News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

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Five reforms still needed to ensure women are fairly represented in politics

The Representation of the People Act 1918 was undoubtedly a significant step forward for women’s rights and democracy.  It gave the to vote to around 8.5 million women previously disenfranchised and abolished almost all property restrictions on men.  One hundred years later and both...

Posted 06 Feb 2018

A portrait of the leader of the Women's Suffragette movement, Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst (left) and her daughters Christabel (centre) and Sylvia (right) at Waterloo Station, London. Mrs Pankhurst was about to leave for a lecture tour of the USA and Canada.

Why money still rules the roost in British Politics

If ever there was a story which revealed the disproportionate influence exerted by big party donors, it was the on the front page of The Times on Tuesday. The article set out what has been...

Posted 31 Jan 2018

Pile of Money

How we vote has to change if our voices are to be heard

It came as no surprise this week that the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed nearly three in five people (57%) in the UK feel their views are not being represented in British politics.  It is the inevitable consequence...

Posted 24 Jan 2018

House of Commons

Survey results add weight to argument for Votes at 16

When reformers argue in favour of extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, they often do so by stating what other things those within that bracket are already doing (paying taxes, driving etc.)  For many people these arguments will ring true – but for...

Posted 22 Jan 2018

young voters