The Reformer

Democracy Lounge

Democracy Lounge – Belfast Imagine Festival

At this year’s Imagine Festival in Belfast, we’re co-sponsoring the Democracy Lounge. There are lots of ways that democracy can...

European Congress of Local Governments

European local government: New ideas of decentralisation in a changing world

I was delighted to be asked to moderate the main Plenary Session of the 9th Annual Congress on European Local...

In the whole history of our democracy, we haven’t elected enough women as MPs to even fill the House of Commons

At 35% we still have a long way to go on women’s representation

It’s been over a hundred years since some women won the right to stand as MPs and vote in 1918....

Pursuing Parity

Pursuing parity: New report examines gender quotas across different electoral systems

Throughout history, the political landscape of the United Kingdom has been predominantly shaped and governed by men. The struggle towards...

Only Chinas rubber stamping National Peoples Congress is larger than the Lords

Peter Mandelson should save his slimming tips for the House of Lords

Lord Peter Mandelson found himself in the headlines a couple of times this week. Firstly, when he criticised Labour’s plans...

We have long held up the Single Transferable Vote (STV) as the gold standard for proportional representation

Who invented the Single Transferable Vote?

The Electoral Reform Society has long held up the Single Transferable Vote as the gold standard for proportional representation. It’s...

Independent Green Voice is far from what you might expect from the name

Vote splitting trick won’t work with Scotland’s Single Transferable Vote

On March 7th voters in Hillhead in Glasgow will be heading to the polls for a council by-election. Among those...

Scottish Labour conference 2024

ERS Scotland make the case for democratic reform at Scottish Labour conference

Along with Labour For a New Democracy, we were at last weekend’s Scottish Labour conference to talk to attendees, as...

If politicians want us to trust them they should also trust our judgement

A future Labour government would be right to use Citizens’ Assemblies

This morning it was revealed in The Times that Sue Gray, Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff and former leading Civil...

Electing the second chamber doesnt itself lead to more conflict

Why an elected second chamber won’t lead to gridlock

Looking across the Atlantic at America’s Senate, it’s clear why concerns are often expressed that an elected second chamber may...

First Past the Post has often failed to live up to its supporters promises

How many hung parliaments has the UK had?

Westminster’s First Past the Post (FPTP) system often results in some parties gaining far more seats than their vote share...

13 new peers have been squeezed into the already-heaving House of Lords

As more peers are crammed in the Lords, the public support elected members

Late on Friday, the Government slipped out its latest honours list, which will add 13 new peers to the already-heaving...