Why electoral reform is a trade union issueThis is an article from Rory Scothorne and Josiah Mortimer ahead of the Unite union’s policy conference starting this weekend. The text is from the ERS’ new trade union leaflet ‘Trade Unions and Electoral Reform‘, and follows an overwhelming vote at last year’s...Posted 08 Jul 2016
5 things this EU vote has taught us about referendumsWhichever way you feel about the result, most people are glad the EU referendum campaign is over. To put it diplomatically, it wasn’t the highest quality debate in the world. Particularly for those on the...Posted 05 Jul 2016
How do Conservative Party leadership elections work?(Updated for October 2024) Historically there weren’t elections for the leader of the Conservative party, but, following the machinations surrounding the appointment of Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1963, elections among the MPs were brought in,...Posted 05 Jul 2016
In Australia, as in the UK, the voting system is at breaking pointIn 2010 Australia delivered its first hung parliament since 1940. A seemingly freak one-off, the election followed a period of unrest in the incumbent Labor Party (ALP) who had replaced their Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after just...Posted 04 Jul 2016
Brexit and our broken electoral systemThis is a guest blog, originally published by Noel Longhurst. The opinions expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Electoral Reform Society. Ever since the result of the EU...Posted 01 Jul 2016
We can do referendums better in the UK. Here’s how.This article was first published by Times Red Box Last week’s referendum raised some serious questions about the nature of the democracy we have – and the type we want to create. Unlike other countries,...Posted 30 Jun 2016
The referendum can’t be the end of the road for public engagementReferendums are the ultimate public poll – giving all registered voters a direct say over a major decision of national importance. And yesterday 33 million voters took part in the EU referendum, the highest turnout...Posted 24 Jun 2016
One day left to get clued up about your #EUref voteThe below is an open letter to voters for the last day before the referendum by a number of organisations who have been pushing for a better referendum debate. Voting requires confidence and a decent,...Posted 22 Jun 2016
Let’s not settle for a low #EUref turnoutIt’s generally a fool’s game to predict poll turnout. But there are some signs which can give you a clue. One is how likely people they are to say they’ll vote. Today – with a...Posted 16 Jun 2016
In the dark on the EU referendum? Clue yourself up for June 23rdWith just nine days until the referendum, there’s still millions of people who feel left in the dark. This month we published polling showing that only 24% of voters say they feel ‘well’ or ‘very well’ informed...Posted 14 Jun 2016