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.
17 May 2012
The Supplementary Vote electoral system again worked very well in London »
There is no basis for arguing that voters don’t understand their choices...(British Politics and Policy at LSE)
16 May 2012
Scottish independence: Cameron 'not fussed' over referendum date »
Prime Minister David Cameron has appeared to concede the date of a referendum on Scottish independence...(BBC News))
16 May 2012
'No change' after uncounted votes for Glasgow Langside ward examined »
There is no change to the result of a Glasgow City Council ward after votes were recalculated to include a ballot box that was not counted...(BBC News)
16 May 2012
Ed Miliband's new policy chief backs a vote on Europe »
Ed Miliband's new policy chief is backing demands for an “immediate” referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union...(The Telegraph)
16 May 2012
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order »
The Draft Order had been laid before Parliament click above to read...
16 May 2012
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Functions of Returning Officers) »
The Draft Regulations have been laid before Parliament click above to read...
15 May 2012
Britain may need referendum on EU, warns Balls as Europe crisis rages on »
Senior Labour ranks are considering an in/out referendum on the European Union, it emerged yesterday...(Daily Mail)
14 May 2012
Committee seeks views on paper on “The Existing Constitution” »
The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee today published a paper from the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies, Kings College London, on The Existing Constituiton, as part of its inquiry into mapping the path codifying—or not codifying—the UK constitution...(www.parliament.uk)
14 May 2012
EC Statement on Scottish Government's referendum announcement »
EC statement in response to the Scottish Government press release following its consultation on the proposed referendum...
11 May 2012
We have ways of making you vote (or how the Lib Dems' 'register or face a fine' plan reveals huge splits in the Coalition) »
Under plans being pushed by Nick Clegg’s department, anyone who fails to register to vote will be fined...(Daily Mail)
11 May 2012
Response to consultation »
AEA's formal response to the Scottish Government’s Consultation: "Your Scotland, Your Referendum"...
11 May 2012
Expat threatens to take campaign for votes abroad to UN »
A 90-year-old's campaign to overturn a ban on long-term British expats voting in UK elections has moved a step closer - and could go all the way to the the United Nations...(BBC News)
11 May 2012
Deadline approaches for SNP referendum consultation »
The Scottish government's consultation into a referendum on independence has attracted more than 19,000 responses, according to ministers...
11 May 2012
Welsh government rejects presiding officer Butler's call for more AMs »
The Welsh government says there is "no appetite" for more politicians after the assembly's presiding officer suggested increasing the number of AMs...(BBC News)
11 May 2012
More election fraud claims – and the TV show which set up a fake polling station »
In the London Borough of Camden, Hat Trick productions ran into hot water after setting up a spoof but official looking polling station immediately outside a real polling station...(LibDemVoice)
11 May 2012
Mystery of fake leaflets in North Richmond »
The leaflets appear to be normal Lib Dem election literature but the main story is completely false...(LibDemVoice)
10 May 2012
Queen's Speech: Biggest change to voter registration »
People wishing to vote in UK elections will have to to take individual responsibility for ensuring they are on the electoral register, it was announced in the Queen's Speech...(BBC News)
10 May 2012
Queen's Speech: Battle begins over House of Lords reform »
Supporters and critics of House of Lords reform have been putting their cases after the government committed itself to action in the Queen's Speech...(BBC News)
10 May 2012
Voters in Dunoon go to polls one week late »
The electorate in one Argyll and Bute Council ward are going to the polls, a week after the rest of Scotland...(BBC News)
10 May 2012
News Release from the Electoral Commission »
Statement on inclusion of Individual Electoral Registration in the Queen's Speech...
10 May 2012
England let down by elections as Scotland leads the way »
There is a widening gulf between local democracy in England and Scotland...(Electoral Reform Society)
10 May 2012
Politicians have to self interest aside on Lords reform »
Lords Reform will take more than words; it will require action...(Electoral Reform Society)
10 May 2012
Labour plans to side with Tory rebels to disrupt coalition's Lords reform bill »
Opposition will reject timetable for MPs to debate the legislation, forcing David Cameron into tough choices...(Guardian)
10 May 2012
Queen's Park parish referendum voting begins »
Residents in Queen's Park have begun voting on whether they want to set up the first parish council in London for more than 50 years...(BBC News)
10 May 2012
Electoral Registration and Administration Bill 2012-13 »
This Bill has been published on the Parliament website...
10 May 2012
Cabinet Office News Release »
Government introduces legislation for individual electoral registration...
10 May 2012
Cabinet Office update »
Introduction of the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill...
