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Heather Green @votingrules.bsky.social · 1h

Q: Will Gov consider removing the Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission? [To restore its independence, as urged by Labour in opposition]

A: The Tory authored version will indeed be removed & then replaced with one matching this Gov's priorities for the Commission.

Reposted by Heather Green

Ethics and Integrity Commission @ethicsandintegrity.bsky.social · 1d

Today the Committee on Standards in Public Life expands to become the new independent Ethics and Integrity Commission.

Read the Prime Minister’s letter to our Chair about our role and remit today: bit.ly/4712OEv

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Reposted by Heather Green

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 4d

Does the elections white paper go far enough?

On 24 October, join @catsmithmp.bsky.social, @rosewhiff.bsky.social, Tom Hawthorn and David Howarth at our free, online event to consider if the government's plans are sufficient to ensure electoral integrity.

Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

The Constitution Unit. Do the government's electoral reforms go far enough? 24 October 2025, 1:00pm–2:00pm. Cat Smith MP (Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre). Rose Whiffen (Senior Research Officer at Transparency International UK). Tom Hawthorn (Head of Policy at the Electoral Commission). Prof David Howarth (Professor of Law and Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and former Electoral Commissioner). Chair: Prof Alan Renwick (Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit).

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Reposted by Heather Green

European Court of Human Rights @echr.coe.int · 5d

Georgios Papadopoulos v. Cyprus: Cypriot authorities’ failure to resolve a legislative gap concerning a vacant parliamentary seat breached the Convention hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=...
#ECHR #CEDH #ECHRpress

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Reposted by Heather Green

UK Constitutional Law Association @ukcla.bsky.social · 5d

Alan Greene: Bringing facts to a vibes fight: Kayfabe and debates on the UK and the ECHR ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/10/09/a...

Alan Greene: Bringing facts to a vibes fight: Kayfabe and debates on the UK and the ECHR

It is now 25 years since the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) entered into force and far from this endurance cementing its legitimacy, the judicial protection of human rights in the UK finds itself in t…

ukconstitutionallaw.org

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Reposted by Heather Green

Alan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 7d

Henceforth the red robes will only be worn as an away kit when the Canadian Supreme Court is playing the US one.

Pwnallthethings @pwnallthethings.bsky.social · 7d

Tragic news from Canada where the Canadian Supreme Court has gone from the official dress on the left to the one on the right

Canadian Supreme court. Everyone is dressed in bright red wooly gowns, with a beige trim. It looks sort of like a Santa robe

The Canadian Supreme court. Everyone is dressed in black gowns with a bright white kravat, and two thin red vertical lines on the side of the robe

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Reposted by Heather Green

NationCymru @nation.cymru · 8d

Voters would be given the power to remove Senedd members from office between elections under a new draft accountability bill published by the Welsh Government

Voters set to get power to sack misbehaving Senedd members

Chris Haines – ICNN Senedd reporter Voters would be given the power to remove Senedd members from office between elections under a new draft accountability bill published by the Welsh Government. Juli...

nation.cymru

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Reposted by Heather Green

UK Constitutional Law Association @ukcla.bsky.social · 8d

Cassandra Somers-Joce: A New Chapter for Governmental Candour? The Public Office (Accountability) Bill ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/10/06/c...

Cassandra Somers-Joce: A New Chapter for Governmental Candour? The Public Office (Accountability) Bill

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 16 September 2025. It gives effect to the Labour Party’s 2024 Manifesto commitment to introduce a ‘Hillsborough L…

ukconstitutionallaw.org

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Reposted by Heather Green

Lewis Graham @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social · 13d

A case note by Leah Trueblood and me on this summer’s Tortoise Media v Conservative Party decision has been published in Judicial Review.

Open Access link here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Tortoise Media v Conservative Party in the Court of Appeal

Published in Judicial Review (Ahead of Print, 2025)

www.tandfonline.com

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Reposted by Heather Green

Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 11d

Please join me in congratulating Woman on her appointment

Sky News @news.sky.com · 11d

Woman named as new Archbishop of Canterbury in historic first

Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally, a former nurse, has been named as the next Archbishop of Canterbury - the first time a woman has been appointed to the role in the Church of England's history.

news.sky.com

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Reposted by Heather Green

Kate Jeffery @katejj.bsky.social · 12d

The University of Glasgow groundspeople are going to be quite annoyed when they come in to work tomorrow...

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Reposted by Heather Green

Lewis Graham @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social · 13d

Hora v the United Kingdom: Strasbourg’s New Ruling on UK’s Prisoner Voting Ban

ukhumanrightsblog.com/2025/10/01/h...

Hora v the United Kingdom: Strasbourg’s New Ruling on UK’s Prisoner Voting Ban - UK Human Rights Blog

By Lewis Graham In 2005, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights handed down its landmark decision in Hirst v the United Kingdom, finding that the effect of section 3 of the Representa...

ukhumanrightsblog.com

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Reposted by Heather Green

Ben Stanford @drbenstanford.bsky.social · 13d

This should really be a given, especially for a Government pledging to clean up politics and remedy some of the worst behaviour of the past Governments. It's also one of those things that isn't necessarily a problem today, but it certainly could be under a future authoritarian Government.

