Behind the excuses and the finger pointing – the bitter pill of party fundingSo here we are again. Once more the headlines boom with a brand new ‘cash-for influence’ scandal. Peter Cruddas, millionaire and Tory donor come hapless Tory treasurer, has been caught in an old fashioned sting...Posted 26 Mar 2012
Reporting back from Welsh Labour ConferenceBy Owain Llyr ap Gareth, Research and Campaigns Officer, Electoral Reform Society Wales After entering the empty room an hour before the first of our two fringe meetings at the Welsh Labour conference – looking at...Posted 19 Mar 2012
House of Lords reform: Independence, expertise and a strange case of false logicThe argument that independence and expertise exist in abundance amongst our current peers is now being cited as a key reason against reforming the House of Lords. If preserving these features is a core argument against reform,...Posted 15 Mar 2012
No more excuses: Why gender matters in politicsWhat would society be like if four out of five parliamentarians were women? Maybe we’d be failing on men’s health; or the armed forces (as 9 in 10 recruits are still men), or on the...Posted 07 Mar 2012
“Aren’t you a bit small to be our Police and Crime Commissioner?”Jane Basham was the Labour PCC candidate for Suffolk “Nearly toppled the establishment…” …..Is what colleagues have said after my performance in the recent Police and Crime Commissioner elections. I stood as the Labour Party...Posted 22 Nov 2011
Interests aside – what’s right for Wales?The Electoral Reform Society Wales launched our new report today analysing the results of the Welsh Assembly Elections in May 2011. The report shows what the results could have looked like had they been conducted...Posted 22 Nov 2011
Is Scottish Democracy failing to realise dream of devolution?The Electoral Reform Society Scotland recently held an event to launch our report examining the “remarkable” results of the May 2011 Scottish Parliamentary election. Under the heading ‘A health check’, report co-author; Professor Curtice, examined the potential...Posted 18 Nov 2011
Women in Parliament: Time for an equal sayThe level of women’s representation in politics is an important signifier of a healthy democracy. Yet in the UK only 22 per cent – or 1 in 5 – members of the Westminster Parliament are women. This...Posted 25 Oct 2011
2010 General Election ResultsIn contrast to 2005, the electoral system did not produce a House of Commons majority for a party whose support lay in the mid-30 per cent range; the Conservatives fell short in 2010 while Labour,...Posted 19 May 2010
The 2010 General Election – An Unusual ElectionThe 2010 election was an unusual election, to say the least. It saw a number of unique and interesting features of the campaign and the result: The 2010 campaign was the first to feature direct,...Posted 07 May 2010