Public News Archive
30 July 2010
Public to be given power to veto council tax bills »
The public will be able to veto council tax increases in England above an agreed limit, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said...
30 July 2010
When IT Meets Politics »
The need to rebuild identity integrity and democratic accountability...(Computer Weekly)
30 July 2010
Electoral reform: there is an alternative »
The issue is whether the boundary changes really are a gerrymander, as Labour believes. The answer is no...(The Guardian)
30 July 2010
Labour supports electoral reform – but not this unfair bill »
The coalition's proposal for political reform is undemocratic, partisan, and amounts to barefaced gerrymandering...(The Guardian)
30 July 2010
New government localism proposals 'a half way house' »
Media release from Unlock Democracy...
30 July 2010
Review of the 2010 elections »
Report of Manchester City Council's Acting Returning Officer...
29 July 2010
Labour's accusations of gerrymandering are self-defeating »
Jack Straw has put party interest above public good. The voting reform bill deserves more serious scrutiny...(Guardian)
29 July 2010
Ex-Tory councillor branded 'arrogant cheat' by judge »
A former councillor found guilty of forging election forms has been branded arrogant by a judge – for the second time...(Halifax Courier)
29 July 2010
Labour 'opportunistic' in opposing AV vote, says PM »
David Cameron has accused Labour of "opportunism" after the party said it would oppose a bill paving the way for a referendum on electoral reform...
29 July 2010
Electoral Participation Fund »
Parliamentary Question and Answer - the Fund is no more, thanks to the June Emergency Budget...
29 July 2010
Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people »
Chapter Two of this Home Office consultation includes proposals for directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners...
28 July 2010
Item on ITN about the Electoral Commission's election report »
Includes an interview with our Chairman, Peter Stanyon...
27 July 2010
Electoral Commission report published »
The administration of the 2010 UK general election...
27 July 2010
44 MPs want vote referendum moved »
Forty four Tory MPs have signed a motion calling for the voting reform referendum to be moved because it clashes with devolved elections...(BBC News)
27 July 2010
Chaos at polling booths dents confidence in electoral process »
Three in 10 voters surveyed say they are unhappy with the system after the scenes that marred the general election in May...(Guardian)
27 July 2010
Election voting reform urged »
The government must reform the way voting in general elections is organised, the Electoral Commission says...(BBC News)
27 July 2010
Confidence in poll system 'vital' says commissioner »
Welsh voters facing different ballots in 2011 must be able to feel confident in the voting system, says Wales' electoral commissioner...(BBC News)
27 July 2010
NI voters 'happy' with election »
Confidence in the way the 2010 general election was run was higher in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK...
27 July 2010
Political and constitutional reform »
Draft Structural Reform Plan published by government...
27 July 2010
Elections watchdog calls for action to ensure voter confidence »
Electoral Commission Press Release on the issue of its report on the 2010 elections...
23 July 2010
Electoral Commission response to Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill »
The Commission welcomed the publication of the Bill as an important step in setting out the rules under which a referendum on voting reform will take place...
23 July 2010
Election court to sit in Oldham over Phil Woolas result »
An election court will sit in Oldham to judge whether former Labour minister Phil Woolas can continue as an MP...(BBC News)
23 July 2010
Conservatives could do better under AV, a poll suggests »
A poll commissioned by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft finds the party could win more seats under an alternative vote electoral system than first past the post...(The Guardian)
23 July 2010
Ministers deny AV referendum date impediment »
Ministers have rejected claims a referendum on the Westminster electoral system cannot be held on the same day as parliamentary elections in Scotland...(BBC News)
23 July 2010
In praise of … the Constitution Unit »
It has evolved over the past 15 years from an observer of the constitutional process to an engaged player...(Guardian)
22 July 2010
The AEA publishes its post election report »
Beyond 2010: the future of electoral administration in the UK...
22 July 2010
Government publishes referendum question and confirms plans to change boundaries »
Information published on the Cabinet Office website...
22 July 2010
AV referendum question published »
The government has published the question it plans to ask voters in a referendum on electoral reform...(BBC News)
22 July 2010
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-11 »
New legislation laid before Parliament...(ePolitix.com)
21 July 2010
Political and Constitutional Reform Committee »
Minutes of evidence taken before the Committee on Thursday 15th July on the coalition government's proposed program of political and constitutional reform...
