News
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These news items are listed for one month, after which they are transferred to the news archive, where they are retained for a further three months prior to removal.
22 February 2012
Fears over cost of elected police commissioners »
There are fears over a government initiative to introduce elected county police commissioners, an initiative which will cost around £2m for Herts and Beds...(The Comet 24)
22 February 2012
Electoral Administration Bulletins »
New Bulletins from the Electoral Commission...
21 February 2012
Lib Dems fight plan to cut share of party political broadcasts in London »
BBC proposal would give Lib Dems fewer party political broadcasts for London elections than Labour and Tories...(Guardian)
20 February 2012
Lords Constitution Committee back UK Government stance on powers of Scottish Parliament to call independence referendum »
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has published a report which supports the UK Government's position that the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament do not have the authority to call a referendum on Scottish independence...(Parliament UK website)
20 February 2012
Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (Council Tax Increases) (England) Regulations 2012 »
Consideration by the House of Lords...
20 February 2012
Six candidates join race to be Leicestershire's elected police chief »
The race to become elected police chief has gathered pace, with a batch of politicians putting themselves forward...(this is Leicestershire)
20 February 2012
Tory peers threaten to 'gum up Parliament for a year' in revolt over plan to reform House of Lords »
Rebel Tory peers have warned they will sabotage the Government's entire legislative agenda if it goes ahead with a Bill to reform the House of Lords...(Daily Mail)
20 February 2012
Majority support elected Lords »
YouGov have published a poll commissioned on behalf of the Sun newspaper revealing widespread support for democratic reform of the House of Lords...(Unlock Democracy)
17 February 2012
Birmingham and Coventry voters prepare for referendums »
Q: What do Tuesday, 6 March and Thursday, 15 November have in common? (BBC News)
17 February 2012
Scottish independence: Voters need 'straight choice' »
Scotland's voters must have a "straight choice" between independence and remaining in the Union, rather than being given a third option if a referendum is held, peers say...(BBC News)
16 February 2012
AEA formal response to consultation »
Electoral Commission: Neighbourhood Planning Referendums Question Assessment...
16 February 2012
Scottish independence: David Cameron in referendum offe »
Prime Minister David Cameron has offered to consider more powers for Scotland, in the event of a vote against independence...(BBC News)
14 February 2012
Scottish independence: 'Modest progress' at Moore Salmond talks »
First Minister Alex Salmond says he and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore have made "modest progress" at independence referendum talks...(BBC News)
13 February 2012
Government responds to consultation over individual electoral registration »
Sensible news from the government with talk of modification to its plans for individual electoral registration in the light of comments made during its consultation...(LibDemVoice)
13 February 2012
Scottish independence: Moore and Salmond meeting on vote »
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and First Minister Alex Salmond are meeting in Edinburgh to discuss the independence referendum...(BBC News)
13 February 2012
Council rebels hope to form 'Glasgow Labour' »
Former Labour councillors at Scotland's biggest local authority are preparing to launch a rival party to field candidates in May's local election...(BBC News)
10 February 2012
Voter 'opt out' may still go ahead »
A controversial proposal to let people "opt out" of being on the electoral register may still go ahead, despite suggestions it would be ditched...(BBC News)
10 February 2012
Individual Electoral Registration - Written Ministerial Statement »
Government response to pre-legislative scrutiny and public consultation on individual electoral registration and amendments to electoral administration law...
10 February 2012
Ministers drop plans to make it easier not to register to vote »
Proposals to change voter registration process withdrawn after criticism that voting isn't a consumer choice but civic duty...(Guardian)
9 February 2012
'Concern' over police and crime commissioner elections »
A senior election official says he is concerned about the lack of preparation for the forthcoming elections for new police and crime commissioners...(BBC News)
9 February 2012
The Timing of the Count »
AEA's formal response to the Electoral Commission's Issues Paper...
9 February 2012
Labour peer advises David Cameron against Lords reform bill »
Lady Royall says Tory peers will clog up legislative programme if government makes Lords reform a priority...(Guardian)
9 February 2012
Individual Electoral Registration »
AEA statement on the Government's response to Individual Electoral Registration pre-legislative scrutiny...
9 February 2012
News release from the Electoral Commission »
Statement on Government's response to pre-legislative scrutiny of Individual Electoral Registration...
