Political parties are too reliant on big donors – and it has to changeHuge swathes of the public believe big donors hold too much political sway – and yet again it has been revealed just how reliant parties are on the cash of very few. The Mirror today published research findings showing that 39% of...Posted 05 Jan 2018
Ministers are ignoring the elephant in the room when it comes to boundariesThe government’s Minister for the Constitution has claimed that millions of voters living in oversized constituencies are being under-represented. Speaking about the current boundaries, Chris Skidmore MP said: “It is an affront to democracy that 27 million people are under-represented.” ...Posted 03 Jan 2018
There’s a lobbying scandal brewing in the House of LordsThe House of Lords has long been a home for party donors and lobbyists. But now it turns out even those who have supposedly retired are taking advantage of the unelected House. As if the...Posted 02 Jan 2018
There’s another way of doing BrexitBy Dr Alan Renwick A battle broke out in Parliament last week, as MPs across the House successfully pushed for a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal. It was an attempt to make our...Posted 18 Dec 2017
Wales needs a stronger Senedd that’s fit for the futureIn 20 years of its existence – through the growth in the Assembly’s responsibilities to the expansion of the Welsh Government and its powers, one thing has changed very little: the Senedd’s capacity to scrutinise,...Posted 12 Dec 2017
From random results to Lords-a-claiming – 2017 and the Electoral Reform SocietyLooking back on the past year, there’s a strong sense of achievement at the issues the ERS has been able to raise – and we are equipped with stronger arguments than ever for reform. It...Posted 06 Dec 2017
An inconvenient truth – It’s time for more Assembly MembersJess Blair says the case for a larger Assembly has to be made beyond Cardiff Bay to the people it will impact. Having more Assembly Members isn’t necessarily on anyone’s Christmas list, but it should...Posted 06 Nov 2017
Caroline Lucas: A fair electoral system would tackle why people don’t voteGreen Party Co-Leader Caroline Lucas at the Westminster Hall Debate on Electoral Reform If democracy is about fairly representing the views of the people, we are failing at it with first past the post. As...Posted 01 Nov 2017
The proposed Lords reforms are sticking plaster politics: Peers are writing their own rulesWe’re at a rare point in politics. There is almost a consensus on the need for change –to cut down the supersized House of Lords. At the end of this month, a key Lords committee...Posted 19 Oct 2017
A chance to do Welsh local elections differentlyWhile the Wales Act’s passing earlier this year didn’t come without its challenges, the legislation does mean that a range of new powers will soon be devolved to Wales, including those over elections. This ultimately...Posted 11 Oct 2017