Search Result

Srl

Item

ID: 103540

Expenses scandal and the politics of electoral reform / Renwick, Alan; Lamb, Michael; Numan, Berna

Renwick, Alan	Journal Article
	0 Rating(s) & 0 Review(s)

Publication

2011.

Summary/Abstract

The scandal over MPs' expenses that erupted in 2009 was followed by a surge in discussion of electoral reform. A range of reforms to Westminster's existing electoral system are now high on the political agenda. This article examines the extent and the nature of the scandal's impact on the electoral reform debate and draws out comparative implications for the sorts of conditions that can force politicians to accept electoral reforms that they do not want. It finds that the expenses scandal significantly changed debate about some electoral reform topics, but not about others. It proposes three factors likely to increase the impact of scandal in sparking reform: that the scandal is seen as harming ordinary people in their daily lives; that reforms can readily be understood as likely to mitigate the sources of scandal; and that those reforms do not seriously harm politicians' own perceived interests.

Key Words

Electoral Reform ; Expenses Scandal ; Alternative Vote ; Recall ; Primaries

In Basket

Export

ID: 095288

How honest do politicians need to be / Birch, Sarah; Allen, Nicholas

Birch, Sarah	Journal Article
	0 Rating(s) & 0 Review(s)

Publication

2010.

Summary/Abstract

This article reports findings from a recent survey of citizens' attitudes towards standards in British public life. It provides further evidence that people hold their political leaders to high standards, yet are often disappointed by the reality, and suggests that many citizens tend to blame the practice and institutions of politics for making politicians less honest and trustworthy than they would ideally like. The article argues that reforms to the political system are needed to regain the confidence of the population, but that the manner in which the most recent round of ethics reforms in the House of Commons were introduced may lower the prospects of their achieving this goal.

Key Words

Public Opinion ; Political ethics ; Corruption ; Expenses Scandal

In Basket

Export