9 February 2012
Register of voters to be more accurate and complete »
The Government has strengthened proposals for a new individual register of voters to make the scheme simpler for the majority of voters...(Cabinet Office website)
9 February 2012
Mayoral referendum election date confirmed »
Ballot boxes will open on 3 May 2012 for voters to decide on directly elected mayors for England's largest cities, Ministers confirmed today...(Communities & Local Government website)
8 February 2012
Liverpool agrees to early mayor vote »
Liverpool City Council has voted to go straight to elections for a directly elected mayor in May rather than waiting until the autumn...(LocalGov.co.uk)
8 February 2012
News Release from the Electoral Commission »
Armed forces targeted in voter registration drive...
8 February 2012
Anglesey council commissioners to stay until May 2013 »
Commissioners appointed by the Welsh government will continue to run troubled Anglesey council until May 2013...(BBC News)
7 February 2012
AEA Qualifications »
All updated information packs and registration forms are now available to download for the Certificate and Diploma courses...
7 February 2012
The government will have to fight for Lords reform »
House of Lords reform is one of those subjects that make most people’s eyes glaze over. But it is going to dominate the next parliamentary session...(The Spectator)
7 February 2012
From the archive, 7 February 1918: Some (but not all) women get vote »
Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 7 February 1918...(Guardian)
6 February 2012
Britain tyrannical as Syria with unelected Lords, says Lib Dem »
The unelected House of Lords was yesterday likened to the tyrannical government of Syria as leading Liberal Democrats warned that the chamber full of "dinosaurs" must be reformed...(Telegraph)
6 February 2012
Scottish independence referendum: who should get a say? »
Stepping inside the Corby Grampian Association Club, we learn a quick lesson...(BBC News)
6 February 2012
Scottish independence: Swinney defends referendum EU voters »
Finance Secretary John Swinney has defended plans to let EU nationals living in Scotland vote in the independence referendum...(BBC News)
3 February 2012
News release from the Electoral Commission »
Statement regarding inaccurate article...
3 February 2012
Secondary consultation period details announced »
Boundary Commission January Newsletter...
2 February 2012
Scottish independence: Peer's 'double referendum' bid »
A former Scotland Office minister is calling for a "double referendum" to determine Scotland's constitutional future...(BBC News)
2 February 2012
Warren Bradley: Ex-Liverpool leader faces perjury charge »
The former Liberal Democrat leader of Liverpool City Council has been summonsed to appear in court to face a charge of perjury...(BBC News)
2 February 2012
EU Austerity Treaty: No democracy without referendums »
The only way the public is likely to be consulted on the changes to the European Union that are being made in response to the euro crisis, is if citizens force governments to hold referendums...(the election review)
2 February 2012
Just like Scotland, Britain needs its referendum too »
David Cameron wants "devo max" for Britain in Europe. His fear of direct democracy will land us with the worst of both worlds...(Guardian)
2 February 2012
Britain after the break-up »
Devolution demands a new constitutional settlement, perhaps even a US-style senate...(Guardian)
2 February 2012
Another voter registration retreat in the offing? »
The final question of Nick Clegg's evidence session to the Lords constitution committee this morning was on the coalition's plans to reform the system used for registering voters for general elections...(politics.co.uk)
2 February 2012
We're looking for a 'new kind of candidate', say Tories »
Bristol's Tories are considering an "open primary" to select their candidate to run the police in the city and surrounding area...(this is Bristol)
2 February 2012
Mayor Peter Davies and Doncaster Council set date for elected mayor referendum »
A date has been set for a referendum on whether to keep an elected mayor in the South Yorkshire town...(BBC News)
2 February 2012
The Debate: Does Liverpool really need an elected mayor? »
A historic meeting at Liverpool council on Tuesday is set to vote to have an elected mayor...?(Liverpool Daily Post)
1 February 2012
Progress report: Constitutional reform »
Deputy PM Nick Clegg came into government promising the "biggest shake-up" of British democracy since the Great Reform Act of 1832. On Wednesday he is being grilled by the Lords constitution committee on progress so far...(BBC News)
1 February 2012
New Conservative party for NI to be based in Bangor »
The Conservative party have announced the formation of a new political party in Northern Ireland...(BBC News)
31 January 2012
Campaigners set April date for 'EU referendum' »
Campaigners have said a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union will take place in April - in one parliamentary constituency...(BBC News)
31 January 2012
DUP in 'gerrymander' maps claim over boundary plans »
The DUP has said electoral maps drawn up by the Boundary Commission are being "gerrymandered"...(BBC News)
31 January 2012
After Interlaken and Izmir, venue for deciding future of human rights court will be ... Brighton »
The mood in Strasbourg is optimistic that worthwhile reforms to the European court of human rights can be achieved, following Cameron's speech...(Guardian)
