Democratic Reform - openDemocracy (Page 2)

The Welsh referendum campaigns are being stifled by electoral rules

n the lead up to the Welsh assembly powers referendum on 3 March, both the Yes and No campaigns are going for a final push. But the legislation setting out how the campaigns should be fought is having unintended consequences.

By John Osmond

/ 15 Feb 2011

Tahrir Square, February 4, 2011, 5.30am

Interviewee: Islam El Tahtawey is a 23 years old Egyptian opposition demonstrator, a junior auditor in Cairo.

By Conroy Shuer

/ 10 Feb 2011

Scotland’s Stamp Act: Could the Scotland Bill lead to the demand for independence?

Few seem to appreciate the constitutional implications of the Scotland Bill, currently making its way through Westminster Parliament. The UK government is claiming the right to change the devolution system without the consent of the Scottish people. Whether the Bill is good or not for Scotland, it

By Elliot Bulmer

/ 4 Feb 2011

It is time for an English voice

England is the one nation in the UK without a democratic forum in the shape of a Parliament or Assembly, and which has not voted on its constitutional future. Cameron's radical reforms can only be pushed through because of England's democratic deficit. It is time for people to rise up and speak fo

By Gerry Hassan

/ 4 Feb 2011

Labour starts to think

The shape of the debate about the future direction of the Labour Party is emerging.

By Anthony Barnett

/ 2 Feb 2011

In agreeing to enfranchise UK prisoners, we forget that voting is more than a right

The decision by the European Court of Human Rights to enfranchise UK prisoners reveals a more general attitude towards the vote. The European establishment has ceased to believe in voting as a means to effect change; the act is viewed only as a duty and a right.

By Suzy Dean

/ 2 Feb 2011

Why is AV and constituency size lumped in one bill? Don't accept this back-room deal.

Just why has the proposed reduction in constituency sizes and number of MPs been linked together in a single bill with the referendum on AV? On one level, it’s a political trade-off. On another, the constituency-resizing plan meant the Lib Dems were compelled to choose AV, rather than any other fo

By David Rickard

/ 27 Jan 2011

The Scottish National Party must take the next step

Gerry Hassan reflects on four years of the first ever Scottish Government committed to independence. He describes a decent administration that has done much to advance social justice, but failed to take on the financial sector; a party that has pushed for constitutional change, but must now embark

By Gerry Hassan

/ 19 Jan 2011

To reform the UK state we need a democratic green alliance - a response to Gerry Hassan

Philip Hosking argues that Gerry Hassan doesn't go far enough in attacking Labour for their failure to understand the reality of a devolved UK. He proposes the formation of a plural democratic green alliance in the UK, as exists in different forms in France and in the European Parliament.

By Philip Hosking

/ 18 Jan 2011

An open letter to Compass: the problem with the British state

Gerry Hassan furthers an exchange on the call for a New Socialism and the nature of the British state with Neal Lawson, chair of Compass.

By Gerry Hassan

/ 12 Jan 2011

A plea to Peers: a last chance to reconsider radical changes to UK parliamentary boundaries

This may be the last opportunity to scrutinise a bill that proposes fundamentally altering the workings of our democracy by re-drawing the boundaries of UK constituencies and reducing the number of Members of Parliament.

By Stuart Wilks-Heeg

/ 12 Jan 2011

Brown's dodgy deal

The Vote for a Change campaign run by a coalition of democracy organisations always had a flakey feel to it. Even so, I am astonished as well as bitterly disappointed

By Stuart Weir

/ 2 Dec 2009