News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

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Lesley Riddoch’s State of Scottish Democracy lecture

Thank you to everyone who made it along to hear author and broadcaster, Lesley Riddoch, present the second of our annual ERS State of Scottish Democracy lecture.   We are pleased to publish a video of...

Posted 28 Sep 2023

Lesley Riddoch

ERS Scotland: Our plans for the years ahead

At ERS Scotland we are constantly monitoring the political seas and updating our course to make sure we have the proper heading. Following this year’s local elections, the elections to the Scottish Parliament in 2021,...

Posted 24 May 2022

Much more can be achieved to build a Scottish democracy fit for the the 21st Century

Only real local democracy can rebuild our communities

The last twelve months have changed the way many of us think about our everyday lives. The lockdowns necessitated by the pandemic have made the world feel smaller and turned many people’s minds to a...

Posted 09 Apr 2021

The average Scottish local authority is 50 times bigger than the EU average

Scotland’s local democracy is not an optional extra

The experience of the covid-19 crisis has served to underline and strengthen the case ERS Scotland has long been making for a revamped local democracy. The work undertaken in recent years – alongside a range...

Posted 14 Jan 2021

Thriving, empowered communities develop the foundations for long term prosperity