31 January 2012
Super Thursday and elected mayors »
Patrick Wintour reports on the plans to hold mayoral and police commissioner elections on the same day – Thursday 15 November, now being called ‘Super Thursday’...(Local Government Information Unit)
30 January 2012
Political and Constitutional Reform - Thirteenth Report »
Political party finance...(Parliament UK)
30 January 2012
Let the British people decide whether they still want to be part of the EU »
The last referendum on Europe was in 1975. Another vote is overdue – and it is not only the Tory right who think so...(Guardian)
30 January 2012
Party funding: MPs urge government to stick to reform »
The government must stick to pledges to reform party financing - or risk any future scandal further undermining confidence, MPs have warned...(BBC News)
27 January 2012
Tory grumblers told to fall in line over Lords reform »
Conservative opponents to the Lords reform plans should end their resistance because the policy was in the party's general election manifesto, Mark Harper has said...(politics.co.uk)
27 January 2012
Salford votes 'Yes' for directly elected mayor in referendum »
Salford is to get a Boris Johnson-style elected mayor after voting 'Yes' in a referendum on Thursday...(Manchester Evening News)
26 January 2012
Salford elected mayor referendum voting under way »
Polls have opened in a referendum in Salford over whether to have a directly elected mayor...(BBC News)
26 January 2012
Salford referendum: Could mayor poll halt voter apathy? »
In 1994 countless people queued overnight to vote in Soweto as part of South Africa's first post-Apartheid election. 10,000 miles north in Salford on the same day, election staff were lucky to see a handful of people each hour in the local elections...(BBC News)
26 January 2012
Apathy in region at elected mayors for cities »
The government’s dream of having elected mayors running four Yorkshire cities is under threat amid apathy from politicians and voters...(Yorkshire Post)
26 January 2012
News release from the Electoral Commission »
Statement on Scottish independence referendum...
26 January 2012
Scottish independence: Referendum question set out »
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has set out the question he intends to ask voters in a referendum on Scottish independence...(BBC News)
25 January 2012
Polling station law 'must be changed before 2015' »
The law should be changed before the next general election to allow anyone queuing at the ballot box when polls close to vote, a report says...(BBC News)
25 January 2012
Northern Ireland peers oppose House of Lords plan »
A number of peers from Northern Ireland have criticised plans to reform the House of Lords...(BBC News)
25 January 2012
Alex Salmond to outline referendum plan »
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond is due to outline his vision for the forthcoming referendum on independence...(BBC News)
25 January 2012
To curb vote fraud, Russia puts webcams in polling stations »
In a bid to prevent vote fraud, the Russian government has begun installing web cameras at polling stations nationwide, the Moscow Times reports...(USA Today)
25 January 2012
Plaid victories 'could deliver independence referendum' »
A Plaid Cymru leadership candidate said winning the next two assembly elections would give the party a mandate for a referendum on Welsh independence...(BBC News)
25 January 2012
Voters in queue at close of polls should be allowed to vote »
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has today published a short report on the position of voters at the close of polls...
25 January 2012
Mayoral and police commissioner elections to be held on same day »
'Super Thursday' to be day of elections for more than 40 mayors and police commissioners across England...(Guardian)
25 January 2012
November date set for English city mayor elections »
Elections for mayors in up to 11 of England's biggest cities will happen on 15 November...(BBC News)
24 January 2012
Science of elections: The problem with turnout »
South Carolina saw a record turnout for its Republican primary on Saturday. Could weekend voting be the answer to the national turnout problem? (BBC News)
24 January 2012
'No place for voting fraud in our democracy' »
Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell has welcomed the Government's commitment to clamp down on election fraud at the next general election in 2015...(Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
23 January 2012
John Prescott may turn crime fighter as elected police commissioner »
Former deputy prime minister refuses to rule himself out as a possible candidate in the Humberside election...(Guardian)
23 January 2012
Call for evidence: Ensuring standards in the quality of legislation »
The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee is examining how to ensure standards in the quality of legislation and wants to hear your views...
23 January 2012
Learning lessons from the US elections: four legal differences you need to know »
With a new American Presidential cycle producing, as ever, near obsessional coverage, now is a good time to update a post from the last cycle about learning lessons from the US...(LibDemVoice)
23 January 2012
Should Police Commissioner candidates get election addresses? »
LibDemVoice referring to a point made in a speech given by the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission last week...