Perhaps more people would vote in local elections if local councils had more decision-making and fundraising powers?

Then voters would think their vote really mattered.

theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

“If there ever was a time when ‘good chaps’ could be relied on to follow the rules, it is long gone.”

Welcome intervention from ACOBA Chair, Eric Pickles.

We support his call for ACOBA to have “proper powers to investigate and sanction real breaches.”
politico.eu/newsletter/pol…

🔴 Just a Fraction of Voters Who Lack Photo ID Apply for ‘Free’ Identification – In Warning Sign for Mayoral Elections

Low take-up of the Government’s Voter Authority Certificate poses a risk to voters in May’s local elections – Josiah Mortimer reports

bylinetimes.com/2024/04/24/jus…

🚨 TODAY is the deadline to apply for a FREE VOTER ID certificate 🚨

If you want to vote in the local elections next week, you now need a valid form of photo ID to vote, such as a passport or driving licence.

You have till 5pm to register; don’t risk losing your voice.…

So, just a postponed slap on the wrist for GB News' multiple rule breaches?

Doesn't bode well for the forthcoming General Election, and Ofcom's willingness to clamp down, in real time, on rule-breaking during the election campaign.

theguardian.com/media/2024/apr…

Pleased to share this article from Centenary Action steering group member Dr Sarabajaya Kumar on the need for action to enable increased disabled representation.

The impact of Voter ID will again fall disproportionately on young and disabled people and voters from ethnic minority communities, those already most excluded from the democratic process.

Voter ID is harmful & unnecessary. It should be scrapped.
hyphenonline.com/2024/04/22/vot…

Labour Mayors are right to criticise photo voter ID. It is costly, unnecessary, and discriminatory.

But is Labour committed to repealing the legislation if they form the next Government?

theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

Time for an ethics commission with real teeth and tough enforcement powers!

bigissue.com/news/politics/…

The Defending Democracy Taskforce needs to move further and faster to protect the UK from foreign interference.

We can never be invulnerable, but swift action can ensure the UK is better prepared.

See our recommendations 👇
leftfootforward.org/2024/04/the-de…

Lively exchange at the International Centre for Sustainability International Centre for Sustainability with @pravarpetkar and Peter Emerson of de Borda Institute about the failings of voting systems in the United Kingdom and India.

And broad agreement that democracy in both countries is under some pressure.

MP Debbie Abrahams MP spoke on “Citizens’ Assemblies”today. Here is her excellent Speech [begins 11:00am ],the response shows how much we still have to do if citizens are to regain trust in politics,and Govt&MP’s are to be meaningful partners with them
parliamentlive.tv/Search?Keyword…

TODAY is National Voter Registration Day!

Don’t risk losing your voice. Register to vote now: qrco.de/giveanx

🚨 TODAY is National Voter Registration Day 🚨

As it stands, 4 MILLION young people will be excluded from voting at the next election.

On this deadline day, don’t risk losing your voice. #GiveAnX about your future and #RegisterToVote : qrco.de/giveanx

Nice to see our report for ⁦Compass⁩ and ⁦Unlock Democracy⁩ cited in this great ⁦The Guardian⁩ editorial. Punchline:

“These are big changes, but local government is in big trouble”. ⁦⁦⁦Randeep Ramesh⁩ ⁦Arianna Giovannini⁩ theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

For devolution to work, decision-making and revenue-raising powers have to be taken away from Whitehall and local people given a much larger role in setting their own priorities.

Read more here in ‘Power to the People’: compassonline.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

Whitehall has been snatching powers and funding away from local government for decades.

But Whitehall doesn’t always know best.

Our new report charts a way forward to restore power to local communities 👇

unlockdemocracy.org.uk/resources-rese…

Local government needs a stabler funding model as well as more revenue raising powers.

But no one devolution model can work everywhere – we need true localism.

Our new report with Compass written by Arianna Giovannini & Jonathan Davies now on Mastodon, Threads and BSky! covered in LGC.
lgcplus.com/politics/devol…

This should be sounding alarm bells across Whitehall.

Voter ID is a costly, unnecessary and discriminatory mistake - it is time to pull the plug before many more eligible voters are robbed of their right.

The sudden drop in All Party Parliamentary Groups is welcome.

There were too many of them, and little oversight of the activities of some of them.

But new shadow organisations mustn't emerge to replace them.