21 July 2010
Nick Clegg: Florida, here we come »
Clegg's rush to reform constituency boundaries will disenfranchise many poor and minority voters... (Guardian)
21 July 2010
Voting abroad is every citizen's right »
From refugees to those on business overseas, all expats should have the chance to engage with their democracy at election time...(Guardian)
21 July 2010
Electoral Commission Campaign Results »
Public awareness campaign – 2010 UK general election and English local elections...
19 July 2010
Combining referendum with elections will save £17 million »
The decision to schedule the planned referendum on AV for the same day next Spring as other elections are due has two primary arguments in its favour: turnout and cost...
19 July 2010
Ministers challenged on cost of AV referendum »
The government has been challenged over the cost of reviewing constituency boundaries and holding a referendum on the use of the alternative vote (AV) system at Westminster...
19 July 2010
New Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland »
Graham Shields has been appointed as the new chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland, Secretary of State Owen Paterson has announced...
16 July 2010
New Private Members' Bills before Parliament »
Electoral Law (Amendment) Bill 2010 and Electoral Registration Bill 2010...
16 July 2010
Nick Clegg offers Labour deal on voting reform »
Measures to relax rules governing the registration of voters come after protests over equal-size constituencies...(Guardian)
16 July 2010
Fixed term Parliaments »
The Lords Select Committee has decided to hold an inquiry into fixed-term Parliaments following the Government's announcement that they intend the current Parliament to operate on a fixed-term basis...
16 July 2010
Voting and Parliamentary Reform proposals »
The newly-formed Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee are asking for views by Friday 3rd September 2010...
16 July 2010
Complaint over Tory MP Zac Goldsmith's election budget »
Read the BBC News story and the Channel 4 guide on how to check your MP's election expenses...
15 July 2010
AV would have given Liberal Democrats real choice of coalition partner »
An Essex university study says Nick Clegg's party would have gained 32 more seats under the Alternative Vote system...(Guardian)
15 July 2010
Clegg rejects criticism over voting reform referendum »
The deputy prime minister says he "struggles to understand" why holding a referendum on electoral reform on the same day as Scottish national elections will confuse voters...
14 July 2010
Prisoners could get to vote under coalition reform »
The coalition government is set to spark fury by granting criminals the right to vote from behind bars... (Daily Mirror)
14 July 2010
'Expensive’ Census may be scrapped »
The national Census could be scrapped after next year because it is 'too expensive', cabinet office minister Francis Maude has claimed...
12 July 2010
Success for 'Opening Up Democracy' »
United Response host this event in the House of Commons...
12 July 2010
Call for assembly powers poll on day of two other votes »
A referendum on more powers for the Welsh assembly should be held on the same day as two other polls, its presiding officer says...
12 July 2010
Salmond letter urges Cameron to rethink vote date »
David Cameron has been urged to rethink plans for holding a referendum on voting reform at the same time as the Scottish Parliamentary election...
7 July 2010
Political and constitutional reform »
Deputy Prime Minister's statement in the House of Commons on Monday 5 July 2010...
7 July 2010
Short-changing the voter »
A May 2010 article by Stuart Wilks-Heeg in Parliamentary Brief Online...
7 July 2010
On-the-run election fraudster arrested »
Former councillor never showed for trial (Halifax Courier)...
7 July 2010
New page on the website »
Conference 2011 - Brighton: details , dates and links to hotels...
6 July 2010
Call for election date change at Holyrood »
The Scottish Parliament could be asked to change its election timetable to stop clashes with Westminster...
6 July 2010
Nick Clegg's constituency plan for islands welcomed »
Deputy PM Nick Clegg's pledge to retain island seats in the UK parliament has been welcomed in Scotland...
6 July 2010
Left-Right plot to derail AV »
Tory rebels are holding talks with senior Labour figures in an attempt to scupper Nick Clegg’s plans for electoral reform...
5 July 2010
Cameron will campaign against vote system change »
David Cameron will campaign against changing the voting system, his spokesman said, in a referendum expected next May...
