Briefing No. 3 - Cleansing the Augean Stables - the parties and the constitution, 6 May 2010 

This briefing compares and contrasts the positions taken by the three main parties on constitutional reform. The 'balanced Parliament' produced by the General Election led to issues such as the reform of the electoral system and of the House of Lords becoming a key element of inter-party negotiations.

Briefing No. 2 - A tale of two electorates - why some voters are more equal than others, 4 May 2010 

This briefing considers the implications of the electoral system for the way in which political parties approach the campaign and how voters respond to it. It shows that, in 2005, the parties spend 6-8 times more trying to win votes in some seats than they did in others. The seats with low campaign spending and low turnout tend to be safe Labour seats with high rates of social deprivation.  

Briefing No. 1 - Governing without majorities - coming to terms with balanced Parliaments in UK Politics, 16 April 2010

Our first General Election Briefing considers the issues raised by the prospect of a 'hung Parliament'. Is it a realistic possibility? Has it happened before? What are the constitutional implications? And would 'balanced Parliament' be a better term? 

Democratic Audit co-organised and co-sponsored the 2010 Eleanor Rathbone Public Lecture Series on ‘Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice’. The programme for the lectures, which have taken place at the University of Liverpool, was as follows:  

18 February 2010: Dr Tony Wright MP on 'What are MPs for?'

18 March 2010: Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission on 'Every voter counts: completing the journey to political equality'.'

13 May 2010: Baroness Vivien Stern on 'Why do prisoners have rights? Lessons from our history'.

Democratic Audit has joined forces with a number of other organisations concerned with democracy to support the proposals put forward by the Wright Committee report for reform of the House of Commons. The campaign has been led by the Constitution Unit, the Hansard Society and Democratic Audit with the support of Unlock Democracy, Power2010, the Electoral Reform Society and the Better Government Initiative.

'Parliament, heal thyself', OurKingdom, 5 March 2010

Stuart Wilks-Heeg on the outcome of the debate on the Wright Commitee reforms.

‘Vote on the options to clean-up Parliament’, Left Foot Forward, 15 January 2010

Democratic Audit’s Director, Stuart Wilks-Heeg on the surprising, yet rational, outcomes of the Power2010 deliberative poll.

'Parliamentary reforms worth fighting for', OurKingdom, 27 November 2009

Andrew Blick, Senior Research Fellow, on the significance of the  put forward by the Select Committee on the Reform of the House of Commons.

The Audit's Director, Stuart Wilks-Heeg, is a leading authority on electoral matters, particularly postal voting fraud, the state of the electoral registers, and e-voting pilots. He is the author of 'Purity of Elections in the UK: Causes for Concern' (Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust).

‘The X-Factor double-crossing democracy’, Parliamentary Brief, January 2010

Stuart Wilks-Heeg on the dangers of electoral modernisation for our democracy.

The UK Constitution

Democratic Audit’s pamphlet, The Unspoken Constitution was published on Monday 12th October 2009- the day when MPs and Peers returned to Parliament after the summer recess. For more details, and to download the pamphlet.

Local and London democracy - Committee on Standards in Public Life Evidence Submission, June 2009

Democratic Audit's evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life inquiry into 'Local Leadership and Public Trust: Openness and Accountability in Local and London Government'. This inquiry was postponed so that the Committee could concentrate on its inquiry into MPs' expenses.

The Cabinet Office and UK Democracy - Evidence Submission, May 2009

Democratic Audit/Prof. George Jones argue in their evidence to the House of Lords Constitution Committee Inquiry into the Cabinet Office that recent institutional changes at the centre of government have served to undermine the principle of collective Cabinet government, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of government and how it may be made subject to democratic accountability.

Democratic Audit reports published since 2009 include the following.

What are European elections for? - 3 June 2009 

This report was published on the eve of the 4th June European Parliament elections. It considers the continued existence of a democratic deficit in the EU; the possibility of small parties including the BNP making gains; and what a presence in the European Parliament means for small parties. 

What are local elections for? - 4 June 2009 

This review of the democratic qualities of local elections was published on the day of the 2009 local elections. Using the established Democratic Audit criteria, it highlights ten specific problems with English local elections and makes the case for urgent, and radical, reforms to revitalise local democracy.

Democratic Audit has produced three previous accounts of the state of British democracy, using a detailed auditing framework.

Our reviews of democracy and political freedom in the UK include our major study, 'Democracy under Blair' and two studies of the previous Conservative regime. 

Prior to 2010, our findings were that the Labour government was making limited advances towards improving British democracy up to 2001, but then  regressed badly, especially with the unconstitutional and manipulative handling of the decision to invade Iraq.

The Audit has also focussed on a range of specific issues, including: 

1. The case for economic, social and cultural rights.

2. The lack of democratic accountability in foreign and external policy.

3. The views of the British public on issues of democracy, rights and freedoms, as captured by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust's 'State of the Nation' polls since 1992.

4. The extent to which the 2005 General Election manifestos made pledges which would enhance the quality of democracy in the United Kingdom.

5. Power and Participation in Modern Britain (February 2008)

6. The implications of the government's counter terrorism laws.

7. The rise of the British National Party.

1. The deficiencies of the Freedom of Information regime.

2. Reform of the House of Lords has dragged on inconclusively for years, largely because the previous Prime Minister obstructed all attempts to make the second chamber either fully or mostly elected, and not a largely appointed chamber. But now reform is promised.

3. Electoral reform is on the agenda following the formation of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. The danger is that the UK electorate will be asked to endorse an electoral system that is even more disproportionate than first-past-the-post.

4. Democratic Audit led the way in revealing and analysing the spread of the quango state and its lack of accountability, even to ministers. Read our analysis here.