Richard Wood
@richard-wood.bsky.social
🗳️ Electoral reform campaigner. Unlock Democracy councillor. LDER. Runner. Writer. 🏴🔶❎
📍London, Edinburgh, Kinross
💻 Upgrade Holyrood founder: https://upgradeholyrood.com/
📍London, Edinburgh, Kinross
💻 Upgrade Holyrood founder: https://upgradeholyrood.com/
Reposted by Richard Wood
First Past the Post has failed English local democracy once again 👇
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
First Past the Post has failed English local democracy once again
An opinion piece by Richard Wood, LDER member and campaigner.
www.lder.org
May 14, 2025 at 6:51 AM
First Past the Post has failed English local democracy once again 👇
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Wood
Good to see the law being laid down. Peers may not use their position to engage in paid lobbying.
But it's plain from this case that clearer & tighter rules over Peers’ interests are needed.
Uncertainty over what is and is not permitted is doing further damage to Parliament's reputation.
But it's plain from this case that clearer & tighter rules over Peers’ interests are needed.
Uncertainty over what is and is not permitted is doing further damage to Parliament's reputation.
Lord Iain McNicol, a former general secretary of the Labour party, has apologised for breaking the House of Lords code of conduct by writing to the Treasury to promote a cryptocurrency firm that was paying him.
Standards investigation followed Guardian reporting in The Lords Debate project.
Standards investigation followed Guardian reporting in The Lords Debate project.
Labour peer apologises for writing to Treasury to promote crypto firm he advised
Standards commissioner finds Iain McNicol broke Lords code of conduct by ‘providing a parliamentary service in return for payment’
www.theguardian.com
May 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Good to see the law being laid down. Peers may not use their position to engage in paid lobbying.
But it's plain from this case that clearer & tighter rules over Peers’ interests are needed.
Uncertainty over what is and is not permitted is doing further damage to Parliament's reputation.
But it's plain from this case that clearer & tighter rules over Peers’ interests are needed.
Uncertainty over what is and is not permitted is doing further damage to Parliament's reputation.
First Past the Post has failed English local democracy once again 👇
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
First Past the Post has failed English local democracy once again
An opinion piece by Richard Wood, LDER member and campaigner.
www.lder.org
May 14, 2025 at 6:51 AM
First Past the Post has failed English local democracy once again 👇
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
My article for Lib Dems for Electoral Reform on the 2025 English local elections 🔶🗳️
www.lder.org/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Wood
"What we are calling for is a modest, first step towards addressing what everyone can see is an indefensibly broken voting system. We believe the government needs to set up a National Commission for Electoral Reform"
✍️ @alexsobel.co.uk & @lizzicollinge.bsky.social
✍️ @alexsobel.co.uk & @lizzicollinge.bsky.social
Why Westminster’s biggest parliamentary group is calling for a commission on electoral reform
Last week’s elections were a wake-up call for more reasons than one.
www.politicshome.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:08 AM
"What we are calling for is a modest, first step towards addressing what everyone can see is an indefensibly broken voting system. We believe the government needs to set up a National Commission for Electoral Reform"
✍️ @alexsobel.co.uk & @lizzicollinge.bsky.social
✍️ @alexsobel.co.uk & @lizzicollinge.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Wood
Last week's local election hit a worrying milestone: for the first time ever, two combined authority mayors have been elected on less than 30% of the vote.
Why are our mayors winning on less than 30% of the vote?
This past week’s mayoral elections marked a worrying milestone for democracy in England.For the first time ever, two combined authority mayors have been elected on less than 30% of th
electoral-reform.org.uk
May 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Last week's local election hit a worrying milestone: for the first time ever, two combined authority mayors have been elected on less than 30% of the vote.
