Category: elections

Voter identity checks may discriminate against ethnic minority communities, watchdog says – The Independent

Posted April 23rd, 2018 in elections, identity fraud, minorities, news, race discrimination by tracey

‘Plans to force voters to show photo identification at polling stations may discriminate against people from ethnic minority communities, the equality watchdog has reportedly warned. The new rules – being trialled to prevent voter fraud – would also hit the young and old, those with disabilities and transgender people, the Equality and Human Rights Commission claims in a leaked letter to Cabinet Office minister David Lidington.’

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The Independent, 22nd April 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Voter ID trials ‘risk disenfranchising vulnerable people’ – The Guardian

Posted March 6th, 2018 in constitutional reform, elections, electoral register, fraud, identification, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘A group of more than 40 charities, campaign groups and academics have written to the government to warn that plans to trial compulsory voter ID at the local elections in May risk disenfranchising large numbers of vulnerable people.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Only one convicted over 2017 ‘double voting’ claims – BBC News

Posted March 2nd, 2018 in complaints, elections, fraud, news by tracey

‘Hundreds of complaints about alleged double voting in the 2017 UK general election resulted in only one conviction, according to police data.’

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BBC News, 2nd March 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lady Hale at the 2018 Pankhurst Lecture, University of Manchester – Supreme Court

Posted February 21st, 2018 in elections, judiciary, legal profession, parliament, sex discrimination, speeches, women by tracey

‘Lady Hale at the 2018 Pankhurst Lecture, University of Manchester.’

Full speech

Supreme Court, 8th February 2018

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Bob Spink handed suspended sentence over election fraud – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2018 in community service, elections, fraud, news, suspended sentences by sally

‘An ex-Tory and UKIP MP has been given a suspended six-month prison term after being convicted of election fraud.’

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BBC News, 5th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ukip to face tribunal over use of data in EU referendum campaign – The Guardian

Posted December 14th, 2017 in elections, news, political parties, referendums, tribunals by sally

‘Ukip is to face a tribunal over its use of analytics during the EU referendum after refusing to cooperate with an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office.’

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The Guardian, 13th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

How the Prisoner Voting Debate Finally Came to a Close – Rights Info

Posted December 12th, 2017 in elections, electoral register, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘Former PM David Cameron once said that the thought of giving prisoners the vote made him feel “physically sick.” It was just one comment, but it’s reflective of just how emotive the debate over prisoner voting has been.’

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Rights Info, 12th December 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Rights body endorses UK prisoner voting plan – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 8th, 2017 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘In a rare piece of European good news for the government this week, the 47-member Council of Europe has endorsed the UK’s action plan to resolve a simmering dispute over the ban on allowing prisoners to vote in elections.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Brexit: Electoral Commission reopens probe into Vote Leave – BBC News

Posted November 21st, 2017 in elections, news, political parties, referendums by sally

‘The Electoral Commission has reopened an investigation into Vote Leave’s EU referendum spending.’

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BBC News, 20th November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Calls to Lower Voting Age Sidelined – But is There a Human Rights Argument? – Rightsinfo

Posted November 6th, 2017 in bills, elections, enfranchisement, human rights, news, treaties by tracey

‘MPs in Westminster today debated proposals to lower the voting age across the UK to 16 – but could there be a human rights argument for this?’

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Rightsinfo, 3rd November 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Secretary of State’s oral statement on sentencing – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 3rd, 2017 in elections, imprisonment, parliament, press releases, sentencing by tracey

‘Rt Hon David Lidington MP, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, has today delivered an Oral Statement to the House of Commons.’

Full press statement

Ministry of Justice, 2nd November 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Human rights lawyer: prisoner votes plan is ‘cynical’ – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2017 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

‘A lawyer for prisoners seeking the vote has called leaked government plans to enfranchise some inmates a “cynical” attempt to do the minimum required.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoners Will Finally Be Given The Vote, Say Reports – Rights Info

Posted October 30th, 2017 in bills, elections, enfranchisement, human rights, international courts, news, prisons, reports, rule of law, select committees by sally

‘A limited number of prisoners will be allowed to vote ending the UK’s total ban on prisoners voting, according to reports.’

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Rights Info, 29th October 2017

Source: rightsinfo.org

Government reportedly planning to allow some UK prisoners to vote – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2017 in elections, electoral register, enfranchisement, human rights, international courts, news, prisons by sally

‘The UK government is reportedly to scrap its blanket ban on prisoners being allowed to vote, 12 years after the European court of human rights ruled that it was unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministers urged to ditch plans to cut number of MPs by 50 – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2017 in boundaries, constitutional reform, consultations, elections, news, parliament by tracey

‘Government does not have parliamentary support for revised boundary changes, which would boost Tory election win chances, say Labour and Lib Dems.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Electoral Commission urged to reconsider view on Vote Leave spending – The Guardian

Posted October 2nd, 2017 in elections, judicial review, news, referendums, third parties by sally

‘The Electoral Commission is to be challenged in court to reopen its investigation into £625,000 of spending that eventually reached a digital marketing company during the EU referendum last year.’

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The Guardian, 29th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Facebook and Twitter trolls could be banned from voting to stop them abusing politicians – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 20th, 2017 in elections, harassment, internet, news by sally

‘Social media trolls could be banned from voting under tough new measures outlined by the elections watchdog to crackdown on the abuse of politicians.’

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Daily Telegraph, 19th September 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Online trolling laws under consideration following abuse of MPs – The Independent

Posted July 25th, 2017 in civil servants, elections, freedom of expression, harassment, hate crime, internet, intimidation, news, parliament, select committees by sally

‘An investigation into the abuse of MPs and parliamentary candidates is considering whether new laws are needed to protect public servants because of the rise of social media.’

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The Independent, 24th July 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Electoral Commission calls for action on duplicate registration applications – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 19th, 2017 in elections, electoral register, internet, news by sally

‘Urgent action is needed to reduce both the scale and the administrative impact of duplicate registration applications ahead of future polls, the Electoral Commission has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th July 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

PM orders inquiry into intimidation of MPs during general election – The Guardian

Posted July 13th, 2017 in complaints, elections, harassment, inquiries, internet, intimidation, news, parliament, select committees by tracey

‘Theresa May has ordered an investigation into intimidation experienced by candidates during the last election after a barrage of complaints by MPs about death threats and harassment.’

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The Guardian, 12th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com