Author Archive: Democratic Audit UK
The concept of class is absent from political debate, even as inequality in Britain reaches new heights
In a recent statement, Labour’s Chuka Umunna seemed to suggest the BAME population form one homogeneous political group in the UK. Sean Swan argues this view is not only inaccurate but it perpetuates the perceived significance of ethnicity and diverts attention from more rational political cleavages. He writes that if Labour is to compete effectively […]
A dignity scale is needed for sustainable governance
Numerous forms of marginalisation or exclusion can exist in liberal democracies as well, and the mere existence of political rights does not guarantee a dignified life. Governments everywhere therefore need to give due attention to dignity as a central focus in policy-making, writes Nayef Al-Rodhan. In this long read he proposes a ‘human dignity framework’ […]
A two-way street: how to make immigration work
Opponents of immigration have two main concerns: that immigrants are bad for our economy because they force wages down, and bad for our culture for they are at odds with our liberal views. Here, Randall Hansen writes that anti-liberal attitudes need to be challenged whatever their source – minorities who oppose liberal values or Europeans […]
The US presidential primary system is no way to run a democracy
Following the drama of last week’s Iowa caucuses, Michael Patrick Cullinane argues the primary system has a deeply insidious effect on America’s democracy and writes that there are obvious changes, such as grouping states in large blocs and standardising ballot processes across states, which could significantly improve the selection process. Similar PostsThe 2016 election is seeing the return of the […]
Book Review: Unequal Britain at Work edited by Alan Felstead, Duncan Gallie and Francis Green
In Unequal Britain at Work, Alan Felstead, Duncan Gallie and Francis Green examine inequalities in job quality in Britain. The authors look beyond income to explore wider changes to working lives, drawing on data procured through six national Skills and Employment Surveys that asked individuals about their jobs between 1986 and 2012. Dan McArthur welcomes this book […]
Britain can block migrant benefits – no one in Europe actually cares
Despite the Prime Minister being in search of an emergency break, the debate over in-work benefits is symbolic, writes Clara Sandelind. Welfare is not the main reason people choose to come to the UK while EU migrants do not claim more such benefits than the British. Even those who will be affected by a possible […]
Corbyn’s election was an organisational phenomenon that raises profound questions about political party ownership
Changes to the way the Labour leader is elected were an essential factor in Jeremy Corbyn’s victory. Meg Russell explains how the switch to a ‘one member one vote’ system was a fundamental change for the party – and for British politics – with last summer’s events raising profound questions about party democracy. This text is adapted […]
Audit 2017: How effectively is gender equality achieved in the political and public life of the UK?
As part of the 2017 Audit of UK Democracy, Sonali Campion and the DA team examine the extent to which gender equality provisions in British public life accord with democratic requirements. Where previous historical inequalities and discrimination against women are being rectified, is the pace of recent change fast enough? Similar PostsThe junior doctors’ new […]
The revolving door between the public and private sector is a corruption time-bomb at the heart of British politics
The new year has brought yet more comment about the exploitation of loopholes in the ethical oversight of British politics, long flagged as a key corruption risk for the UK by Transparency International. It is, of course, arguable which cases are corrupt, which represent poor judgement, and which are ethical failures – but from the granting of […]
2015 was not an ‘internet election’ but both data and social tools did matter
Andy Williamson writes that while the 2015 General Election was not an internet election, it was an election where both data and social tools mattered. He looks back what can be learned from the digital campaigns in 2015 and predicts how these lessons are likely to shape the use of digital ahead of elections taking […]
Democratic Audit's core funding is provided by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Additional funding is provided by the London School of Economics.