What can we learn from Canada’s Leaders’ Debate Commission?This election’s televised leaders debates have taken place against a backdrop of endless rows over who should be allowed to take part, in what has become a recurring feature of our election campaigns. Arguments over...Posted 04 Dec 2019
Is this the ‘hold your nose’ election? Record-breaking numbers set to vote tacticallyPolling from BMG research for the Electoral Reform Society has revealed that a record-breaking 30% of the public plan to vote ‘tactically’ in the next General Election. Tactical voting occurs when voters choose the best-positioned...Posted 04 Dec 2019
Democracy Day: On December 5th, it’s time to break the silence on political reformFew would say with honesty that Westminster is working. So it’s time to talk about how to change it. The Electoral Reform Society – along with other democracy organisations – are calling for December 5th...Posted 02 Dec 2019
Google starts to open up on political ads – but who’s setting the rules?New rules have just come into force at Google, banning political ads which target the public based on their political affiliations. (Targeting on the basis of age, gender and general location will be allowed to...Posted 26 Nov 2019
The quest for fairer votingThe first recorded election under a proportional representation (PR) system took place on 17 December 1819, when the Birmingham Society for Scientific and Literary Improvement elected their Committee using new rules invented by one of...Posted 26 Nov 2019
Time is nearly out to register to vote. Don’t be silenced this electionThe election is fast approaching: and it’s time to bring the ‘missing millions’ currently not on the electoral roll into the fold. If you aren’t on the register, your voice won’t be heard. With only...Posted 25 Nov 2019
What happens at the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland?On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October, The Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland kicked off at the Grosvenor Hotel in Edinburgh, with one hundred people from across the country meeting for the first time. The Assembly...Posted 25 Nov 2019
It’s time we stopped arguing about the TV debates – and guaranteed real choice for votersTonight’s first round of television debates has been mired in controversy. Not over policies – but the format, with the SNP and Lib Dems mounting an unsuccessful legal challenge to being excluded. It’s not necessarily...Posted 19 Nov 2019
We should be scrutinising candidates and policies. Instead the talk is of tactics and pactsJudging by the first week of the general election campaign, it seems likely that the remaining month will see a lot of focus on ‘tactical’ issues. We’ve already seen electoral pacts, or parties standing down...Posted 13 Nov 2019
What is tactical voting and why is it bad for democracy?In a Westminster election, tactical voting takes place when a voter chooses a candidate whom they wouldn’t normally support, in order to prevent another candidate from winning. For example, if you want to vote for...Posted 12 Nov 2019