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Why Andy Burnham’s Manchester could change the face of UK politics
Paula Keaveney, Edge Hill University So, with the result of the Greater Manchester metro mayor election declared, Andy Burnham completes his move from opposition MP to local leader. Burnham’s decision to stand for the new post was seen by many as a signal that for ambitious Labour politicians, the place of power may no longer…
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Shock reaction to election proves May and her team know what they are doing
Paula Keaveney, Edge Hill University Britain had barely returned from its Easter break when the press reported that Theresa May, the prime minister, was to make a statement in Downing Street. After an hour’s frenzied speculation about what she might say, May stepped up to a podium in front of Number 10 and announced that…
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Is the end nigh for independent election candidates?
When Ken Livingstone was first elected as mayor of London he was an independent. George Ferguson became mayor of Bristol in 2012 as an independent. And in the first police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections, also in 2012, more than one quarter of those elected were independent candidates. These roles lend themselves to strong individuals…
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Everything you need to know about the mayoral election
On May 5 when the UK next heads to the polls for local and regional elections, voters in London, Salford, Liverpool and Bristol will have an extra choice to make – who they want to become their next directly elected mayor. Directly elected mayors have a great deal of power – unlike their purely ceremonial…
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Who’s going to win? Show me the money
I blogged previously about a conference at which academics made predictions for potential election results based on a range of factors. One of those factors was money. It is possible, by looking at the Electoral Commission website, to see which constituency or local parties have received the most in donations in any particular quarter. Parties…
