Amid a shrinking Commons, let’s stand up for the backbencher This article was first published on Politics.co.uk A steady rise in independent-minded MPs has been a positive feature of Westminster life in recent years. Parliament has always had its share of mavericks and their ranks... Posted 18 Nov 2016
Cutting the number of MPs will have consequences. Let’s get this right This article was first published in the Times You might have forgotten about it, but the government’s boundary review – the redrawing of the area that your MP represents – is still going ahead, and it’s happening alongside a... Posted 17 Nov 2016
1,000 new Peers? No thanks “If the Lords was obstructive we would just have to create 1,000 peers.” So said Jacob Rees-Mogg MP on Thursday, following the High Court’s ruling that MPs will have a vote on the triggering of Article... Posted 07 Nov 2016
Calling for ‘progressive alliances’ is brave. But it should never be necessary This article was first published at LabourList Last week, three Labour MPs did something that takes courage. In calling for Labour to stand aside in Richmond Park, they were pushing for a more collaborative form... Posted 31 Oct 2016
Forget standing down in Richmond: parties shouldn’t have to make that choice This article was published on Politics.co.uk Almost as quickly as Zac Goldsmith announced his resignation this week, talk turned to the other parties in the race: should they clear the way for a candidate with a... Posted 27 Oct 2016
It’s time to ‘take back control’ of money in politics The following is a guest post from Steve Goodrich, Senior Research Officer at Transparency International UK. The views, opinions and positions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Electoral Reform... Posted 24 Oct 2016
How to give the London Assembly the clout it needs This week is European Local Democracy Week 2016, and to mark it, we’ve been running a series of articles on how to make the London Assembly more democratic. Today, Martin Hoscik, Editor of MayorWatch, gives his view on... Posted 14 Oct 2016
Time to beef up the London Assembly? It’s fair to say that the London Assembly doesn’t get a great deal of attention – despite having a strong claim to being the hub of devolved politics in England. So for European Local Democracy Week we thought... Posted 14 Oct 2016
It’s time to rebalance the powers of the London Mayor and Assembly This week is European Local Democracy Week 2016, and to mark it, we’re running a series of articles on how to make the London Assembly more democratic. For the first two articles in the ‘Building a... Posted 13 Oct 2016
A better voting system for the London Assembly This week is European Local Democracy Week 2016, and to mark it, we’re running a series of articles on how to make the London Assembly more democratic. For the first article in the ‘Building a Better... Posted 10 Oct 2016