Four ways Westminster’s politics needs fixing this Democracy Week Monday marks the start of the first ‘National Democracy Week’ – the government’s initiative to encourage democratic participation. It has been established on the premise that “regardless of who we are or where we are... Posted 29 Jun 2018
One simple change could take us much closer to gender equality in politics There can be no doubt that in order to see more women elected to our political institutions, political parties need to stand more women candidates. Yet there is no official information on the diversity of... Posted 04 Apr 2018
How Westminster’s voting system is holding back gender equality In the centenary month of women securing the franchise, looking back on the politics of previous decades throws up some grim reminders of discrimination. Take just one: when Janet Fookes was first elected to represent... Posted 13 Feb 2018
Five reforms still needed to ensure women are fairly represented in politics The Representation of the People Act 1918 was undoubtedly a significant step forward for women’s rights and democracy. It gave the to vote to around 8.5 million women previously disenfranchised and abolished almost all property restrictions on men. One hundred years later and both... Posted 06 Feb 2018
100 years after women won the right to vote, there’s still a long way to go 2018 marks one hundred years since a major landmark in the history of our democracy – the first time women in the UK had the right to vote. The Suffrage movement saw women organise and... Posted 17 Jan 2018
Diversity deserts: 7.5m people can’t vote for a woman this election There’s good news and bad news when it comes to women’s representation this election. The good news is this: analysis by the Press Association suggests a record number of women could be elected on June 8th, meaning... Posted 26 May 2017
Where are the women in May’s local election? Since the Prime Minister’s unexpected announcement of a General Election last week there’s been little time to talk of anything else. Our 24 hour news cycle is now dominated by images of May, Corbyn et... Posted 27 Apr 2017
A month before polling day, nearly 100 candidates in Wales have already won Voting is an essential part of democratic life – from Mayoral contests to Westminster elections. Yet in an alarming number of places next month, voters in Wales will be denied a vote. That’s not because... Posted 11 Apr 2017
The House of Lords effectively has seats reserved for men The House of Lords is back in spotlight this morning, last night having again challenged the government’s Brexit plans by voting 336 to 268 for Parliament to be granted a meaningful vote on the final... Posted 08 Mar 2017
A stagnating Senedd? In general, diversity in Parliaments is on the rise across the UK and the world. But it’s by no means inevitable, or uniform – and making our often archaic institutions reflect the public they represent... Posted 25 Apr 2016