Where are the women in local government?At first glance, UK local government statistics aren’t exactly the most exciting topic for a blog. But they’re really important as they give us an insight into gender and politics in the UK today. The...Posted 25 Feb 2013
16 days and counting to an election no one’s heard of…Another day, another disaster. We now hear that £350,000 worth of ballot papers are headed for the shredder. The farce that is the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections is continuing to thrill audiences across the country....Posted 30 Oct 2012
A fair cop for women? Female Police and Crime Commissioner candidates in less winnable seatsYesterday, the Labour Party became the first party to finalise its candidates for the 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to be elected this November. There have been widespread fears that this new role will be heavily...Posted 20 Jun 2012
England let down by elections as Scotland leads the waySince Thursday’s local elections we’ve been crunching the numbers. Did voters get a fair deal? What has breaking from First Past the Post meant for Scotland? Well what we’re seeing is a widening gulf between local democracy...Posted 09 May 2012
Examining the case for directly elected mayorsDoes Bristol, Birmingham or Bradford want a Boris? We find out next Thursday when these and seven other English cities give voters a choice as to whether to adopt the directly elected mayor model. Yet...Posted 26 Apr 2012
“Aren’t you a bit small to be our Police and Crime Commissioner?”Jane Basham was the Labour PCC candidate for Suffolk “Nearly toppled the establishment…” …..Is what colleagues have said after my performance in the recent Police and Crime Commissioner elections. I stood as the Labour Party...Posted 22 Nov 2011