What the BBC Got Wrong on Syria Last Week
I appeared on the BBC’s Newswatch programme, criticising the BBC for its coverage of the debate on British military involvement in Syria. Read a summary of my argument here.
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EU referendum: We need an intelligent debate about lowering the voting age
My article for the LSE’s new Brexit blog (23 November 2015). I argued in favour of the House of Lords’ (probably short-lived) amendment of the referendum bill to enfranchised 16 and 17 year olds, but suggested that the debate on lowering the voting age has so far been generating more heat than light.
We need an NHS election day
Post for Health Election Data (15 April 2015), my site monitoring NHS Foundation Trust elections, on how greater coordination in the timing of NHS elections could lead to increased voter participation.
What impact will overseas voters have on the general election?
My post for the Crick Centre blog (1 May 2015), at the University of Sheffield, considering how our democracy treats voters who have moved overseas. Not very well at all, I argued.
Switching off E4 on election day will not help engage young voters
My article on The Huffington Post (30 April 2015), criticising Channel 4 for its decision to switch off E4 on election day. Although well-meaning, this move represented a continuation of tiresome efforts to exhort young people to vote.
9 reasons why we should count votes the day after the general election
My list-based commentary article for Buzzfeed (6 May 2015), proposing we abolish ‘election night’, embrace common sense and count votes the day after a general election.
Government should look to NHS for ways to improve general election 2015
My article for Guardian Healthcare (11 February 2015), considering the electoral innovations used in NHS Foundation Trust elections. I argued the NHS could be a good source of evidence on votes at 16, online voting and the single transferable vote.
Three reforms that would be more effective than adding a ‘None of the above’ option to ballot papers
My post for Democratic Audit (22 January 2015), considering the possible benefits of adding a ‘None of the above’ option to ballot papers at elections. I argued this would be only a superficial change, and that campaigning efforts would be better expended for reforms such as primaries, electoral reform or abolishing deposits.
Referendum is both a boon and a curse for bid to lower the voting age
My article for The Conversation (24 September 2014) in the aftermath of the Scottish independence referendum, responding to the growing political support for lowering the voting age to 16. I summarised arguments in favour of the change, and highlighted a downside with the idea that it be discussed in a constitutional convention.
Scots living overseas or elsewhere in the UK should have been given the right to vote in the independence referendum
My post for Democratic Audit (15 September 2014) shortly before the Scottish independence referendum, arguing that Scottish voters living outside the country should have been able to vote. This includes expats – who had their vote removed by the Scottish Government – and those living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
