Category: elections

Ruvi Ziegler: The ‘Brexit’ Referendum: We Need to Talk about the (General Election) Franchise – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 7th, 2015 in bills, brexit, constitutional law, EC law, elections, news, referendums by sally

‘In its 27 May 2015 Queen’s speech, the Conservative government announced that ‘early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in/out referendum’. The following day, it introduced the European Union Referendum Bill, which passed its third reading in the House of Commons on 7 September 2015 (by 316 votes to 53). The second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled for 13 October 2015. Following the recommendation of the Electoral Commission, the initially proposed question: ‘Should the UK remain a member of the European Union?’ was replaced with an arguably more neutral question: ‘should the UK remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union’.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 7th October 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

EU court ruling favours UK prisoner vote ban – BBC News

Posted October 6th, 2015 in EC law, elections, human rights, news, prisons, proportionality by sally

‘The UK’s ban on prisoners’ rights to vote looks set to continue after a ruling by the European Court of Justice on a case in France.’

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BBC News, 6th October 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK’s prisoner voting ban likely to be ruled illegal by EU court – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2015 in EC law, elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘Britain’s blanket ban on prisoners being allowed to vote is expected to be ruled unlawful on Tuesday morning by the EU’s highest court, challenging David Cameron’s long defiance of similar human rights rulings.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Eric Pickles to lead electoral fraud investigation into ‘rotten boroughs’ after Tower Hamlets scandal – The Independent

Posted August 14th, 2015 in corruption, elections, fraud, inquiries, news by tracey

‘An investigation into electoral fraud in “rotten boroughs” across the country is being launched in response to the Tower Hamlets corruption scandal. It will be led by the former Cabinet minister, Sir Eric Pickles, who was appointed the government’s anti-corruption tsar by David Cameron after the election.’

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The Independent, 13th August 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court rejects attempt to unseat Nadine Dorries after legal documents sent to wrong address – The Independent

Posted July 31st, 2015 in documents, elections, harassment, news by sally

‘An attempt to unseat the Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has been thrown out by the High Court after two judges ruled that legal documents informing her of the action were sent to the wrong address.’

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The Independent, 30th July 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Daily Telegraph censured by Ipso over false Nicola Sturgeon story – The Guardian

Posted July 6th, 2015 in codes of practice, complaints, elections, media, news, political parties by tracey

‘The Daily Telegraph has been censured by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) for publishing an inaccurate front page story about SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during the election campaign.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Election ‘most disproportionate in history’ say campaigners – BBC News

Posted June 2nd, 2015 in constitutional reform, elections, news, proportionality, reports by sally

‘The 2015 general election was the “most disproportionate in British history”, the Electoral Reform Society has said.’

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BBC News, 1st June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Falconer: government must clean up assisted dying legal mess – The Guardian

Posted June 2nd, 2015 in assisted suicide, bills, elections, electoral register, euthanasia, human rights, news by sally

‘Shadow justice secretary pushing private member’s bill that he hopes could reform a law he sees as no longer enforceable.’

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The Guardian, 1st June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britain’s archaic voting system is contributing to the break-up of the UK, report says – Independent

Posted June 1st, 2015 in elections, news, political parties by michael

‘The voting system used to elect MPs to Westminster is so dysfunctional it is hastening the break-up of the United Kingdom, according to a new report.‘

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Independent, 1st June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Brantley and others v Constituency Boundaries Commission and others – WLR Daily

Posted May 21st, 2015 in boundaries, constitutional law, elections, law reports, Privy Council by sally

Brantley and others v Constituency Boundaries Commission and others [2015] UKPC 21; [2015] WLR (D) 209

‘A proclamation signed by the Governor General authorising alteration of the constituency boundaries in the territories of St Christopher and Nevis was made, under section 119 of the Constitution, when it was published in the Official Gazette; and it came into force, pursuant to section 50(6) of the Constitution, on the next dissolution of Parliament after it was made. Therefore, where the Governor General had dissolved Parliament with effect from 16 January 2015 and fixed the election date for 16 February 2015, and, by proclamation published in the Official Gazette on 20 January, authorised alteration of the constituency boundaries, the proclamation, having been made after the dissolution of Parliament, if valid only came into force on the dissolution of the Parliament elected in February 2015 and did not govern the 2015 election.’