Not one mayor elected with more than half the vote:
Greater Lincolnshire: Jenkyns (Reform) 42.0%
Hull and East Yorkshire: Campbell (Reform ) 35.8%
Doncaster: Ros Jones (Labour) 32.6%
North Tynside: Clark (30.2%)
C&P: Bristow (Conservative) 28.4%
West of England: Godwin (Labour) 25.0%
Greater Lincolnshire: Jenkyns (Reform) 42.0%
Hull and East Yorkshire: Campbell (Reform ) 35.8%
Doncaster: Ros Jones (Labour) 32.6%
North Tynside: Clark (30.2%)
C&P: Bristow (Conservative) 28.4%
West of England: Godwin (Labour) 25.0%
May 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Not one mayor elected with more than half the vote:
Greater Lincolnshire: Jenkyns (Reform) 42.0%
Hull and East Yorkshire: Campbell (Reform ) 35.8%
Doncaster: Ros Jones (Labour) 32.6%
North Tynside: Clark (30.2%)
C&P: Bristow (Conservative) 28.4%
West of England: Godwin (Labour) 25.0%
Greater Lincolnshire: Jenkyns (Reform) 42.0%
Hull and East Yorkshire: Campbell (Reform ) 35.8%
Doncaster: Ros Jones (Labour) 32.6%
North Tynside: Clark (30.2%)
C&P: Bristow (Conservative) 28.4%
West of England: Godwin (Labour) 25.0%
Very grateful Reform only took one mayorality, but in the West of England, the Labour mayor was elected with just 25% of the vote
First Past the Post can never accommodate competitive multi-party politics
We need fair votes now
First Past the Post can never accommodate competitive multi-party politics
We need fair votes now
May 2, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Very grateful Reform only took one mayorality, but in the West of England, the Labour mayor was elected with just 25% of the vote
First Past the Post can never accommodate competitive multi-party politics
We need fair votes now
First Past the Post can never accommodate competitive multi-party politics
We need fair votes now
Tomorrow's elections will once again expose our ridiculous voting system for the absurdity that it is.
Councils seats won't match how people vote. Mayors will be elected with minority support
We need reform (not that kind!). Electoral reform and Proportional Representation to make votes matter now
Councils seats won't match how people vote. Mayors will be elected with minority support
We need reform (not that kind!). Electoral reform and Proportional Representation to make votes matter now
April 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Tomorrow's elections will once again expose our ridiculous voting system for the absurdity that it is.
Councils seats won't match how people vote. Mayors will be elected with minority support
We need reform (not that kind!). Electoral reform and Proportional Representation to make votes matter now
Councils seats won't match how people vote. Mayors will be elected with minority support
We need reform (not that kind!). Electoral reform and Proportional Representation to make votes matter now
Reposted by Richard Wood
Carney’s Liberals win in Canada a decade on from Trudeau’s promise to abolish FPTP 🇨🇦🗳️👇
upgradeholyrood.com/2025/04/29/c...
upgradeholyrood.com/2025/04/29/c...
Carney’s Liberals win in Canada a decade on from Trudeau’s promise to abolish FPTP
By Richard Wood Before the return of Donald Trump, Canada’s Conservative looked set to sail to power in 2025, ending a decade of Liberal rule. But a maverick president and his trade war have …
upgradeholyrood.com
April 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Carney’s Liberals win in Canada a decade on from Trudeau’s promise to abolish FPTP 🇨🇦🗳️👇
upgradeholyrood.com/2025/04/29/c...
upgradeholyrood.com/2025/04/29/c...
Reposted by Richard Wood
First Past the Post means we don’t get the councils we vote for.
First Past the Post again set to produce random results at English local elections
With four weeks to go before English local authority elections, which will be held on 1 May 2025, this week saw the announcement of candidates for each of the divisions or wards where lo
www.electoral-reform.org.uk
April 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
First Past the Post means we don’t get the councils we vote for.
Reposted by Richard Wood
While some peers have been trying to delay their own demise, others are making the principled stand that their own jobs shouldn't exist.
As the youngest peer in the House of Lords, I have a bold plan for this place. Abolish it – me included | Carmen Smith
I came here a year ago because Plaid Cymru seeks to protect Welsh interests. But I think Labour should keep its vow and scrap this chamber, writes Baroness Smith of Llanfaes
www.theguardian.com
March 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
While some peers have been trying to delay their own demise, others are making the principled stand that their own jobs shouldn't exist.
Reposted by Richard Wood
Very concerning that it could be permissible for a member of the House of Lords to write to officials on behalf of a firm they are paid to advise.
If this is within the rules, clearly they need tightening urgently.
The Lords commissioners have a decision to make.
If this is within the rules, clearly they need tightening urgently.
The Lords commissioners have a decision to make.
Labour peer wrote to Treasury on behalf of crypto firm he advised
Questions over whether Iain McNicol was within lobbying rules when he wrote to civil servants about company that was paying for his advice
buff.ly
March 4, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Very concerning that it could be permissible for a member of the House of Lords to write to officials on behalf of a firm they are paid to advise.
If this is within the rules, clearly they need tightening urgently.
The Lords commissioners have a decision to make.
If this is within the rules, clearly they need tightening urgently.
The Lords commissioners have a decision to make.
Reposted by Richard Wood
At the stroke of a pen, for reasons of its own making, the govt has suspended electoral democracy for 5M+ people.
Voters should have their say on what's going on in their communities, not least the massive reorganisation being imposed on local govt.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Voters should have their say on what's going on in their communities, not least the massive reorganisation being imposed on local govt.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Council shake-up sees elections delayed in nine areas
Angela Rayner says the reorganisation marks a generational power shift but the Tories say it is a
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
At the stroke of a pen, for reasons of its own making, the govt has suspended electoral democracy for 5M+ people.
