Electoral Reform Society
@electoralreform.bsky.social
The Electoral Reform Society is an independent organisation leading the campaign for your democratic rights. Sign up for updates: http://ers.tools/subscribe
This letter from business leaders emphasises that political instability, worsened by our flawed electoral system, is causing significant impacts beyond just election day. buff.ly/Tav4V0B
Business leaders make the case for electoral reform
We saw a significant intervention in the debate around electoral reform last week. More than 20 business leaders, including the chairman of the Virgin Group, Peter Norris, called for Westminster to sc
electoral-reform.org.uk
February 15, 2026 at 4:26 PM
This letter from business leaders emphasises that political instability, worsened by our flawed electoral system, is causing significant impacts beyond just election day. buff.ly/Tav4V0B
Over 50 academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an "unprecedented" scale at the next general election. www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics
Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...
www.politicshome.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Over 50 academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an "unprecedented" scale at the next general election. www.politicshome.com/news/article...
When a peer makes headlines for the wrong reasons, there's virtually nothing the public can do about it. This is a democratic scandal. buff.ly/GNXnFru
How can someone be removed from the House of Lords?
When peers make headlines for the wrong reasons, the same question inevitably arises: how do you actually remove someone from the House of Lords? The recent cases of Lord Mandelson and B
buff.ly
February 14, 2026 at 8:31 AM
When a peer makes headlines for the wrong reasons, there's virtually nothing the public can do about it. This is a democratic scandal. buff.ly/GNXnFru
This should have been the system from the start – but political fragmentation now makes it essential.
Labour should introduce the alternative vote system for mayoral elections | Institute for Government
The alternative vote would be fairer and more appropriate than the system the government favours.
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 9:31 AM
This should have been the system from the start – but political fragmentation now makes it essential.
Companies will finally have to make sufficient revenue in the UK to cover their donation to UK politics
Labour to ban foreign party donors unless they make money in UK
Elections bill proposes tight cap on overseas donations as well as lowering voting age to 16 and other electoral changes
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Companies will finally have to make sufficient revenue in the UK to cover their donation to UK politics
The government are tightening the rules around dodgy front companies and 'unincorporated associations' donating to politics
Labour bill would stop ‘dodgy front companies’ making political donations
Bill would also give votes to 16-year-olds and pave the way for ‘opt-out’ voter registration
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The government are tightening the rules around dodgy front companies and 'unincorporated associations' donating to politics
New rules will mean companies will have had to make sufficient revenue to cover their political donation; be headquartered in the UK; and be majority owned or controlled by UK electors or UK citizens usually resident in the UK
Huge change to political donation rules to close loopholes on foreign cash
Labour frontbencher Steve Reed today unveils legislation to stop foreign donors interfering with UK politics - while also letting 16 and 17 year olds vote in elections for the first time
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 2:30 PM
New rules will mean companies will have had to make sufficient revenue to cover their political donation; be headquartered in the UK; and be majority owned or controlled by UK electors or UK citizens usually resident in the UK
Equalising the voting age across the nations of the UK and different elections is a significant step forward. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bill to lower voting age to 16 to be introduced in Parliament
The government wants 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote at the next general election.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Equalising the voting age across the nations of the UK and different elections is a significant step forward. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today, the government is bringing forward their landmark Representation of the People Bill. It's got plenty of good ideas, but there is a glaring omission. They're calling it the Representation of the People Bill, but it will keep the voting system that fails to represent the people. buff.ly/UfLUKhW
The Representation of the People Bill MUST scrap First Past the Post
First Past the Post can no longer deliver real mandates - only chaos. 60% of Brits want it scrapped. Yet the new Representation of the People Bill won’t even touch our rotten voting system, which…
actionnetwork.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Today, the government is bringing forward their landmark Representation of the People Bill. It's got plenty of good ideas, but there is a glaring omission. They're calling it the Representation of the People Bill, but it will keep the voting system that fails to represent the people. buff.ly/UfLUKhW
While D’Hondt’s method is far fairer than First Past the Post, in practice, it often over-rewards parties that have already done well. buff.ly/nrDtnO0
February 12, 2026 at 11:31 AM
While D’Hondt’s method is far fairer than First Past the Post, in practice, it often over-rewards parties that have already done well. buff.ly/nrDtnO0
This week, MPs and peers from across the political spectrum announced plans to form a new all-party parliamentary group on ‘wholesale’ Lords reform.
MPs form new cross-party group aimed at wholesale Lords reform
This week, MPs and peers from across the political spectrum announced plans to form a new all-party parliamentary group on ‘wholesale’ Lords reform. The trigger was the very real sig
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 8:31 AM
This week, MPs and peers from across the political spectrum announced plans to form a new all-party parliamentary group on ‘wholesale’ Lords reform.
Capping donations would be an easy way to start cleaning up politics. MPs must put donation caps in the upcoming Elections bill.
Public faith in politics is now in the gutter. Here’s how Labour should drag it out | Polly Toynbee
With Britain sliding down the index of transparency and voters angry, the looming election bill fails to confront the real issues, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
buff.ly
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Capping donations would be an easy way to start cleaning up politics. MPs must put donation caps in the upcoming Elections bill.
Peerages are nearly impossible to remove. Membership is only slightly easier. Neither is in your hands. Here's why an elected second chamber is the only real solution.
