Why electoral reform is a trade union issue This is an article from Rory Scothorne and Josiah Mortimer ahead of the Unite union’s policy conference starting this weekend. The text is from the ERS’ new trade union leaflet ‘Trade Unions and Electoral Reform‘, and follows an overwhelming vote at last year’s... Posted 08 Jul 2016
8 things last week’s elections tell us about Britain’s changing politics Last week’s ‘Super Thursday’ of elections was gold-dust for democracy lovers. It saw elections in Wales and London for their Assemblies, in Scotland for the Holyrood Parliament, in councils across England, in England and Wales for the... Posted 10 May 2016
Move House for Electoral Reform! Facts behind our April Fools Whilst the day-to-day effects of First Past the Post for communities around Britain is closer to a tragedy – for one day a year we attempt, along with everyone else, to spread our message using... Posted 06 Apr 2016
The Irish election: How PR can keep the local link The General Election in Ireland last month was an earthquake in Irish politics. Ireland now has a vastly more diverse political landscape, with the results a reflection of a major decline in party loyalties –... Posted 29 Mar 2016
Obvious Route for Australian Senate Reform Ignored Interest in the Australian political system has been building over the last couple of weeks over a proposal to make some notable reforms to the electoral system for the Senate. Each of Australia’s six States... Posted 23 Feb 2016
Red cards and re-negotiations Today, Prime Minister David Cameron has written to President of the European Council Donald Tusk setting out his demands for a renegotiation of Britain’s membership of the European Union. One of the four planks of the PM’s... Posted 10 Nov 2015
Good news for Welsh elections The UK Government today released their draft Wales Bill, continuing the process of the Silk Commission through to the St David’s Day declaration. It is clear that these proposals – in particular how powers are... Posted 20 Oct 2015
What is the plural of referendum? Political disengagement… Switzerland. A land of chocolate, neutrality and a surprisingly well-armed population. Switzerland is also home to a unique democratic system, the closest to direct democracy in the world. Citizens have the ability to force two types... Posted 15 Oct 2015
Localism and devolution – ERS at Labour conference “Devolution is a hot topic,” said Jane Dudman, Guardian Public Leaders editor, who chaired the first of three ERS fringe events at Labour Party Conference 2015. The topic was: “can Labour reclaim devolution and localism?”... Posted 13 Oct 2015
Party over Principle: Independence in the Lords The House of Lords is often assumed to be more independent than the Commons because it is less strongly whipped and because it contains Crossbench members who do not have a party affiliation. But it’s... Posted 09 Oct 2015