9 May 2012
Derry firm's electronic vote counting system in Scots test »
A locally-developed innovation being used in the Scottish council elections could be coming home to speed up Northern Ireland's marathon vote counts...(Belfast Telegraph)
9 May 2012
Queen's Speech 2012 at-a-glance: Bill-by-bill »
The Queen's Speech has set out the government's legislative plans for the next year...(BBC News)
8 May 2012
Ousted Dewsbury South councillor makes electoral fraud complaint »
Outgoing Tory councillor Khizar Iqbal has blamed his sensational loss on electoral fraud...(Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
8 May 2012
Tower Hamlets: police move in as Lutfur Rahman denies everything »
Lutfur Rahman, the extremist-backed mayor of Tower Hamlets, and his council are in their usual state of frantic denial about allegations of electoral fraud in their area...(Telegraph)
8 May 2012
Bail after election day arrests »
The four people arrested on suspicion of electoral malpractice offences in the run up to Thursday’s Peterborough City Council elections have been bailed...(Peterborough today)
8 May 2012
BNP candidate for Liverpool mayor arrested on suspicion of electoral fraud »
Mike Whitby questioned by police over allegations he faked signatures and misled residents into signing nomination papers...(Guardian)
8 May 2012
Scottish independence: Final week of referendum consultation »
The independence referendum consultation being undertaken by the Scottish government is entering its final week...(BBC News)
8 May 2012
Letter from the Electoral Commission re electoral fraud »
Letter from the Chair, Jenny Watson, to the Minister for Housing & Local Government...
8 May 2012
Briefing from the Electoral Commission on electoral fraud »
Issued following a number of allegations about electoral fraud and malpractice in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets...
8 May 2012
Asking a different question on the anniversary of AV »
A year ago the Yes campaign was soundly defeated in the AV referendum...(Electoral Reform Society)
8 May 2012
How do you get people to vote? Force them to when they're young »
Give them a 'none of the above' option, but get them used to turning out – a generation is failing to pick up the voting habit...(Guardian)
8 May 2012
Nick Clegg risks Tory anger by pressing on with Lords reform »
Lib Dem leader says party's radicalism needed 'as much as ever' on issues such as constitution...(Guardian)
8 May 2012
Coalition split as Tories go cold on Lords reform »
George Osborne says ministers want to focus instead on 'things that really matter'...(Independent)
8 May 2012
Police investigate Labour in Leeds over fake poll card allegations »
The Leeds Labour Party is being investigated by the police for over claims it has broken the law against issuing imitation poll cards...(LibDemVoice)
8 May 2012
Scottish independence: Committee MPs criticises referendum question »
The Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster has criticised the Scottish government's proposed question in the independence referendum...(BBC News)
8 May 2012
Women's Legislative Recruitment: no simple explanation, no single panacea »
It is a widely held view that the first-past-the-post electoral system disadvantages women...(Electoral Reform Society)
8 May 2012
David Davis MP: Government has got approach to Lords reform all wrong »
There are parts of the British establishment that work well and parts that do not...(Daily Telegraph)
4 May 2012
Local elections: Labour make gains in England and Wales »
Labour have won a string of victories in English and Welsh local elections - with shadow ministers claiming Ed Miliband is now on course for No 10...(BBC News)
4 May 2012
Four out of 10 cities reject elected mayors »
David Cameron's plans to replace local council cabinets with directly elected mayors have been rejected by voters in four out of 10 cities holding referendums on the issue...(BBC News)
4 May 2012
Joe Anderson elected Liverpool's Mayor on first ballot »
Labour's Joe Anderson has become Liverpool's first directly-elected mayor with 58,458 votes...(BBC News)
4 May 2012
Liberal Democrats facing heavy local election defeat »
The Liberal Democrats have suffered a bruising night of local election defeats, losing Cambridge council and dropping below 3,000 councillors for the first time in their history...(BBC News)
4 May 2012
Hague rejects swing to right amid heavy Tory election losses »
The Conservatives will not swing to the right or left, after losing nearly 300 seats in the local elections, Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC...
4 May 2012
Power cut delays London mayor count »
A power cut delayed the start of counting of votes in London by an hour, with a result in the race to govern the city not expected until late on Friday...(BBC News)
4 May 2012
Welsh Labour's best council results since 1996 »
Welsh Labour is making big gains in the local elections, taking overall control in nine of the first 14 councils...(BBC News)
4 May 2012
Elections - do they matter? »
Fewer than one in three voted. And there are three years until the next general election. So, some will claim, the results are without national consequence. They'd be wrong. They will have an immediate impact...(Nick Robinson, BBC)
3 May 2012
Elected mayors should be held to account by citizens' alliances »
By all means vote for elected mayors, but that is only the start – get organised and support the democratic process...(The Guardian)
3 May 2012
Local Elections 2012: Expected declaration times »
Information has been gathered through an LGiU survey, with additional data from the Press Association...
