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Why Electoral Commission independence matters

This week, a new report from Spotlight on Corruption highlighted the impact of Electoral Commission independence to the UK’s democratic standing. The report lays bare just how far the UK has slipped since ministers were given...

Posted 30 Sep 2025

The Commission must be accountable to Parliament as a whole - not the government of _the day

Electoral Commission Chair shares perspective with MPs and Peers at ERS backed event

Last month we hosted an APPG for Electoral Reform event at Portcullis House, The future of the electoral system – in conversation with John Pullinger CB, Chair of the Electoral Commission. We were delighted to...

Posted 11 Apr 2024

5 ways politicians and civil society can bolster the strength of our democratic system

Electoral Commission chair calls out government on voter ID and finance loopholes

In a recent, wide-ranging, interview with the Financial Times, John Pullinger, the chair of the Electoral Commission, expressed concerns about the government’s voter ID scheme and the threat to the Commission’s independence contained in the...

Posted 25 Jan 2024

We should be building barriers to suspicious money, not the ballot box

Voter ID rules criticised by MPs, election watchdog and election administrators

This week three separate independent reports have exposed the extent of the unnecessary damage voter ID has wrought to our democracy. Voter ID was rushed through for the local elections in May which meant voters...

Posted 15 Sep 2023

The Government needs to scrap this unnecessary and damaging policy

There is a dangerous loophole in our political financing rules

Shadowy dining clubs and millions of pounds in donations. This is the realm of ‘unincorporated associations’ one of the least-regulated areas of political finance in the UK. Last week, Politico reported that these little-known entities...

Posted 12 Jun 2023

If an association donates under 25000 a year no questions are asked

The Electoral Commission’s letter on the 2022 Elections Bill is unprecedented

The Electoral Commission has written an unprecedented letter to the government, calling for them to reconsider provisions in the Elections Bill that would undermine the Commission’s role of oversight of our elections. The Commission’s letter,...

Posted 22 Feb 2022

Electoral Commission: Elections Bill would ‘allow ministers to shape how electoral law is applied to them’

The government aren’t listening – make your voices heard on 5th February

Join the Elections Bill Rally in Parliament Square. The passing of the government’s Election Bill through the House of Commons last week was a huge blow to democracy. It now heads to the Lords, with...

Posted 28 Jan 2022

Now it’s over to the Lords to prevent the government’s assault on democracy

Yesterday was a dark day for democracy. Despite widespread opposition from campaigners, election experts, academics and civil society the government’s Elections Bill successfully passed through the commons. The Bill includes clauses introducing voter ID, more...

Posted 18 Jan 2022

This bill will put too much power in the hands of the government

The government should stop and re-think the 2022 Elections Bill as it returns to the Commons

The 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

The Elections Bill will hand huge powers to the government over our elections

Even senior MPs agree the government needs to pause and rethink the 2022 Elections Bill

Earlier 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