Author Archive: Democratic Audit UK
The promise to change the Canadian electoral system is a bold commitment, and one that will be tough to meet
The Canadian general election last week brought to power a new government with a comfortable parliamentary majority. As in the UK general election in May, the vote/seat ratios of all parties were distorted in varying measure by the plurality vote system. Unlike in the UK, however, the winning party has promised an ambitious program of […]
The recent change to the Ministerial Code is about more than simply economical drafting
Earlier this month, the Ministerial Code was amended so that it no longer makes reference to any obligation to comply with international law. Mark Elliott argues the new wording is an unhelpful oversimplification which raises fundamental questions about the relationship between different types of legal norms. Unless it were envisaged that the UK Parliament would legislate in a way that […]
Once again the Constitution seems vulnerable to piecemeal reform arising out of sectional party interest
On Monday the House of Lords voted against changes to tax credits. In doing so, Osborne and Cameron have argued they have broken a constitutional convention, raising “issues that need to be dealt with”. But Sean Swan questions these claims by highlighting that neither the Parliament Act nor the Salisbury Doctrine has been breached as […]
Citizens worldwide are embracing civic technology but the profile of users varies markedly between countries
Technologies aimed at giving citizens the power to hold their governments to account are becoming increasingly common in both developing and affluent countries a new report published by mySociety explores who uses civic technologies and why across four countries, and finds that there are significant differences between users in the US and UK compared to […]
The Conservatives will not ‘suspend’ the House of Lords, but neither will they reform it
The government’s plans to cut tax credits might just be threatened with a ‘fatal motion’ in the House of Lords today. Unnamed ministers have threatened peers in turn with suspension. Richard Reid explains how the Lords can get involved in statutory instruments. He argues that this is another case where peers must walk a fine line between being neither […]
Three key issues have been neglected in the EU Referendum Bill
As the EU Referendum Bill awaits committee stage in the House of Lords, Richard Rose highlights issues that are not currently addressed in the draft bill. Questions around the turnout threshold, renegotiation process and to what extent the vote is binding government could significantly shape the outcome and implications of the referendum. Similar PostsCan we really not predict […]
The representation of women in elected positions in Wales is not mirrored by the number of women giving evidence
Wales has made more progress on gender equality in its elected bodies than Westminster or the other devolved governments. However, Rebecca Rumbul’s research indicates that the number of non-elected women giving evidence to committees in the Welsh National Assembly is much lower, and in one third of the cases all the participants were male. She […]
The EU Referendum Bill raises important questions for the future conduct of referendums in the UK
The EU Referendum Bill completed its eventful passage through the House of Commons in September. As scrutiny begins in the House of Lords Alan Renwick and Robert Hazell assess the changes made so far, arguing that whilst new clauses preventing the referendum from being held on the same day as devolved and local elections are welcome, the […]
“Oops I did it again!” Cameron and the Britney Spears Model of Constitutional Reform
Constitutional change in the UK has progressed haphazardly in recent years, and with the benefit of hindsight many of the changes might be considered imprudent or ill-thought through. Matt Qvortrup argues that “Oops, I did it again”, the 2000 hit by pop princess Britney Spears could be a leitmotif in constitutional reforms undertaken by successive […]
Deliberative democracy is starting a quiet democratic revolution worldwide
Tomorrow marks the beginning of a series of citizens’ assemblies, organised by the Electoral Reform Society in partnership with academics from Sheffield, Southampton and London, which will be taking place in Southampton and Sheffield over the next month. In this article, Chris Terry discusses the trend of grassroots deliberation which has been gaining momentum since […]
Democratic Audit's core funding is provided by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Additional funding is provided by the London School of Economics.