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Proportional representation would end the scourge of tactical voting

The losses in Wakefield and in Tiverton and Honiton, where the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Conservative majority, were both the result of declining support for Johnson’s government, but also it would appear, the result of widescale tactical voting....

Posted 03 Jul 2022

Tactical voting is often presented as the answer, but the truth is it is just a symptom

The UK’s biggest union just passed a motion in support of proportional representation

Delegates at UNISON’s National Delegate Conference have just backed a motion calling on the UK’s biggest union to ‘reject First Past the Post’ and for the adoption of PR for UK general elections. The vote,...

Posted 17 Jun 2022

Overwhelming majority of UNISON delegates back motion to reject First Past the Post

How do elections work for France’s parliament, the French National Assembly?

Fresh from re-electing Emmanuel Macron as president on 24 April 2022, French voters are now returning to the polls on the 12 and 19 June to elect a new parliament. Historically, presidential and legislative elections...

Posted 30 May 2022

France’s Two-Round system frequently produces highly disproportional results

Wales can lead the way and deliver a parliament fit for the 21st Century

Reform of the Senedd has been discussed since its inception. When it opened in 1999 it had just 60 members, no government function and limited powers. While the powers of the Senedd and the function...

Posted 18 May 2022

We have a chance to create a new Welsh democracy Lets do it properly

Scottish local democracy can build and strengthen our communities

Democracy is the right for people to decide how the place where they live is run. But too few people now believe that this right is being honoured, too few believe that they decide and...

Posted 13 May 2022

We can revive local democracy in Scotland

Voters’ views warped across England and Wales as First Past the Post holds back elections

Elections happened across the UK yesterday, with polls in Northern Ireland Assembly and local elections for all of Scotland and Wales plus large parts of England. Voters in Northern Ireland and Scotland used fair, proportional...

Posted 06 May 2022

Enough is enough voters in England need a real voice

Making the case for STV in England – our local elections campaign

Over the last few months the ERS has been building interest in how STV can make the UK’s politics fairer by highlighting the success of the system where it is currently used in the country....

Posted 06 May 2022

Elections Cancelled: Over 100,000 Welsh voters to be denied a vote

With elections coming up across the country, campaigners across Wales are gearing up the familiar routine of doorstep conversations, leaflets through letterboxes and trying to convince voters that their candidate deserves to be re-elected, or...

Posted 13 Apr 2022

74 councilllors will be elected unopposed

Why England needs the Single Transferable Vote

In May 2022, local elections will take place throughout Scotland and Wales, as well as in many parts of England, including the election of all local councillors in Greater London. In Scotland, these will be...

Posted 07 Apr 2022

For too long England has lagged behind on progress towards fairer votes

England and Wales can learn from Scotland’s success with STV

It is now 15 years since Scotland abandoned First Past the Post for local government elections and adopted the Single Transferable Vote form of proportional representation. What many will have seen as a small shift in process...

Posted 01 Apr 2022