3 May 2012
Our democratic process needs better safeguards »
The Electoral Commission is a watchdog that has a remarkable propensity not to bark...(The Independent)
3 May 2012
Local elections: 'They knock on the door and ask us to give them our ballot papers' »
All three major parties with a presence in Tower Hamlets – Labour, Conservative and Respect – have alleged various irregularities ranging from over-registration of voters to intimidation at polling booths...(The Independent)
3 May 2012
Illegal immigrants in voting scam »
Fears of widespread vote rigging in today's elections were raised after an MP discovered one in five migrants with no right to be here was on the electoral register...(Daily Express)
3 May 2012
Voters set for council elections »
Voters across Britain are beginning to vote in this year's local government elections...(Daily Express)
3 May 2012
Electoral Commission boss faces fight for job after claims of fraud »
Flaws in the postal voting system allow fraud on 'an industrial scale', say members of the judiciary...(The Independent)
3 May 2012
What will the Queen have to say on 9th May? »
The Queen will open a new session of Parliament next week and, according to press reports, the contents of the Queen's Speech were agreed at a meeting of the Cabinet on 31st January...(Local Government Information Unit)
2 May 2012
Local elections: 11 reasons why they matter »
Pondering whether or not to head down to the polling station in England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday to vote for your local councillor or mayor? (BBC News)
2 May 2012
A guide to the May 3 polls »
A guide to the elections and local referendums taking place on 3 May: how to vote, the rules for candidates and how everything is organised...(BBC News)
2 May 2012
Scotland: tomorrow is all about voting by numbers! »
Read the Electoral Commission booklet on how to mark your ballot paper in the Scotland local council elections...
30 April 2012
Police clear candidate over address »
Police say no crime has been committed by a Labour local election candidate who was accused of submitting the wrong address when nominated to stand...(BBC News)
30 April 2012
Fear of election fraud ahead of vote for mayor »
Politicians last night warned of a "serious collapse of confidence" in London's electoral system after City A.M. discovered a flat that has just two adult residents – but seven active voters...(City A.M.)
30 April 2012
When did Britain become the kind of country that tolerates voting fraud? »
Labour's massive expansion of postal voting opened the door to electoral fraud...(Daily Telegraph)
28 April 2012
Police called in over electoral fraud allegations in Tower Hamlets »
Scotland Yard was today asked by the elections watchdog to investigate "unprecedented" evidence of voter fraud ahead of next week’s polling for London Mayor...(LibDemVoice)
28 April 2012
Electoral Commission News Release »
Statement on allegations of electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets...
28 April 2012
A no vote for referendums »
They may sound democratic, but that's a myth. Michael Meadowcroft (The Guardian) says that ploys such as next week's vote on mayors should have no place in UK politics...
28 April 2012
Lords debates reform report »
Members of the Lords will discuss the report from the Joint Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill on Monday 30 April in a debate spanning two days...
28 April 2012
Tory chief warns of voter fraud links to Ken Livingstone backers »
Ken Livingstone today faced claims that supporters of his mayoral campaign are involved in London’s voter fraud scandal...(London Evening Standard)
28 April 2012
Postal vote fraud still rife, says judge who compared Birmingham to 'banana republic' »
The judge who once compared Birmingham to a "banana republic" has warned that voting fraud is still rife - and accused politicians of failing to tackle the problem...(Birmingham Post)
28 April 2012
Police probe claims of postal vote fraud in Dewsbury ahead of Kirklees elections »
Police are investigating an allegation of electoral fraud in Dewsbury...(Dewsbury Reporter)
26 April 2012
Election fever »
The balance of power in local government is likely to take a further turn in Labour's direction after next week's local elections, write Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher...
26 April 2012
Local election fever grips the UK … er, really? »
A Dutch anthropologist and former war reporter discovers what – if anything – Britons think of the local elections...(The Guardian)
26 April 2012
Local elections 2012: 10 steps to becoming a politician »
Ever wanted to make your voice heard by entering the political fray? Susanna Rustin, who is standing for the London Assembly, offers her guide...(The Guardian)
26 April 2012
Elected mayors not wanted by two thirds of voters »
61% across regional, class and party lines say they would prefer to stay with council system...(Guardian/ICM poll)
26 April 2012
Ken Livingstone's supporters accused of 'harvesting' postal ballot papers »
An investigation has been launched into alleged postal ballot fraud after claims that some of Ken Livingstone's supporters have been "harvesting" postal ballot papers...(Telegraph)
24 April 2012
Local elections 2012: expected declaration times and live reporting »
Information from the Local Government Information Unit...
