We know the gender pay gap – what about the political gender gap?Next Wednesday we’ll mark 100 years since Parliament passed legislation enabling women (over 21) to become MPs for the first time. Sadly, since that landmark legislation, there has been a grand total of just 491...Posted 15 Nov 2018
Foreign influence, not voter fraud, is the biggest threat to our democracy“Do we need to start messaging ‘widespread reports of election fraud’, so we are positively set up for the recount regardless of the final number?” wrote one Republican businessman earlier this year. “Yes” came the...Posted 12 Nov 2018
The threat of dark money goes beyond BrexitTwo and a half years on from the EU referendum, the result is still being discussed and debated. Arguably more important though is another story: whether the rules of the game are bust. The weekend...Posted 07 Nov 2018
How the Democrats could win the popular vote but not control of the HouseBrenda from Bristol famously cried “not another one!” at the news that we were to hold an election in 2017, just two years since the last one. Let’s hope she doesn’t plan to move to...Posted 06 Nov 2018
Lords lost in stasis as fake reforms go nowherePolitics is often dominated by disagreements, but one thing almost everyone agrees on is this: the House of Lords is too big. At 800 members, we have the largest second chamber in the world. So...Posted 02 Nov 2018
Four countries where First Past the Post is dead and buriedAs a Halloween treat, we thought we’d have a spooky stroll around the graveyard of First Past the Post. Around the world, voters in country after country, tired of it’s tricks, have chosen to bury...Posted 31 Oct 2018
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
ERS in the Press – October 2018This month we’ve had some fantastic coverage of our issues in the press, here’s just a highlight. Calls to lower UK voting age as Welsh assembly considers change. Our call for a “united franchise” –...Posted 30 Oct 2018
Lords are lobbying – our second chamber is leaving us open to foreign interferenceA story last week showed the House of Lords for what it really is: a lobbyist’s paradise. As revealed by The Times, a series of peers have financial interest in Russia. Some of these have...Posted 29 Oct 2018
Ontario and Québec look towards electoral reformWe’ve covered the exciting moves towards fair votes in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island – two Canadian provinces looking to ditch the broken ‘Westminster model’. But the usefulness of First Past the Post has...Posted 29 Oct 2018