WLR Daily, 11th May 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

George Galloway launches legal challenge to his election defeat in Bradford West – The Independent

Posted May 11th, 2015 in complaints, elections, news, political parties by sally

‘Former MP George Galloway is to mount a legal challenge against his general election defeat, he has said.’

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The Independent, 11th May 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge who disqualified Tower Hamlets mayor leads drive to reform election law – The Guardian

Posted April 27th, 2015 in complaints, elections, fraud, judges, local government, news by sally

‘The judge who disqualified Lutfur Rahman is one of the country’s leading electoral law practitioners and has handed down previous, scathing judgments resulting in councillors being removed from office.’

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The Guardian, 24th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Senior judge: politicians are ignoring harm caused by cuts to legal system – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2015 in budgets, elections, judges, legal aid, news, political parties by sally

‘Politicians in this election are failing to address the severe problems caused by deep cuts to the legal system, one former senior judge has warned, while another has called for a mass walkout by lawyers if the Conservatives are returned to power.’

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

News focus: law and justice pledges – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 20th, 2015 in budgets, civil justice, confidentiality, courts, criminal justice, devolution, domestic violence, elections, family courts, fees, freedom of information, human rights, interception, internet, investigatory powers, judicial review, jurisdiction, legal aid, news, police, political parties, probation, prosecutions, sexual offences, Supreme Court, telecommunications, terrorism, victims, Wales by sally

‘The general election manifestos are in – here’s our quick-fire summary of their headline pledges on law and justice.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th April 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Access to justice a greater concern than free healthcare – poll – The Guardian

Posted April 13th, 2015 in budgets, costs, elections, health, legal aid, medical treatment, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘The public is more concerned about access to justice than free healthcare, according to a poll commissioned by lawyers campaigning to reverse cuts to legal aid.’

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The Guardian, 13th April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britain’s first secret ballot – BBC News

Posted April 7th, 2015 in elections, news by sally

‘When the UK goes to the polls on 7 May votes will be cast through a secret ballot. But it was not always thus. Elections used to be altogether more public and dangerous affairs. ‘

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BBC News, 5th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Greens lose out in latest TV ruling but Ukip gain after being classed as ‘major party’ – The Independent

Posted March 17th, 2015 in advertising, elections, media, news, political parties by sally

‘Television viewers will have to endure even more coverage of Nigel Farage in the run-up to the election but will not be forced to sit through as many awkward Natalie Bennett interviews.’

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The Independent, 16th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Call for MP boundary review law change – BBC News

Posted March 16th, 2015 in boundaries, elections, news, parliament by sally

‘Rules that pave the way for the number of MPs to be reduced from 650 to 600 must be reversed, a parliamentary group has said.’

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BBC News, 15th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Juliet Wells: Reforming Electoral Law: a Comment on the Law Commission’s Joint Consultation Paper – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 25th, 2015 in constitutional law, elections, Law Commission, news, reports by sally

‘Electoral policy is constantly on the march. Given that the rules prescribing the voting systems to be used in different elections, the extent of the franchise, constituency boundaries, and eligibility to stand play a major part in shaping government and the broader exercise of public power by those within it, it is hardly surprising that macro-electoral policy regularly appears as the subject of vigorous political debates. There are, indeed, no less than seven Bills (including Private Members’ Bills) currently before Parliament relating to significant aspects of the voting system in the UK – including the Recall of MPs Bill, the Voting Age (Comprehensive Reduction) Bill, the Voting (Civic Obligation) Bill, and the Overseas Voters Bill. Other key issues at the forefront of public discussion include proposed changes to the voting system itself, especially in an era of party proliferation, and the suggested inclusion of ‘None of the Above’ as an option on ballot papers, as one response to entrenched (and seemingly increasing) popular disengagement from politics.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 25th February 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Reforming Electoral Law – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘Electoral law in the UK has grown complex, voluminous, and fragmented, with many statutes and secondary legislation governing a long list of elections and referendums. The twin aims of the project are to ensure, first, that electoral laws are presented within a rational, modern legislative framework, governing all elections and referendums under statute; and second, that the law governing the conduct of elections and referendums is modern, simple, and fit for purpose. The Law Commission have recently published the Electoral Law Consultation Paper, which sets out provisional proposals and consultation questions for reform of electoral law.’

Henni Ouahes – Reforming Electoral Law

Nicholas Paines QC – Reforming Electoral Law

UCL Constitution Unit, 28th February 2015

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit