Elections

• NILGA: Give councils the power to change Northern Ireland

  The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has called for the role of councils to be formally reviewed and strengthened after the elections in May, giving greater decision making powers to local people and places.

  

• Tower Hamlets first council to trial photographic entry system in by-elections

  Tower Hamlets Council will be the first in the country to use an automated photographic entry system in two of its by-election counts today.

  

• Rural councils should get the chance to influence voter ID rollout

  Voter ID pilots due to take place across 11 councils this year will help provide an insight into the best way to ensure the integrity of the voting process in the future, says Paul Shevlin.

  

• More councils chosen to pilot voter ID scheme

  The 11 local authorities taking part in the 2019 voter ID pilots in England have been announced by the Government.

  

• Wales set to extend franchise to 16 and 17 year olds

  Welsh Assembly looks set to extend the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds in what campaigners are calling ‘a vital step towards a fairer franchise’ for Wales.

  

• Council hits back at 'insulting' one party state claims

  Manchester City Council has hit back at a claim by the Liberal Democrats that it is a 'one party state' like North Korea.

  

• Lib Dems attack 'supermajority problem' councils

  The Liberal Democrats have launched an attack on 'supermajority problem councils like Manchester' at their annual conference in Brighton.

  

• Voter ID scheme could cost up to £20m per general election, research finds

  The national rollout of the government’s voter ID plans could cost up to £20m per general election, new analysis has revealed today.

  

• Not enough evidence to prosecute in Tower Hamlets fraud case, Met says

  An investigation into allegations of fraud in Tower Hamlets has concluded that there is not enough evidence to prosecute those involved, although evidence of a ‘serious criminal offence’ has been uncovered.

  

• In defence of voter ID

  The subject of voter ID has divided many people, but Bob Neill calls for those sceptical about reform to catch up with the rest of the modern world.