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ID: 103540

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

Renwick, Alan	Journal Article
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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

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ID: 138887

Recalling MPs: accountable to whom? / Wright, Tony

Wright, Tony	Article
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Summary/Abstract

The legislation on recall of MPs, introduced as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal, was presented as filling an accountability gap. The nature of this alleged gap is examined, and it is argued that the accountability of Members of Parliament is more complicated than the recall proposal suggests. This includes issues about the regulation of parliamentary standards. Finally, the recall proposal is located within the context of discussion about the condition of representative democracy.

Key Words

Democracy ; Parliament ; Accountability ; Representation ; Standards ; Recall

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