Inside the backbench burial ground of Private Members’ BillsMost of the legislation that Parliament passes is introduced and backed by the government. But for thirteen Fridays in each parliamentary session, backbenchers steer the agenda. For those days, Private Members’ Bills have precedence over...Posted 31 Oct 2018
It’s not just the boundaries that need reviewing – it’s First Past the PostThe four national Boundary Commissions have now announced their results. If parliament accepts them, these will be the constituencies that the next general election in 2022 will be fought on. The election specialists Rallings &...Posted 11 Sep 2018
The government are using dirty tricks to cut our elected MPsIn the committee room corridors at the Palace of Westminster, the government’s conduct around the ongoing review of constituency boundaries is drawing cross-party criticism. The government’s official response to Parliament’s concerns fails to address any...Posted 01 Jun 2018
The plan to cut MPs looks suspiciously like a power grabAre we witnessing a power grab? Six months ago, reports suggested that the Prime Minister had dropped plans to force through a cut in MPs, a cut linked with the ongoing review of constituency boundaries....Posted 20 Feb 2018
Seven reasons to cancel the cut in the number of MPsSix months ago it appeared that controversial changes to electoral boundaries were to be dropped by the government. There has never been a great appetite for the number of MPs to be cut from 650...Posted 19 Feb 2018
Ministers are ignoring the elephant in the room when it comes to boundariesThe government’s Minister for the Constitution has claimed that millions of voters living in oversized constituencies are being under-represented. Speaking about the current boundaries, Chris Skidmore MP said: “It is an affront to democracy that 27 million people are under-represented.” ...Posted 03 Jan 2018
The abandoned boundary review could be a big opportunityIt was reported today in The Times that the planned review of constituency boundaries and cut in MPs may be scrapped due to opposition in Parliament. If the report is to be believed, the Boundary...Posted 06 Sep 2017
Amid a shrinking Commons, let’s stand up for the backbencherThis article was first published on Politics.co.uk A steady rise in independent-minded MPs has been a positive feature of Westminster life in recent years. Parliament has always had its share of mavericks and their ranks...Posted 18 Nov 2016
The Return of the GerrymanderWith all the media attention focusing on the upcoming American Presidential Election, it’s easy to forget that it isn’t the only election happening on that day. Voters up and down the country will be voting...Posted 30 Oct 2016
This boundary review risks skewing our democracy. It’s time to think againIt’s fair to say the boundary review has caused a stir. Why? Let’s start with the whole basis of this shakeup. The boundary redrawing is being conducted on the basis of registered electors – rather than the actual...Posted 14 Sep 2016