Voters should have their say on what's going on in their communities, not least the massive reorganisation being imposed on local govt.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Voters should have their say on what's going on in their communities, not least the massive reorganisation being imposed on local govt.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Wood
💯 "A voting system that means millions of people's votes don't count. A voting system that most people don't want to continue with."
👏 @alexsobel.co.uk calls for a National Commission for Electoral Reform during today's debate on Proportional Representation
👏 @alexsobel.co.uk calls for a National Commission for Electoral Reform during today's debate on Proportional Representation
Alex Sobel MP calls for a National Commission for Electoral Reform
YouTube video by APPG for Fair Elections
youtube.com
January 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
💯 "A voting system that means millions of people's votes don't count. A voting system that most people don't want to continue with."
👏 @alexsobel.co.uk calls for a National Commission for Electoral Reform during today's debate on Proportional Representation
👏 @alexsobel.co.uk calls for a National Commission for Electoral Reform during today's debate on Proportional Representation
Twitter's still addictive but I need to get away from it.
I'm looking to follow people here who are committed to improving our democracy through Proportional Representation, House of Lords reform, better political education and more!
Give me a follow and I'll follow back 😊
I'm looking to follow people here who are committed to improving our democracy through Proportional Representation, House of Lords reform, better political education and more!
Give me a follow and I'll follow back 😊
January 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Twitter's still addictive but I need to get away from it.
I'm looking to follow people here who are committed to improving our democracy through Proportional Representation, House of Lords reform, better political education and more!
Give me a follow and I'll follow back 😊
I'm looking to follow people here who are committed to improving our democracy through Proportional Representation, House of Lords reform, better political education and more!
Give me a follow and I'll follow back 😊
Reposted by Richard Wood
🎆 2024 is slowly coming to an end, and what a year it's been.
Here's a short summary of what we've been up to over the past 12 months - read below for more! 🧵👇
Here's a short summary of what we've been up to over the past 12 months - read below for more! 🧵👇
December 20, 2024 at 3:32 PM
🎆 2024 is slowly coming to an end, and what a year it's been.
Here's a short summary of what we've been up to over the past 12 months - read below for more! 🧵👇
Here's a short summary of what we've been up to over the past 12 months - read below for more! 🧵👇
Reposted by Richard Wood
Our new report on the 2024 General Election, A System Out of Step, explores in depth the most disproportional election in British history, in terms of how we voted and what we got. Our research reveals the full, worrying picture from this election. www.electoral-reform.org.uk/a-system-out...
A System Out of Step – New report on the 2024 General Election
Today we have published our in-depth report on the 2024 General Election, A System Out of Step.The General Election in 2024 was not only the most disproportional election in British ele
www.electoral-reform.org.uk
December 10, 2024 at 11:35 AM
Our new report on the 2024 General Election, A System Out of Step, explores in depth the most disproportional election in British history, in terms of how we voted and what we got. Our research reveals the full, worrying picture from this election. www.electoral-reform.org.uk/a-system-out...
Reposted by Richard Wood
💥 Really pleased that MPs have PASSED the ‘10 Minute Rule’ motion from Sarah Olney MP in favour of Proportional Representation for parliamentary elections and local elections in England
🧵 1/3
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Sarah Olney MP's 10 Minute Rule bill to introduce Proportional Representation
YouTube video by APPG for Fair Elections
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2024 at 4:17 PM
💥 Really pleased that MPs have PASSED the ‘10 Minute Rule’ motion from Sarah Olney MP in favour of Proportional Representation for parliamentary elections and local elections in England
🧵 1/3
🧵 1/3
Reposted by Richard Wood
We could not be prouder of our newly elected LDER President, Sarah Olney MP - who today moved a Private Members Bill for #ProportionalRepresentation in Parliament.
And we could not be more delighted by the support across parties that helped it PASS!
Woohoo! 🎉🎉🎉
youtube.com/watch?v=HlJZ...
And we could not be more delighted by the support across parties that helped it PASS!
Woohoo! 🎉🎉🎉
youtube.com/watch?v=HlJZ...
youtube.com
December 3, 2024 at 7:50 PM
We could not be prouder of our newly elected LDER President, Sarah Olney MP - who today moved a Private Members Bill for #ProportionalRepresentation in Parliament.
And we could not be more delighted by the support across parties that helped it PASS!
Woohoo! 🎉🎉🎉
youtube.com/watch?v=HlJZ...
And we could not be more delighted by the support across parties that helped it PASS!
Woohoo! 🎉🎉🎉
youtube.com/watch?v=HlJZ...