– using the Supplementary Vote system (SV). Posted 07 May 2021
2021 Elections: Millions of voters to get fair representation through PROver 12 million voters have a powerful voice today, with proportional representation used in Wales, Scotland and on the London Assembly. Posted 06 May 2021