5 July 2010
Scottish government anger at vote reform 'disrespect' »
Holding a UK referendum on voting reform on the same day as the Holyrood election has been branded an "act of disrespect" by the Scottish government...
5 July 2010
Oldham East and Saddleworth election challenge »
The general election is not over in Oldham East and Saddleworth, and a court hearing is 'inevitable'...
5 July 2010
Secret ballots and second home voters »
Cornwall Council leader Alec Robertson has told members that one reason it was difficult for the Electoral Services department to fully investigate the issue of second home voters was because of secrecy rules...
5 July 2010
Lib Dems must dare to be different over prisoners' voting rights »
The Council of Europe ruling against the UK ban on prisoners voting offers the Lib Dems a chance to seize the initiative...
5 July 2010
Conservative activists call on Australian pollster to help block vote reform »
The Australian pollster Lynton Crosby is working with a group of experienced Tory activists to draw up a campaign to block any change to the voting system when the issue is put to a referendum...
5 July 2010
NI council elections may move to avoid referendum clash »
NI council elections could be held next March in order to avoid a clash with the Commons voting system referendum...
5 July 2010
Lovers of political paradox, I give you the upcoming referendum »
The battle over electoral reform will present all three main parties and their leaders with extraordinary dilemmas...
5 July 2010
The British public oppose a costly referendum »
Brits do not want a costly referendum on changing the voting system while the country is facing huge cutbacks...
5 July 2010
Wales 'strongly opposed' to election date clash »
The Assembly Government and Westminster yesterday became embroiled in a major row over the timing of a referendum on changing the general election voting system...
5 July 2010
Assembly anger at London's plans for third poll »
Relations between the Welsh Assembly Government and Westminster reached a new low yesterday over a row that could see Welsh voters heading to the polling booth three times in as many months...
5 July 2010
Nick Clegg facing anger over voting referendum date »
The Deputy PM has come under fire for planning a voting system referendum on the day of elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland...
2 July 2010
Referendum on Westminster voting reform next May »
A referendum on a new electoral system is to be held next year, the BBC has been told...
28 June 2010
Why can't I vote at my ATM? »
Read about (and listen to) this Hansard Society event at Westminster Hall on June 23rd...
28 June 2010
'Opening up Democracy' »
United Response is holding an event for new MPs as part of the ongoing 'Every Vote Counts' campaign called 'Opening up Democracy'...
21 June 2010
Polling stations fail the disabled »
Online voting should be introduced to assist disabled voters after access to polling stations failed to improve for this year's election, a charity has said...
18 June 2010
Electoral Administration Reform »
Westminster Hall debate (see news item on 17th June about Meg Munn MP's ePolitix.com report)...
17 June 2010
21st century election administration urged »
Meg Munn MP writes for ePolitix.com ahead of her Westminster Hall debate on reform of electoral administration...
17 June 2010
Councils urged to improve online voting information »
Local and national government websites could improve access to voting information, according to council IT managers...
14 June 2010
Lord Elis-Thomas hints at referendum date »
A referendum on more power for the Welsh assembly could be held in autumn 2011, its presiding officer has hinted...
13 June 2010
London Assembly investigates election day polling »
The London Assembly will investigate how the polling for general and council elections was conducted in May...
10 June 2010
Nick Clegg unveils political reform package »
Fixed-term parliament and an elected Lords planned as part of constitutional shake-up...
9 June 2010
Europe ups pressure to let prisoners vote in time for 2011 Holyrood election »
THE coalition government has come under intense pressure to grant prisoners the right to vote after the Council of Europe expressed its "profound regret" that a key human rights ruling had been ignored...
8 June 2010
Clegg says dissolution plans must avoid 'limbo' »
Nick Clegg has said new plans to require 55% of MPs to force a dissolution of Parliament must not be allowed to result in political "limbo"...
7 June 2010
'No time' for autumn referendum on more assembly powers »
Doubts have been cast as to whether a referendum on more powers for the Welsh assembly can be held this year...
7 June 2010
Coalition government promise voting reform vote 'within a year' »
David Cameron yesterday refused to rule out an early referendum on electoral reform as Nick Clegg insisted an announcement could come within days...