The Reformer

To create a change that lasts, the process needs to be trusted

What does an independent commission on electoral reform need to succeed?

The idea of an independent commission on electoral reform has been gaining traction lately, with nearly 200 MPs calling for...

The global ultra-rich can effectively buy political parties outright

What political finance changes are coming in?

Back in 2015 we published Deal or No Deal which looked at public attitudes to political finance following the failed...

The problem with tactical voting in Britain’s multi-party politics

At election time, millions of us arrive at the polling station in a conflicted state of mind – do I...

There is nothing more unstoppable than an idea whose time has come and PRs time has come

What has Andy Burnham said about the voting system?

Westminster has, once again, been engulfed in high theatre. The Prime Minister stood aside on Monday announcing a two-week departure...

Manchesters next mayor will need a broad coalition of support

What is the Supplementary Vote, and why is it being used in Manchester?

On Thursday 30 July, Greater Manchester will be electing a new mayor. The by-election follows Andy Burnham’s decision to return...

parliaments that truly represented how the country voted

The difference between proportional and preferential voting systems – and why it matters

When is an electoral reform not proportional? That question matters because support for scrapping First Past the Post is growing,...

Proportional representation is about giving voters control over their neighbourhoods

A council with no overall control isn’t the same as one with proportional representation

May’s English local elections ended one-party dominance in over 30 councils, with 64 of the 136 councils now under no...

Better local services need better local elections

Why we need to change the way we elect our councillors in England and Wales

Discussions around changing the voting system often refer to Westminster, yet the same problems that stifle the government of the...

Holyrood’s voting system wants you to be represented in Parliament

How Scotland’s Holyrood elections work will work this May

The 2024 General Election in Scotland was a one-sided affair. Scottish Labour won 35.3% of the vote in Scotland and...

Wales has 16 new constituencies, each one electing six Members of the Senedd

There is a new way of voting at the Senedd election this May. How does it work?

Whatever happens in May, the next Senedd election is set to be historic. For instance, recent polling has pointed to...

We need to shift the balance closer to 50:50, to allow the ‘top-up’ to do its job.

Scotland’s Parliament still has too much First Past the Post

When the Scottish Parliament was created, it was built to be different to Westminster. A system designed to reflect how...

Candidates need to be able to communicate with voters

Is it possible to opt out of political leaflets through the letterbox?

Written by Thomas Worth In the months leading up to elections, voters are often inundated with all sorts of literature...