24 April 2012
Scottish independence: Expert Ron Gould rejects two-question referendum »
An elections expert who reviewed the 2007 Holyrood voting shambles believes a two question referendum on Scotland's future would "muddy the waters"...(BBC News)
24 April 2012
Lords reform committee divided over key issues »
Main report broadly welcomes coalition proposals but alternative report outlines concerns over impact on Commons...(The Guardian)
24 April 2012
Government revives plan for greater data-sharing between agencies »
Proposals expected to include fast-track procedures to license sharing of personal data in areas where it is currently prohibited...(The Guardian)
23 April 2012
Clear majority want Lords Reform »
Unlock Democracy have published new research confirming that a majority of the public support government plans to introduce elections to the House of Lords...
23 April 2012
Deputy PM says decision on Lords reform should not be 'subcontracted' to the British people »
Nick Clegg has appeared to rule out a referendum on Lords reform insisting that the decision should not be "subcontracted" to the British people.
23 April 2012
Reform the House of Lords now and it can survive »
The second chamber is costly and unrepresentative. Only radical change will head off the abolitionists...(The Guardian)
23 April 2012
PM backs Lords reform but doubts referendum case »
David Cameron has told the BBC reform of the House of Lords is "sensible" - but all parties will need to work together if it is to happen...(BBC News)
23 April 2012
David Cameron to push 'Yes' vote for elected city mayors »
The Prime Minister is to urge cities across England to take a "once in a generation chance" to seize change by backing directly-elected mayors...(BBC News)
23 April 2012
Our broken electoral timetable – or why Andrew Neil is too late »
Andrew Neil is hosting a Mayor election debate on the BBC but is it too late? (LibDemVoice)
23 April 2012
Labour candidate referred to police in Cardiff address row »
A complaint about the home address of a Labour local election candidate in Cardiff has been referred to the police...(BBC News)
23 April 2012
Joint Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill »
The Committee has published its Report...
20 April 2012
Nick Clegg sceptical on Lords reform referendum »
A referendum on whether to elect members of the House of Lords would be unnecessary and expensive, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said...(BBC News)
20 April 2012
Unopposed election candidates fill 93 council seats »
More than 90 candidates are already home and dry in the local council elections in Wales, according to an analysis of candidate numbers...(BBC News)
20 April 2012
Referendums on Neighbourhood Planning in England »
Report of views of the Electoral Commission on the proposed referendum questions...
20 April 2012
Resources for the media »
The Electoral Commission have produced several handbooks for the media on current and previous polls...
20 April 2012
Cameron 'committed' to Lords reform amid Tory unease »
Prime Minister David Cameron is "committed" to House of Lords reform, Downing Street says, despite the prospect of a rebellion by his own MPs...(BBC News)
20 April 2012
'Laziness' not grounds for MP recall, says Nick Clegg »
MPs should not be stripped of their seats for political reasons or "laziness" under plans for "recall" elections, Nick Clegg has said...(BBC News)
20 April 2012
A little reminder to MPs on Lords Reform »
We hear news that rebels are preparing to topple the coming Lords Reform Bill...(Electoral Reform Society)
20 April 2012
Liverpool's mayoral election 'censorship' row »
This week, every household in Liverpool will receive a booklet from the city council containing election addresses from the 12 candidates seeking to become the city’s first directly-elected mayor...(Unlock Democracy)
20 April 2012
Pendle Council issues advice to avoid postal vote fraud »
Pendle Council's elections team has advice on how to keep your postal vote safe...(pendletoday.co.uk)
20 April 2012
Tories urged to back House of Lords reform plans »
A senior Liberal Democrat peer today warned Conservatives that they must back coalition plans to reform the House of Lords - despite a threatened revolt by Tory backbenchers...(The Independent)
19 April 2012
MPs on the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee are taking evidence on political reform »
The Deputy PM, Nick Clegg, and the Minister, Mark Harper, are giving evidence this morning...
19 April 2012
David Cameron vows 'real devolution' for Scots »
David Cameron pledged the Tories would deliver "real devolution" for Scotland's communities - just as his party had delivered on increased devolution for Holyrood...(The Independent)
19 April 2012
Could three little words undo the plan for some city mayors? »
A leading expert in election law says that if voters in Birmingham, Newcastle and Wakefield vote to introduce elected mayors in next month's referendums the results could be open to serious legal challenges...(Channel 4 News)