The Reformer

ERS online meeting

2020 Conference and AGM

The 2020 online conference featured a presentation and Q&A session on the Society’s work in 2020, followed by a keynote...

It will require rigorous advance planning, costing and communication

It is possible to hold elections in a pandemic, but we have to start planning for them now

This is a guest article from Sarah Birch,  Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Economy, King’s College London. Elections...

What can we learn from the UK Climate Assembly?

The UK’s first nationwide citizens’ assembly on climate change came to a close this week, with the launch of its...

Wales’ Parliament has long been under-resourced – it’s time to change that

With just 60 elected members, Wales’ Parliament has long been under-resourced. But that problem has grown as Wales acquired more...

ERS in the Press – August 2020

As governments respond to the global pandemic, the issue of how voters are represented has not gone away. In fact,...

Abolishing the Electoral Commission would be a dangerous backwards step

Our elections watchdog needs strengthening, not scrapping

You’d think given the rising tide of disinformation, dodgy donations and dark ads online, the government might be getting serious...

Lebanon

Lebanon’s confessional system keeps change just out of reach

Josh Dell is a writer based in London, who has led on democracy projects for organisations including Bite The Ballot...

Revealed: The true cost of Britain’s silent peers

There are many perks to being a member of the House of Lords. While many peers do work hard, it...

Scotland’s loophole ridden lobbying laws are in need of an urgent upgrade

Wealth and power can get people access and influence that normal citizens can only imagine. It is, after all, why...

Political parties – what are your plans to make a more diverse Senedd?

On first glance, the Senedd might appear relatively diverse for a political institution in the UK. It made headlines in...

Britain moves closer to shutting down ‘dark ads’ – but we need action now

The government has today unveiled new proposals that would require parties and political campaigners to display a digital imprint on...

pile of newspapers

ERS in the Press – July 2020

Another Lords scandal, fighting for fair votes, and a spotlight on foreign interference: highlights from the ERS' campaigning in July....