Why the next Senedd could be the least representative of women everThe Senedd hit the headlines back in 2003 when it became the first legislature in the world to reach 50:50 gender parity between men and women. It was a proud moment for our country and...Posted 08 Apr 2025
First Past the Post again set to produce random results at English local electionsWith four weeks to go before English local authority elections, which will be held on 1 May 2025, this week saw the announcement of candidates for each of the divisions or wards where local councillors...Posted 03 Apr 2025
House of Lords spends forty hours debating themselvesLast night at 10.20PM, the committee of the whole House of Lords on the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill was finally adjourned. There were five days of committee, close to 150 amendments put forward,...Posted 02 Apr 2025
We should extend the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, here’s whyThe Government was elected on a manifesto promise to “increase the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy by giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections.” We agree, and here’s...Posted 02 Apr 2025
It’s not just hereditary peers that are ‘hard to justify’ – It’s the whole unelected chamberBefore Labour won the 2024 general election, the Labour leader in the House of Lords hinted that if Labour were to take power, we could finally see an end to the 92 hereditary peers in...Posted 30 Mar 2025
In discussion with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth MS: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities for Welsh DemocracyLast weekend, Plaid Cymru members gathered in Llandudno for their Spring Conference as they begin to set their sights on the 2026 Senedd election. As part of the event, ERS Cymru Director, Jess Blair, hosted...Posted 27 Mar 2025
The government can do better than this on voter IDSince voter ID was imposed in 2023, we know voters have been turned away from polling stations over 40,000 times and not returned. This alone is a shocking enough fact, but that’s not even the...Posted 24 Mar 2025
Liberal Democrats sense growing opportunities on proportional representation as they assemble for 2025 Spring ConferenceThe Liberal Democrats assembled in the picturesque Yorkshire town of Harrogate this weekend for their spring conference, where they discussed how to build on their success in the general election and maximise the impact of...Posted 24 Mar 2025
We called for a one stop shop for election information – it’s now coming to WalesOn Tuesday, the Senedd approved regulations establishing the Welsh Voter Information Platform, as required by Section 26 of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024. This platform will centralise election-related information, making it easier...Posted 13 Mar 2025
‘Procedural shenanigans’ as peers debate their own reformThe House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill is being debated again this week in the House of Lords. This bill, as the name suggests, seeks to remove the last 92 hereditary Lords from the second...Posted 11 Mar 2025