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SubscriptionsColumn / Investigation: Democracy in Danger
The newspaper’s extensive reporting and analysis of the various threats to democracy from populism, oligarchy, dark money and online disinformation.
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‘Nothing But a Ruse’: The Cambodian Elections are Another Assault on Democracy
The appointment of the current leader’s son is another example of how oligarchy and autocracy is turning the tide against democracy
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The UK and US’ Turbulent Times: A Race to the Bottom
Former British diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall, who now lives in the US, explores which country has been on the bigger self-destruct mission
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‘Who or What to Blame? Education, Education, Education’
Too many voters are insufficiently informed and reflective to vote other than tribally or self-interestedly in exploitable ways due to failings in how we conceive of ‘education’, writes AC Grayling
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‘We Must Defend Our Democratic Space Before It’s Too Late’
Caroline Slocock – director of think tank Civil Exchange – explores how politicians’ respect for our democratic institutions has shifted since she was the first female private secretary at No. 10 under Margaret Thatcher
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Ministers Block Calls for Overhaul of Lobbying Rules Despite Slew of Sleaze Scandals
Westminster’s top ethics watchdog will remain under the Prime Minister’s thumb, raising questions about impartiality.
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Johnson’s Mystery Peers: The Questions Charlotte Owen and Ross Kempsell Should Answer Over their New Peerages
What do you do to get a seat in the Lords?
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The Conservatives Skirted Close to the Limits of Electoral Law to Keep Uxbridge and South Ruislip Tory
Why was the governing party so shy in Uxbridge?
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More Donations to Politicians to Go Hidden from Public Eye as Michael Gove Quietly Changes the Rules Ahead of Election
Elections watchdog raises concerns as party spending limits could rise by 52% – while ministers keep donations to under £11,000 anonymous.
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Farage and Coutts: It’s Not McCarthyism – It’s Customer Due Diligence
But was the bank’s research into Farage diligent enough? asks Tom Scott.
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The Tory donor, Soviet-born Billionaire and Fossil Fuel Interests Bankrolling British Politics
Policy Exchange, Institute for Economic Affairs, Global Warming Policy Foundation and co refuse to name their donors. But Peter Geoghegan has found recently published US tax documents that reveal important new details about who funds these secretive think tanks
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Fake News: Conservatives Slammed for Party By-Election Leaflets Pretending to Be Local Newspapers
Tories are using “fake” local newspapers in all three by-elections
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The Covid Inquiry Has Still Not Been Given All of Boris Johnson’s WhatsApps
A spokesperson for the Covid Inquiry told Byline Times they still did not know when they would be given access to the messages on the former Prime Minister’s phone
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Westminster’s Winner-Takes-All Voting System Skewed Britain Towards a Hard Brexit, Report Suggests
The Democratic Unionist Party had an outsized voice in Westminster during Britain’s Brexit negotiations.
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‘While “the Government” is a Thing Political Parties Fight to Own and Control, Real Government Will Remain a Dream’
Governments are run by political parties and for political interests – but they shouldn’t be, argues philosopher AC Grayling
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‘A Deeply Concerning Precedent in a Democratic Society’: Council of Europe Shares Criticism Over Charging Journalists to Cover Party Conference
The move from the governing party has sparked concerns over press freedom
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Privacy Battle Rages Over Government Plans which ‘Could End’ Encrypted Messaging Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram
A global coalition is urging ministers and lords to protect end-to-end encryption in the Online Safety Bill
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Labour and ‘The Purge’: Leadership’s Direction Sparks Revolt Among MPs and Activists
Concerns are increasing that Labour Leader Keir Starmer risks creating a stifling monoculture in the party
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Hypocrisy and Tribalism: The Dangers of Our ‘So What?’ Political Culture
Renowned weapons expert Dan Kaszeta, who was blacklisted by the Government over his tweets, explores how ‘amoral familism’ has come to penetrate our public life
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Fears of Discrimination as Scale of Voters Denied a Vote by Lack of Photo ID in By-Elections to Remain ‘Unknown’
The Electoral Commission has highlighted a black-hole in its research on the impact of voter ID ahead of the next General Election
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‘The Case for PR Rests on Arguments Around Socio-Economic and Political Justice’
Changing the voting system would be a driver of achieving greater equality of income and wealth, argues a Labour peer
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Public Overwhelmingly Opposed to Liz Truss Dishing Out Gongs and Peerages in Resignation Honours
Exclusive polling for Byline Times suggests that the public rejects the short-lived Prime Minister being able to create new peers in the Lords
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UK Democracy ‘In Retreat’ Despite Ousting of Boris Johnson, New Report Finds
According to the research, ministers have pushed through changes to Britain’s political system that pose ‘considerable risks’ for the country’s democratic future
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The Great British Vote Robbery: Report Reveals Democratic Disaster of UK’s New Voter ID Laws
Electoral Commission finds that at least 14,000 people were denied their fundamental right to vote. Next year’s General Election could be much worse
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Lords Demand Political Parties Launch Tougher Checks on Foreign Donations – But Ministers Set to Block Move
There are fears that foreign powers can use proxies to channel cash into UK political parties
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Over 200,000 Demand Rishi Sunak Blocks Liz Truss from Appointing Pals to House of Lords and Getting Huge ‘Annual Taxpayer Bung’
Even her former aides are livid at the plans
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Russian Roulette: Foreign Interference and how the Conservatives are Gambling with our Elections
Despots and kleptocrats have their eyes trained on British politics – and our laws are doing little to protect us
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Rishi Sunak’s Cowardice over Boris Johnson’s Lies is a Mark of Shame on his Government
The Prime Minister has refused to stand up against his predecessor’s shameful record of dishonesty
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Boris Johnson’s Privileges Committee Verdict Exposes Rishi Sunak’s Complicity
The Prime Minister is deeply complicit in every part of Boris Johnson’s disgraceful period at the top of British politics
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Workers ‘Will Find a Way’ Around New Conservative Anti-Strike Laws – Including by Pulling ‘Sickies’
Former TUC General Secretary says the “ingenuity of working people” will prevail over anti-union legislation.
