You may not have noticed, but a battle important to parliamentary democracy commenced yesterday.
The current UK Parliament is one of the most rebellious in history - but this isn't a sign of democratic health.
On 10 June this year Gordon Brown, in the course of explaining to the Commons how he intended to respond to the MPs expenses crisis, said that ‘I personally favour
Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): David Cameron told the Financial Times last week that he plans to legislate – apparently in his first term – to reduce the number of MPs by
Andrew Blick and Emily Hamilton (London, Democratic Audit):This is a government that makes a thing of ‘consultation’, and a good thing too, you might think. Certainly there are loads
Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): The UK Parliament has a dubious record as a protector of human rights. The Commons vote on 42 days is only a recent example. For
Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): When the Constitutional Renewal white paper and draft bill were published earlier this year, Gordon Brown once again proved himself the master of the anti-climax.
Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): Constitutional reform in this country is a fitful business. First, the people in charge know they have to respond to the need for change, but
Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): Is there a 'mental Berlin Wall' that separates unease about democratic issues such as 'executive dominance of Parliament, the unreformed House of
Andrew Blick reviews A Question of Honour: Inside New Labour and the true story of the cash for peerages scandal by Lord Micahel Levy.
(Lord Michael Levy, A Question of
Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): A new political term was coined Monday night - 'post-post-nationalism'. Its inventor, David Goodhart. Editor of Prospect, was giving a paper at another
Andrew Blick and Stuart Weir (Democratic Audit): On the principle that the devil makes work for idle hands, it seems a good idea to find a role in life for
