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
IWD: Why proportional representation can be a driving force for political equalityA driving force for most people who believe in electoral reform is the belief that seats should match votes and that the broad and diverse communities that make up the United Kingdom should have their...Posted 08 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
The 2022 Elections Bill could open the floodgates on party fundingWe’ve spoken a lot about the danger of the Elections Bill, which returned to the House of Lords today. From wasting £180 million a year on an intrusive ID card scheme for voting, to hobbling...Posted 23 Feb 2022
The Electoral Commission’s letter on the 2022 Elections Bill is unprecedentedThe Electoral Commission has written an unprecedented letter to the government, calling for them to reconsider provisions in the Elections Bill that would undermine the Commission’s role of oversight of our elections. The Commission’s letter,...Posted 22 Feb 2022
Does proportional representation lead to higher turnout?A healthy democracy requires healthy levels of democratic participation – the most crucial element of which is turnout at general elections. But Britain has one of the lowest turnout rates in the west – a...Posted 10 Feb 2022
The Single Transferable Vote means every vote counts in New South Wales’ local electionsIn the closing days of 2021, I braved the scorch of the blistering Australian summer sun, walking through the streets of a leafy Sydney suburb and dropping flyers into letterboxes for the Sutherland Shire Council...Posted 07 Feb 2022
ERS in the Press: January 2022Scandal and crisis at the heart of government have dominated the news as we begin 2022. Yet in a packed news cycle of covid regulation breaking parties in Downing Street, and a pantomime-esque will-they-won’t-they over...Posted 04 Feb 2022
The government aren’t listening – make your voices heard on 5th FebruaryJoin the Elections Bill Rally in Parliament Square. The passing of the government’s Election Bill through the House of Commons last week was a huge blow to democracy. It now heads to the Lords, with...Posted 28 Jan 2022
How are the members of upper houses chosen around the world?Many countries use a bicameral political system – meaning that they have two chambers in their parliament. These parliaments are comprised of a lower house where the government is formed and day-to-day politics is carried...Posted 27 Jan 2022