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Government Pushes Through ‘Deeply Concerning’ Clampdown on Protest Rights as Labour Lords Stand Back
With minimal parliamentary scrutiny, the Conservatives pass controversial changes to protest laws that could criminalise any disruptive demonstration
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Make or Break Moment for Protest Rights as Lords Set to Vote on ‘Chilling’ Changes
Leading barrister and dozens of organisations raise serious concerns about the “chilling effect” of the Government’s latest attempt to restrict the right to protest
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Anger as Labour Refuses to Back Bid to Stop Government Quietly Changing Definition of Disruptive Protest
The government is preparing to quietly amend the definition of disruptive protest in ‘chilling’ change already rejected by peers
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Coronation Controversy Continues: The Met Police Keeps Defending the Erosion of Peaceful Dissent
As the dust settles on the coronation, peaceful protesters need more than hints at a forthcoming apology, writes our Chief Reporter
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Plans for a Mass Tactical Voting Campaign to Defeat an ‘Unholy Alliance’ of Conservatives and Reform UK
The next General Election could be decided by millions of tactical voters turning out to defeat Rishi Sunak’s party
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Unpicking the Government’s Blacklist Policy: ‘The Devil is in the Details’
A renowned weapons expert uninvited from a government conference sets out his concerns around the policy that has now appeared to justify experts being ‘cancelled’ in Whitehall
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Government Preparing to Quietly Amend the Definition of Disruptive Protest in ‘Chilling’ Change
‘Sneaky, cheating bastards’ – Josiah Mortimer reports on a peer leading the charge against the Government’s fresh protest clampdown
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What Rishi Sunak is Trying to Hide with his WhatsApp Cover-Up
The Prime Minister’s real motivation for refusing to comply with the COVID Inquiry is not to protect Boris Johnson – but to protect himself, reports Adam Bienkov
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‘Suella Braverman’s Survival Shows Sunak’s ‘Core Value’ is Self-Interest’
Given the choice between restoring ‘integrity and accountability’ to Government or protecting his own interests, Sunak has consistently chosen the latter, reports Adam Bienkov
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‘I Was Cancelled by Sunak’s Government For Criticising Them on Twitter’
Renowned weapons expert Dan Kaszeta reveals how he fell victim to a Soviet-style blacklist after UK officials discovered he had criticised Government policy on Twitter
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No Parliamentary Investigation Into Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Comments that Conservatives Introduced Voter ID to ‘Gerrymander’ Elections
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Electoral Commission and Cabinet Office will not be looking into remarks by a former member of the Government that introduced the controversial policy
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Met Police Accused of Twisting the Truth Over Coronation Arrests – As Labour Refuses to Back Bid to Repeal Controversial Protest Law
Commons session turns to farce as Conservative Deputy Chair suggests all protestors should just stand for election instead, Josiah Mortimer reports
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Demands for More Scrutiny of Political Donations as Conservative Donor Tied to ‘Laundromat’ Court Case
Javad Marandi, a major Conservative Party benefactor, is named as a ‘person of importance’ in a money laundering court case, sparking fresh questions over party donations, Josiah Mortimer reports
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Calls for Parliamentary Investigation into Potential Breach of Ministerial Code Over Rees-Mogg’s Shocking Voter ID Admission
The former Commons leader said it was a deliberate attempt to ‘gerrymander’ elections in the Conservatives’ favour. Josiah Mortimer reports
