Enough is enough – it’s time for a full review of Lords’ expenses It seems that each new batch of expenses from the House of Lords is yet another scandal. This weekend we saw fresh revelations – and with it, some pretty egregious abuses of the system. Yesterday... Posted 03 Apr 2017
We’ll need more AMs to deal with Brexit If there was a ‘word cloud’ of popular news topics over the last twelve months then ‘Brexit’ would be front, centre and in bold. Since last June’s referendum the topic has dominated headlines, been the... Posted 27 Mar 2017
The Brexit deficit If there was a ‘word cloud’ of popular news topics over the last twelve months then ‘Brexit’ would be front, centre and in bold. Since last June’s referendum the topic has dominated headlines, been the... Posted 27 Mar 2017
We did it: petition for PR hits 100,000 signatures We did it. The petition to introduce real Proportional Representation for Westminster has hit its target of 100,000 – with over two weeks to go. Thousands of you shared our blogs, tweets, emails and posts... Posted 21 Mar 2017
Cyfnod Newydd i ERS Cymru Wrth iddi ymuno â ERS Cymru, mae Jess Blair yn nodi’r heriau a’r cyfleoedd i ddyfnhau democratiaeth Cymru Yn ystod y deuddeg mis diwethaf, mae’r tirlun wleidyddol wedi newid yn sylfaenol dros y byd. Rydym... Posted 17 Mar 2017
Local spending matters when votes aren’t equal Today we have seen the consequences of a violation of the rules on campaign spending, one facet of the way political parties are funded. Yet the Electoral Commission’s fine of the Conservative party for breaching reporting rules... Posted 16 Mar 2017
An exciting time to join ERS Cymru As she joins us as the new Director of ERS Cymru, Jess Blair sets out the challenges and opportunities for deepening Welsh democracy. In the last twelve months the political landscape across the world has... Posted 14 Mar 2017
A shifting Stormont: The view from the Belfast election count Last week’s surprise election in Northern Ireland, called in the aftermath of the Renewable Heating Scheme (RHI) scandal, yielded a result that few predicted. I spent the Friday of the election at Belfast’s Titanic Exhibition Centre, where... Posted 10 Mar 2017
The momentum for Lords reform is growing Reform often comes through an unusual mix of factors. They stir up within a short space of time – until the whole strange potion explodes. It feels like we might be witnessing that process right... Posted 10 Mar 2017
The House of Lords effectively has seats reserved for men The House of Lords is back in spotlight this morning, last night having again challenged the government’s Brexit plans by voting 336 to 268 for Parliament to be granted a meaningful vote on the final... Posted 08 Mar 2017