The government should stop and re-think the 2022 Elections Bill as it returns to the CommonsThe government’s Elections Bill returns to the House of Commons on Monday 17th January despite the opposition against their plans growing from all sides of the chamber. The bill has faced fierce opposition from campaigners,...Posted 14 Jan 2022
Even senior MPs agree the government needs to pause and rethink the 2022 Elections BillEarlier this week, the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs (PACAC) select committee published the final report of its inquiry into the Elections Bill. In a highly critical report, the influential committee heeded...Posted 17 Dec 2021
Dominic Grieve is just the latest conservative to call for a halt to the 2022 Elections BillWhile the Elections Bill is not expected to return to parliament until the new year, opposition is still growing against this dangerous legislation. The most recent conservative to speak out is former Attorney General, Dominic...Posted 07 Dec 2021
Expensive Voter ID scheme is neither necessary nor proportionateThe UK government’s Election Bill containing controversial Voter ID provisions is progressing with haste through parliament this month, despite significant alarm over its potential impact. Whilst the government claims the bill will increase ballot security,...Posted 22 Oct 2021
Sweeping undemocratic changes are being rushed through without consultationA major change to the voting system for Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners has been slipped into the Elections Bill at Committee Stage – after MPs and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee...Posted 06 Oct 2021
Ministers just sneaked out a serious, undemocratic change to our voting system in England and WalesThe government is trying to sneakily force through plans to impose First Past the Post for Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections – a move which would cast the views of voters on the...Posted 16 Sep 2021
Voter ID could breach fundamental rights, MPs warnThe ERS gave evidence to the committee’s enquiry with Dr Jess Garland telling MPs and Peers that it was “implausible” to suggest that fraud by personation – trying to vote under a false identity –...Posted 03 Sep 2021
Voter ID: Thousands tell the government: “Hands off our vote”Over 50,000 people have now signed the Electoral Reform Society’s petition urging ministers to scrap plans to impose mandatory voter ID – amid growing fears that millions of people could be locked out of democracy....Posted 03 Sep 2021
What is the 2022 Elections Bill? And why is it an issue?Earlier this month, the government published its long-awaited Elections Bill which makes changes to the administration and conduct of elections with the stated aim of ensuring that ‘UK elections remain secure, fair, modern, inclusive and...Posted 23 Jul 2021
Stephen Kinnock MP: Democracy is in retreat – and the government’s 2022 Elections Bill fails to face up to the challengeThe Elections Bill – introduced to the Commons on Monday - does not reflect the seriousness of the challenges our democracy faces from dark and dirty money, which has the potential to fundamentally corrupt our...Posted 13 Jul 2021