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Campaigning in a crisis – the race for the US Presidency
How do you campaign when you can’t campaign? In the UK the scheduled May elections were delayed for a year but in the US there is the Presidential and other elections in November and, more trickily a series of primary contests to select candidates. Primaries (and caucuses) select delegates according to candidate. The delegates then…
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Voting from behind bars – more changes on the way?
For many UK politicians, the question of votes for prisoners is politically toxic. David Cameron said the prospect made him feel physically ill and when the issue has come up in Parliament it’s been a rare person who has ventured an opinion in favour. But the tide could be moving in favour of the franchise…
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How do Parliaments cope in a ‘lock down’?
In a public health crisis such as coronavirus, buildings have had to be closed and gatherings banned. That has included political institutions such as the House of Commons, which went into recess early. Yet if Parliament cannot meet, not only can there be no legislative progress, there also can’t be proper scrutiny of the Government. …
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Taking over from Corbyn – New Leader, Old Problems
Saturday’s (4 April) “reveal” of the Labour leadership result would under normal circumstances be a big news event. The coronavirus crisis however means the contrast with the big noisy 2015 announcement event will be stark. There will be no room full of party activists, candidates, journalists and MPs, no clapping, no leaping onto a stage…
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Grenfell Tower inquiry: expert explains four main findings – and how emergency services must improve
Grenfell Tower inquiry: expert explains four main findings – and how emergency services must improve
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The Week in Politics – 7 October
No sooner than they were back, they’re set to be off again! The Government plans to prorogue Parliament on Tuesday (8th) to prepare for the following week’s Queens Speech. That means no Prime Minister’s Questions and generally less of everything. (There could still be time though for a vote on the latest Brexit plan as…
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The Week in Politics – 30 September 2019
This week sees the Boris Johnson speech at the Conservative Party Conference, potential co operation by anti-Brexit MPs in the Commons, the formation of a new Government in Austria and a key debate in the Canadian General Election. Firstly, the PM speech. Party Conferences are designed to fulfill a range of roles. They are about…
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Multi-level marketing has been likened to a legal pyramid scheme – the backlash against it is growing
Máire O Sullivan, Edge Hill University There is a growing rumble of discontent against multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses. As well as a growing backlash from former MLM recruits, regulators are getting involved, too. Unfortunately, however, these businesses that have been likened to legal pyramid schemes are unlikely to disappear altogether. Multi-level marketing is the model…
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Is there hope for independent candidates in a snap election? A short history of MPs who go it alone
Paula Keaveney, Edge Hill University British politics is in a state of flux. In the space of less than a year we’ve seen at least two new parties formed – The Brexit Party and the Independent Group for Change (formerly Change UK). We have seen MPs leave parties to join others. Chuka Umunna, for example,…
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Remain Alliance – can it halt Brexit and beat Boris Johnson?
Paula Keaveney, Edge Hill University This week’s by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire will be the first formal test of the so-called Remain Alliance. The unusually short list of candidates in this contest is partly because parties such as the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, have stood down in favour of the Liberal Democrats. Campaign visits…
