background preloader

UK

Facebook Twitter

Tactical voting in Hitchin and Harpenden. Tactical Vote 2019 - Stop the Tories. The Best Ever Put-Downs From House Speaker John Bercow. Britain’s constitutional time-bomb - The next to blow. BRITONS PRIDE themselves on their “unwritten” constitution.

Britain’s constitutional time-bomb - The next to blow

America, France and Germany need rules to be set down in black and white. In the Mother of Parliaments democracy has blossomed for over 300 years without coups, revolution or civil war, Irish independence aside. Its politics are governed by an evolving set of traditions, conventions and laws under a sovereign Parliament. Thanks to its stability, Britain convinced the world that its style of government was built on solid foundations laid down over centuries of commonsense adaptation. That view is out of date. BRITONS PRIDE themselves on their “unwritten” constitution. That view is out of date. Find out how your MP voted. Olivia Utley. The British Government Is Using This Puzzle to Recruit Young Spies.

Oxford Research Group. The Role of Youth in Peacebuilding: Challenges and Opportunities Young people are frequently ‘othered’ in discussions about conflict.

Oxford Research Group

This is a dangerous practice as youths can play a very positive role aiding peacebuilding in societies recovering from conflict. Making Bad Economies: The Poverty of Mexican Drug Cartels Some stories say that local economies benefit from cartels in Mexico. But research suggests that the areas most plagued by drug-related violence have seriously suffered economically. ORG's Vision Oxford Research Group (ORG) is an independent organisation that has been influential for over 35 years in pioneering new, more strategic approaches to security and peacebuilding. NAIO e lesson Democracy 150910S1. BBC iPlayer - The Week in Parliament - 25/02/2019. BBC iPlayer - Tuesday in Parliament - 26/03/2019.

The Institute for Government. Professor Meg Russell. Maddy Thimont Jack. BBC iPlayer - House of Commons - 13/03/2019. BBC Parliament - House of Commons, Urgent Question on Universal Credit. Universal Credit update inquiry. LIVE: ‘Emotionally aware’ robot to appear as a witness before UK Parliament. Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Contact the Prime Minister - Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner. Elizabeth Denham was appointed UK Information Commissioner in July 2016, having previously held the position of Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, Canada and Assistant Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Elizabeth Denham, Information Commissioner

She has set out a commitment to increase consumer trust people have in what happens to their personal data. This forms the basis of her strategic plan, and has been demonstrated in her commitment to ensuring companies are transparent with the public about how personal information is used, notably with high-profile investigations into Yahoo, Camelot, WhatsApp and Facebook. 'Election Abstract' by Cornelia Parker. GCHQ Site. British government's new 'anti-fake news' unit has been tried before – and it got out of hand. The decision to set up a new National Security Communications Unit to counter the growth of “fake news” is not the first time the UK government has devoted resources to exploit the defensive and offensive capabilities of information.

British government's new 'anti-fake news' unit has been tried before – and it got out of hand

A similar thing was tried in the Cold War era, with mixed results. The planned unit has emerged as part of a wider review of defence capabilities. It will reportedly be dedicated to “combating disinformation by state actors and others” and was agreed at a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). As a spokesperson for UK prime minister Theresa May told journalists: WebRoots Democracy – Digital Democracy Think Tank. BBC iPlayer - BBC Parliament. City, Borough and District Councils. The Public Whip — TheyWorkForYou: Hansard and Official Reports for the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, and Northern Ireland Assembly - done right. Www.parliament.uk Home page - UK Parliament.

Hansard Online. List of thinktanks in the UK. Adam Smith InstituteMuch favoured by Margaret Thatcher, the ASI's main focus is the introduction of free market policies.

List of thinktanks in the UK

Bow GroupA conservative thinktank founded in 1951 to counter socialism. Centre for European ReformA pro-European but not uncritical organisation, the CER aims to stimulate debate on the future of the EU. Centre for Policy StudiesThatcher's favourite. Citizens Advice. Equality and Human Rights Commission. UK Youth Parliament is run by young people for young people « UK Youth Parlia... Economic League - Powerbase. From the end of the First World War to the closing years of the twentieth century the Economic League conducted its radical rightwing “crusade for capitalism” on the streets and outside the factory gates of Britain.

Economic League - Powerbase

From the 1920’s onwards they were manipulating newspapers stories before the concept of “spin” and “spin doctor” had been invented. But they became best known for their employment blacklist, created in its earliest years. The League was dissolved in 1993 following a series of press exposes and a parliamentary investigation into its blacklist. But the League sold on its blacklist to the construction industry which set up a trade association - The Consulting Association - to continue into the twenty first century blacklisting trade unionists and health and safety activists from the largest construction projects in the country. Summary History Origins & early organisation Founders.

