Tag: Richard Berry
Book Review | Europe Reset: New Directions for the EU by Richard Youngs
In Europe Reset: New Directions for the EU, Richard Youngs looks at the issue of democracy in Europe, identifying a crisis rooted in alienation from the prevailing model of integration and proposing new initiatives for democratic participation by citizens. While the book largely focuses on democracy on the supra-national level, which may overlook the need for improvement both […]
Book review | Locating Localism: Statecraft, Citizenship and Democracy, by Jane Wills
In Locating Localism: Statecraft, Citizenship and Democracy, Jane Wills explores the development of localism in the UK and the structures that both encourage and impede the transfer of decision-making to the neighbourhood level. While the book occasionally lacks engagement with the precise relationship between devolution and localism and the political struggles occurring within communities, Richard […]
Elections to the NHS show that online voting is still in its infancy
The 1997-2010 Labour government introduced elections to certain authorities which oversee the National Health Service. Some of these elections now take place online, with ballots cast digitally. The Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy recommended last year that digital voting be expanded to UK general elections in order to help foster a climate of improved engagement. […]
The BBC could strengthen democratic participation by providing integrated and targeted information on elections
The license fee should and does pay for a ‘digital public space’, rather than just broadcast content. Richard Berry argues this is exactly the right approach for a public service broadcaster in the internet age, and outlines how the vision can be made a reality when it comes to the publication of election results. Similar […]
Book Review: Making British Law: Committees in Action by Louise Thompson
In Making British Law: Committees in Action, Louise Thompson presents a history and statistical analysis of the work of bill committees – formerly known as standing committees – and their influence over the process of making British law. Thompson offers a well-evidenced argument that goes beyond the statistics to persuasively account for the role and importance […]
Enfranchising 16 and 17 year olds won’t create a new politics, but a more inclusive version of politics as usual
We need an intelligent debate on whether 16- and 17-year-olds should vote in the EU referendum, says Richard Berry – not least because the notion that different age groups have very different policy priorities is misguided, at best. Similar PostsThe purdah controversy – setting the rules of the referendum gameSwitching off E4 on election day is a bold […]
“A significant loss to UK democracy”: Experts respond to the abolition of the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
The incoming majority Conservative government has opted to abolish the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, which unlike the other commons committees does not exist on a statutory basis. Democratic Audit UK asked experts and practitioners to respond to the news, who are united in considering it a foolhardy decision which will do little to […]
Switching off E4 on election day is a bold move, but one that may well backfire
The 2015 General Election is upon is, and despite an uptick amongst registration amongst young people, turnout looks set to again be lop-sided in favour of older voters. In a valiant attempt to contribute in their own small way, the TV channel E4 have pledged to switch off the channel in order to encourage their […]
Why we need an NHS election day
Voters will go to the polls on May 7th for the general election and hundreds of local council elections. There is no equivalent of this election day for NHS Foundation Trust elections, which traditionally see lower levels of public participation. In this post Richard Berry proposes that NHS elections be held simultaneously in order to raise awareness […]
Debate part 2: should adding ‘None of the Above’ to ballot papers be a priority for UK political reformers?
Democratic Audit UK recently hosted part one of a debate between Emma Rome and Richard Berry on the pressing need – or otherwise – to add a ‘None of the Above’ option to UK ballot papers. Proponents argue that true democracy cannot exist without this option, whereas sceptics argue that the measure would have a marginal […]
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