Public News Archive
10 February 2010
Straw backs bid to save election night counts »
Election counts will have to begin within four hours of polls closing under proposals backed by Jack Straw...
10 February 2010
Vote to retain election night drama »
The drama of election night was rescued last night as the Government backed moves to ensure that counting in all constituencies starts soon after polls close (Times online)...
10 February 2010
Plan to ensure election night counts 'may be unworkable' »
Electoral Commission criticises plan requiring vote-counting to start within four hours of polls closing on election night (Guardian online)...
10 February 2010
Chief execs question overnight poll count move »
Chief executives have expressed "serious doubts" about a government commitment to ensure votes at the next general election are counted overnight...
10 February 2010
Electoral reform: putting it beyond doubt »
Neither its advocates nor its opponents can pretend that AV is a revolutionary change (The Guardian online)...
9 February 2010
Backbench rebellion over voting reform »
Gordon Brown is facing a backbench rebellion over plans for a referendum on changing Britain's "first past the post" voting system...
9 February 2010
MPs back referendum on voting system »
MPs have backed government plans to hold a UK-wide referendum on changing the voting system next year...
8 February 2010
It's late – but praise Brown for trying to make votes count »
Even if it changes little this time, embracing electoral reform shows Labour can still shed its old skin and start again...
8 February 2010
Prisoner vote ban 'means election could break law' »
The general election will break the law unless the ban on prisoners voting is lifted, a pressure group has warned...
5 February 2010
A vote to give politics back »
Gordon Brown: "I will do everything I can to secure a referendum to let the people decide on electoral reform..."
5 February 2010
Britain needs real electoral reform »
With moves towards voting reform this week, Gordon Brown has heralded a "new progressive politics"...
5 February 2010
Who will fight for electoral reform? »
Gordon Brown has pledged a referendum on the alternative vote system – but who is passionate enough to campaign for it...?
4 February 2010
Should we elect MPs on reality TV rules? »
A radical new voting system proposed by Gordon Brown which would allow the public to rank prospective MPs in order of preference has been compared to that used by TV's X Factor...
4 February 2010
Gordon Brown outlines plans to reform UK voting system »
Britain's "first past the post" voting system could be scrapped if Labour wins the general election...
27 January 2010
Disputed election was legal »
It has been declared that a Stoke on Trent City Council ward election in 2008 was held lawfully...
27 January 2010
New Assistant Chief Executive of the AEA »
Read the joint statement issued by the Chief Executive and the Deputy Chairman of the Association who chaired the interview panel...
26 January 2010
Mystery of the missing ballot paper »
An inquiry has opened into whether a Stoke-on-Trent City Council election was held according to the law...
26 January 2010
In the fight for Labour's soul, this is the day of reckoning »
Will the Cabinet push through the amendment to set a referendum day for introducing the alternative vote?
25 January 2010
NI number, date of birth and signature to be required to vote »
News of plans to introduce individual electoral registration hits the press...
22 January 2010
MP dubs returning officers 'tinpot upstarts' »
Chief executives who refuse to hold counts immediately after the polls close on general election night have been branded "tinpot, upstart little town clerks"...
21 January 2010
Electoral Commission News Release »
Help homeless people register for the General Election...
21 January 2010
The English Question: The View from Westminster »
What do our MPs think of "The English Question" 10 years after Devolution?
20 January 2010
BNP to put own seals on ballot boxes »
The British National Party is so concerned about fraud at the general election that it intends to place its own seals on ballot boxes...
20 January 2010
Call to encourage voters with learning difficulties »
A campaign is being launched to help people with learning disabilities to vote in the next General Election...
20 January 2010
Election fraud crackdown by police »
Police in Scotland targeting electoral fraud in run up to general election...
20 January 2010
Councils pressured to count votes on General Election night »
Pressure is growing for councils to count votes on General Election night after the Speaker of the Commons called for "instant" democracy...
20 January 2010
Scottish MPs' plea to save poll night count »
Scottish politicians intensify their call for the traditional election night count to be saved amid a growing desire by councils in Scotland to count the votes the following day...
19 January 2010
MP Nick Brown raises election fraud fears »
Electoral fraud fears have been raised by North East Minister Nick Brown because many councils are not holding counts until the day after polls close...
15 January 2010
Speaker’s Conference Report published »
Final Report on Parliamentary Representation...
14 January 2010
Allegations of electoral malpractice at the June 2009 elections »
Joint report of the Electoral Commission and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)...
14 January 2010
Fears for election as law fails to curb ballot fraud »
Read this story in The Times online...
13 January 2010
Date set for assembly referendum vote »
Welsh Assembly members will vote next month on whether there should be a referendum on further powers...
13 January 2010
Referendums could restore trust in Parliament »
Press release issued on the 12th January by "Unlock Democracy"...
13 January 2010
Home Secretary speaks out in favour of proportional representation »
Alan Johnson put his cards on the table last night as he signalled he would have no problem forming a coalition with other parties in the event of a hung parliament...
11 January 2010
Speaker fights ban on late night counts »
Speaker John Bercow is mounting a campaign to preserve the drama of General Election night...
4 January 2010
General election count delays »
Figures from the Electoral Commission reveal that the results of one in three of the 650 constituencies may not be declared until the day after the election...
21 December 2009
New Electoral Commission Report »
December 2009: Interim report on case study research into the electoral registers in Great Britain...
21 December 2009
Cabinet revolt on voting reform »
Gordon Brown may be forced to abandon his flagship plan to reform the voting system after a revolt by some senior ministers...
18 December 2009
More from the South Yorkshire case »
Update on the court action in Sheffield on alleged vote-rigging in a Police Federation election...
16 December 2009
Allegations of vote-rigging in a Police Federation election »
A serving officer is suing South Yorkshire's Chief Constable: first story here, second one here...
14 December 2009
PM tells Labour to get set for snap election »
The Labour party is gearing up for an early general election as a new poll reveals a narrowing of the Conservative lead...
14 December 2009
David Cameron and Labour 'ready for a snap election' »
Conservative leader David Cameron has said he believes 25th March is a "likely date" for the coming general election...