Why are boundary changes bad for Labour? If there is a place in Britain that embodies exclusivity and inaccessibility then London’s Savile Row might just be it.

Why are boundary changes bad for Labour?

The 213-year old street is internationally recognised as the Mecca of tailoring, a place where some of the world’s most affluent people flock to get their clothes made. Earlier this year, however, the Row gained a new resident and, in the process, was dragged a fraction closer to the modern age. Kathryn Sargent has been part of the Savile Row family for over 20 years, but it was only in April that the 41-year-old rose to the rank of master tailor. While doing so, she also made history by becoming the first woman to have her own namesake store on the prestigious street. All photos: Felipe Araujo After spending 15 years at the prestigious and historic men’s tailor, Gieves and Hawkes (which is on Savile Row), and becoming the first female head cutter there, she decided it was time to venture out on her own.

Giving politics back to people. The electoral register and the 'open register' There are 2 versions of the electoral register - the ‘open register’ and the full version.

The electoral register and the 'open register'

Opting out of the ‘open register’ You can opt out of the ‘open register’ - the version of the register that’s available to anyone who wants to buy a copy. Opting out doesn’t affect your right to vote. Iraq Inquiry - Home. Transparency International UK. EU referendum fact check. Did GCHQ Illegally Spy on You? Have you ever made a phone call, sent an email, or, you know, used the internet?

Did GCHQ Illegally Spy on You?

Of course you have! Chances are, at some point, your communications were swept up by the U.S. National Security Agency's mass surveillance program and passed on to Britain's intelligence agency GCHQ. Because of our recent victory against GCHQ in court, now anyone in the world — yes, ANYONE, including you — can try to find out if GCHQ illegally had access to information about you from the NSA. Home Secretary announces statutory inquiry into undercover policing. Home Secretary Theresa May today established an inquiry into undercover policing and the operation of the Metropolitan Police’s Special Demonstration Squad (SDS).

Home Secretary announces statutory inquiry into undercover policing

The inquiry will consider the deployment of police officers as covert human intelligence sources by the SDS, the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and by other police forces in England and Wales. It will also review undercover policing practices, identify lessons learned and make recommendations about the way undercover policing is conducted. The Home Secretary has appointed Lord Justice Pitchford to lead the inquiry, set up under the 2005 Inquiries Act, with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence. The terms of reference will be set in consultation with interested parties and are due to be published at the end of July.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: BBC Democracy Live - BBC Parliament. House of Commons select committees. Citizens UK. Register to vote. Register to vote to get on the electoral register, or to change your details. It usually takes about 5 minutes. You need to be on the electoral register to vote in general elections or referendums. Deadline for registering to vote in the General Election Register by 11:59pm on 26 November to vote in the General Election on 12 December. If you want to apply to vote by post in England, Scotland or Wales, register before 5pm on 26 November. If you’re going to be abroad on election day, you can apply to vote by proxy after you’ve registered. It is too late to apply to vote by post or proxy if you live in Northern Ireland. Who can register You can register if you’re both: aged 16 or over (or 14 or over in Scotland) a UK citizen (or an Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with a permanent UK address) You can vote when you’re 18 or over.

Student registrations If you’re a student, you can register at both your university and home address. Registering online. BBC Radio 5 live - In Short, Campaign Cliche Bingo. Full Fact is an independent fact checking organisation. Lobbywatch.org. Departments, agencies & public bodies. Quangos. Full print version, including charts and tables ( Since it was coined in the 1970s, ‘quango’ has become a highly emotive term. For many it is a byword for wasteful bureaucracy, patronage and lack of democratic accountability. It is no surprise that politicians from all sides have regularly called for reductions in their number, expenditure and influence. However, achieving this in practice has proved difficult. How many quangos are there? Quango is not an official term and establishing how many there are depends on the definition used.

Donations and loans to political parties. There are rules on who can make donations and loans to political parties and other campaigners. For instance, individuals can only donate if they are on an electoral register. Parties have to record the donations and loans they receive, check they are from a permissible source, and report larger donations and loans to us. Lobbying Transparency - Home. HM Government e-petitions. Home - The National Archives. Make a Freedom of Information request. Your Members in the European Parliament. Contact your MP. Discover how much power you have as a UK voter in your constituency.