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An independent Electoral Commission for Ireland – A step forward for democracy

While in the UK the government has recently threatened our independent elections watchdog with abolition if it cannot be ‘radically overhauled’, across the sea, the Irish government has recently set out plans for establishing an...

Posted 12 Jan 2021

There’s much the UK could adopt from the recent Irish proposals

Happy birthday to the Electoral Commission – now let’s give it the powers it needs

This Monday marks 20 years since the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 received Royal Assent. It was an act which set up the Electoral Commission, the UK’s independent elections watchdog – and tackled...

Posted 30 Nov 2020

Why we need transparency around the political use of personal data

In recent years, we’ve talked a lot about the rise of online political campaigning and the impact this can have on our democratic processes – the ERS has been at the forefront of calling for...

Posted 26 Nov 2020

most voters are in the dark about how parties use their data for political purposes

As the Scottish Government closes the ‘dark ads’ loophole, Westminster must follow suit

For too long now, online political campaigning in Britain has gone effectively unregulated – to the benefit of well-funded, secretive groups, and to the detriment of voters. Despite the rapid rise of online political ads as a campaign tool, governments...

Posted 29 Oct 2020

2019 must be the last election with voters left in the dark

New report shows why Britain’s campaign rules need an overhaul before next May

New analysis of the 2019 General Election has highlighted major pressures on Britain’s electoral process.

Posted 23 Apr 2020

Britain’s campaign laws leave our elections open to fake news and manipulation

December’s election was the third Westminster election in four years. Each one of those has highlighted a growing crisis facing the UK’s electoral politics. In an article published by The Guardian, Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Brittany...

Posted 29 Jan 2020

Parties and third-party campaigners spent around £5.9 million on Facebook

Could social media warp the next General Election?

Facebook recently triggered a major public debate by changing its rules on posts by political campaigners. Previously these had been open to ‘fact-checking’ by trusted organisations. However, the new decision means the site will not...

Posted 29 Oct 2019

We need emergency legislation to close the electoral loopholes

Imprints – finally some action to update our analogue laws for the digital age

In a victory for voters; campaigners; academics; the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee; and the Electoral Commission, among many others, the government has finally committed to extending imprints (disclosures stating who has paid for...

Posted 07 May 2019

A small, but important, victory for voters

Our democracy faces many threats – but the government has picked the wrong priority

It’s not just campaigners saying it any more: democracy is officially at risk, according to parliament’s digital, culture, media and sport committee. Britain’s main campaign rules were drawn up in the late 1990s, before social...

Posted 02 Aug 2018

Why it’s time to shine a light on ‘dark ads’ online

Following a request by the Culture Media and Sport committee, Facebook has revealed the EU referendum adverts paid for by Vote Leave and created by Aggregate IQ. In the modern world of campaigning, political parties and campaigns can...

Posted 30 Jul 2018