How can someone be removed from the House of Lords?
When peers make headlines for the wrong reasons, the same question inevitably arises: how do you actually remove someone from the House of Lords? The recent cases of Lord Mandelson and B
buff.ly
February 10, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Peerages are nearly impossible to remove. Membership is only slightly easier. Neither is in your hands. Here's why an elected second chamber is the only real solution.
Reposted by Electoral Reform Society
Starmer has to survive 38 days to have had a longer tenure than Rishi Sunak.
If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.
If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.
February 9, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Starmer has to survive 38 days to have had a longer tenure than Rishi Sunak.
If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.
If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.
Recent controversies have led to calls to “modernise disciplinary procedures” and “strengthen circumstances in which disgraced members can be removed.” But these proposals still leave decisions in the hands of other unelected peers, not the public. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pete...
The Peter Mandelson case shows peers need stronger sanctions | Institute for Government
Removing a peerage should be a realistic prospect.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Recent controversies have led to calls to “modernise disciplinary procedures” and “strengthen circumstances in which disgraced members can be removed.” But these proposals still leave decisions in the hands of other unelected peers, not the public. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pete...
Polling published recently reveals that the British public are worried about the influence of money in politics, with a majority wanting to see the introduction of caps on donations to political parties.
British public strongly back caps on donations to political parties
Polling published in the last few weeks reveals that the British public are worried about the influence of money in politics, with a majority wanting to see the introduction of caps
buff.ly
February 9, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Polling published recently reveals that the British public are worried about the influence of money in politics, with a majority wanting to see the introduction of caps on donations to political parties.
Parliament has a rare chance to fundamentally fix our democracy. The Elections Bill is being written right now – and fair votes needs to be in it. buff.ly/liRmLTs
An Elections Bill is coming – but will it include fair votes?
The government is bringing in new laws to improve our elections – and this is our chance to make things better.After years of broken promises and an electoral system that has consiste
buff.ly
February 9, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Parliament has a rare chance to fundamentally fix our democracy. The Elections Bill is being written right now – and fair votes needs to be in it. buff.ly/liRmLTs
The 2024 election was the most disproportional in British history. 16.6 million people ended up with an MP they didn't vote for. The Elections Bill could change this – but only if we demand fair votes now. buff.ly/liRmLTs
February 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM
The 2024 election was the most disproportional in British history. 16.6 million people ended up with an MP they didn't vote for. The Elections Bill could change this – but only if we demand fair votes now. buff.ly/liRmLTs
As the government’s upcoming Elections Bill is set to expand the franchise for all elections to 16, here is why voting isn’t like drinking and smoking.
Why voting isn’t like drinking or smoking
I’m pretty glad that 12-year-olds aren’t allowed to drive buses. We have age restrictions on many things for pretty good reasons in the UK, and preventing children from careering dow
buff.ly
February 7, 2026 at 8:31 AM
As the government’s upcoming Elections Bill is set to expand the franchise for all elections to 16, here is why voting isn’t like drinking and smoking.
Every lawmaker should answer to the people. It's time for an elected House of Lords. buff.ly/GNXnFru
How can someone be removed from the House of Lords?
When peers make headlines for the wrong reasons, the same question inevitably arises: how do you actually remove someone from the House of Lords? The recent cases of Lord Mandelson and B
buff.ly
February 6, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Every lawmaker should answer to the people. It's time for an elected House of Lords. buff.ly/GNXnFru
The Elections Bill is packed with progress – but it's missing the one change that matters most: fair votes. buff.ly/liRmLTs
An Elections Bill is coming – but will it include fair votes?
The government is bringing in new laws to improve our elections – and this is our chance to make things better.After years of broken promises and an electoral system that has consiste
electoral-reform.org.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:59 PM
The Elections Bill is packed with progress – but it's missing the one change that matters most: fair votes. buff.ly/liRmLTs
Reposted by Electoral Reform Society
Delighted that we at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are once again supporting this annual online event aimed at reaching people currently under-represented in the think tank sector… please share with your networks… www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/worki...
Working in the think tank sector • Resolution Foundation
Webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. Think tanks are research organisations that develop ideas and suggestions for action on a whole range o...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Delighted that we at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are once again supporting this annual online event aimed at reaching people currently under-represented in the think tank sector… please share with your networks… www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/worki...
The government’s reasons for cancelling these elections are not good enough.
Local election delays: It’s unacceptable to treat voters like a bureaucratic inconvenience
Elections are a crucial part of the democratic process. Citizens have the right to expect a regular opportunity to express a view about who should exercise power in their name, at all le
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 11:31 AM
The government’s reasons for cancelling these elections are not good enough.
"The talk is Mandelson today, but the real question is why the system of patronage and an unelected second chamber is still allowed to exist. It’s way past time to abolish it and urgently replace it with something elected and modern."
Peter Mandelson is fleeing the House of Lords: now let’s throw out all the other rogues and idlers | Jenny Jones
The disgraced politician throws all that is wrong with our present system into sharp focus. We need a second chamber the public can trust, says Jenny Jones, a Green party peer
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 11:30 AM
"The talk is Mandelson today, but the real question is why the system of patronage and an unelected second chamber is still allowed to exist. It’s way past time to abolish it and urgently replace it with something elected and modern."