The Reformer

ERS Blog

Our top ten most read blogs of 2015

2015 was the busiest year ever for the Electoral Reform Society blog, with monthly readership over double the level we...

It’s time 16 and 17 year olds got the vote

Last month saw a big victory for campaigners for a fairer franchise: the House of Lords supported giving 16 and...

Putting PR in Parliament

UPDATE, December 3: The Bill has now been rescheduled and will be heard on Wednesday 16th December. —- It’s not...

House of Lords

Our bloated second chamber

The House of Lords is already the biggest chamber in the democratic world – yet it is growing in size...

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...

House of Lords

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...

Empty House of Lords

An Elected Lord?

The British constitution, its parliament and its institutions are well known for its oddities and eccentricities: the space provided in...

The Scottish people should be involved in the devolution debate

Yesterday (Wednesday 16th September) the Scottish Parliament debated ‘Scotland’s Future: Democracy and Devolution’. One year on from the independence referendum,...

House of Lords

Costly cronies of the House of Lords

In our new report, House of Lords Fact vs Fiction, we took a look at some of the enduring myths that...

It’s official: the House of Lords is completely bust

Today, we can reveal that the House of Lords is officially, well and truly bust. We’re pleased to launch our...

House of Lords

Andy Burnham’s identified the right problem – but his solution falls short

Try as the political class might, calls to reform the House of Lords always come to the fore. So it’s...

House of Lords

The House of Lords Needs a Major Overhaul, Not Tinkering Around the Edges

Calls for reform of the House of Lords have been heard even more loudly that normal in the last ten...