Electoral Reform Society @electoralreform.bsky.social · 13d

The government must restore the independence of the Electoral Commission

UK government urged to restore Electoral Commission’s independence to protect democracy

Oversight of watchdog could be abused by a future authoritarian government, report warns

buff.ly

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Libby Brooks @libbybrooks.bsky.social · 13d

Scottish parliament votes for UK-first rent caps

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Scottish parliament votes in favour of allowing councils to cap rent increases

Legislation hailed as ‘historic step for fixing rigged housing market’ but campaigners say bolder action needed

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Heather Green

David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 14d

I've written for @uniofbathipr.bsky.social blog about why the @appgfairelections.bsky.social's blueprint for a "National Commission on Electoral Reform" avoids the pitfalls of previous electoral reform efforts (e.g. the Jenkins Commission), and offers a way for British politics to escape from FPTP

Why a “National Commission” is the way forward for electoral reform

Electoral reform is back on the UK’s political agenda as First-Past-the-Post strains under the pressures of multi-party politics. The new APPG for Fair Elections proposes a National Commission to e…

blogs.bath.ac.uk

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Reposted by Heather Green

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 14d

Journalists have the right & duty to report on local government. The public has a right to read/access their stories to form an opinion. Their rights are protected by Art 10 ECHR. Good to see public interest litigation www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... @hrcscotland.bsky.social @nujscotland.bsky.social

Nottingham Post launches legal challenge over Reform press ban

Council leader Mick Barton has not spoken to journalists from the Nottingham Post since August.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Heather Green

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 16d

⚠️ Our Democracy in Danger report warns that ministers’ power over the @electoralcommission.org.uk “could easily be abused to undermine our democracy.” The previous govt introduced measures to allow them to set the Commission’s strategy and policy, curtailing the regulator's independence.

Democracy in danger: why the government must restore the Electoral Commission’s full independence - Spotlight on Corruption

Democracy in danger: A fully independent Electoral Commission is critical to ensuring the integrity of UK elections, and maintaining public confidence.

www.spotlightcorruption.org

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Reposted by Heather Green

Dr Dave McKenna @drdavemckenna.bsky.social · 15d

I've discovered a new non-extreme, slow-sport that involves hunting down Ordnance Survey Benchmarks. It's like a laid back Pokémon Go I guess.

I case you don't know, OSBs are marks or plates placed on buildings, walls etc to show the elevation above sea level.

They often look like this...

A horizontal line carved into a wall with three lines fanning out downwards from its centre.

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Reposted by Heather Green

Public Sector Lawyer @publicsectorlawyer.bsky.social · 15d

The report was mentioned in the Guardian yesterday, worth reading itself by those interested in constitutional matters.

The dramatic fall in the country's international standing & potential consequences, comparing with what's happening in the US.

www.spotlightcorruption.org/wp-content/u...

www.spotlightcorruption.org

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Reposted by Heather Green

Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 15d

Reform UK Councillor Andy Osborne was charged this morning with committing an illegal electoral practice contrary to s106(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

His plea hearing is at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 9th.

Here’s more on him: www.huntspost.co.uk/news/2522093...

Calls for Reform UK councillor to resign as 'evil' comment fallout continues

Calls are being made for the Reform UK councillor at Cambridgeshire County Council, Andy Osborn, to resign.

www.huntspost.co.uk

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Ryan Goss @ryangoss.bsky.social · 15d

What does it mean for someone to be charged with a criminal offence?
My new journal article is out this week in OUP’s Human Rights Law Review on the ECtHR's Engel criteria in the 21st century (1/4)

academic.oup.com/hrlr/article...
#echr #humanrights #humanrightslaw #law

abstract of journal article linked to later in thread

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Reposted by Heather Green

Heather Green @votingrules.bsky.social · Sep 5

Confirmation Govt plans to keep & use the power to set a Strategy & Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission, despite vocally opposing this reform during passage of Elections Act 2022

Text of tweet by Lord Rennard on Government's plan to impose a Strategy & Policy Statement on Electoral Commission

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Reposted by Heather Green

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 16d

We urge the government to reconsider its position and:
1️⃣ Remove the ministerial power to set the Electoral Commissions strategy and policy
2️⃣ Put the statutory independence of the Electoral Commission clearly into legislation

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Heather Green @votingrules.bsky.social · 16d

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Lisa O’Carroll @lisaocarroll.bsky.social · 17d

Elections in Moldova on Sunday. The diaspora including an estimated 40,000 in the UK will be critical as Russia floods country and diaspora outlets with offers of money in what former deputy PM Nicu Popescu told me was a "brutal vote buying" operation by Kremlin.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Moldovan diaspora critical in elections as country battles Russian vote-buying, says former minister

Watchdogs say Russia offering overseas voters cash for evidence of voter fraud in possible ploy to declare election rigged

www.theguardian.com

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