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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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The Steele Dossier, the Indicted FBI Officer and the ‘Most Consequential Investigations in US History’
Christopher Steele is concerned his dossier on Donald Trump’s Russian connections was held up at the FBI Office whose head of Counter Intelligence has been indicted for working with one of Putin’s most powerful oligarchs
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Rishi Sunak’s Government is Sinking Into its Own Swamp
The Prime Minister promised a break from the chaos and corruption of Boris Johnson’s administration. After three months, his MPs fear little has changed
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Labour MPs Quit Parliamentary Lobbying Group Set Up to Slash Tax on Petrol as Ties to Big Polluters Emerge
One Labour MP quit after a report by the APPG criticising the move to electric vehicles was backed by the Global Warming Policy Foundation – often described as the most high-profile climate ‘sceptic’ body in the UK
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Landmark Ruling in Strasbourg as MPs Challenge UK Government over Failure to Investigate Russian Interference in Brexit
‘Nothing less than the future of democracy is at stake’ says Caroline Lucas as a cross-party coalition and The Citizens win an unprecedented hearing over electoral safety and national security
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Scandal of the Moonlighting MPs: Conservatives Take Jobs Worth £700,000 Working for Party Donors
The Labour Party told Byline Times there is ‘no reason why a serving constituency MP needs to make thousands and thousands of pounds as a consultant or by lobbying on behalf of businesses’
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Special Investigation: The Vested Private Interests Behind Westminster’s Influential Lobbying Groups
Sam Bright investigates a murky aspect of our political system, where landlords fund private rental research and fossil fuel firms donate to environmental groups
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Millions Could Lose Right to Vote as Vast Majority Still in Dark Over Voter ID Change, New Poll Shows
Up to two million people could be denied a vote unless they apply for ID – with public awareness about the new rules worryingly low, polling for Byline Times has found
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Conservatives Accused of ‘Camouflage’ Campaign Tactics After Imitating Green Party Leaflets
A number of Conservative candidates appear to have suddenly dropped the party’s blue branding, reports Max Colbert
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Government Offers No Dedicated Cash for Councils to Warn People they will Need Voter ID in May Elections
Councils could have to choose between hiring extra staff to implement the change or informing voters that their vote is at risk, Byline Times has learned
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The US Far-Right Cheerleaders of the Attack on Brazil’s Democracy
The links between Brazil’s far-right leaders and the US Stop The Steal activists suggest a globally-connected movement determined to attack democracy, reports Sian Norris
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Clashes over the definite Left
Anthony Barnett explores what he sees as the global emergence of a radical, progressive politics – especially in the United States
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Conservatives Branded ‘Hypocrites’ Over Minimum Service Law Threat to Unions as Lords are No-Shows
Many members of the Conservative Party’s lords bench seem to be taking indefinite strike action, Byline Times analysis suggests
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Mass Misinformation: The Catholic Charity and the Far-Right Activists
An exclusive report in collaboration with the Citizens and funded by the European Fund for Investigative Journalism explores the links between a Catholic Nationalist group and the Italian far-right
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‘Held Ransom by the ‘Blue-Eyed Babies’ of Sovereignty and Elective Dictatorship, What’s Our Escape?’
At the end of the year of three Conservative prime ministers leading a country in crisis, AC Grayling considers what the UK can do to free itself of the constitutional and political chaos it finds itself in
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‘Human Rights – Here at Home?’
Sanchita Hosali, CEO of the British Institute of Human Rights, explains why 158 civil society groups have written an open letter to Rishi Sunak, urging him to stand firm on the Human Rights Act
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MPs Advocate for NHS Privatisation While Being Funded by Private Health Firms
Sam Bright investigates how a parliamentary lobbying group on healthcare has been backed by private interests
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Can Citizens’ Assemblies Improve Our Response to Crises?
Governments should use assemblies to tackle the issues at the heart of public debate during a crisis, write Stefan Flothmann and Brett Hennig
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Xi-Think: The Imminent Dangers of Absolute Power in China
The fate of China and much of the world is now dependent on the whims of one man, says Chris Ogden
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‘The Pariah State that Allows Lawfare’
The UK has an opportunity to lead the way with a national anti-SLAPP law, or risk falling behind the European Union, a coalition of activists, lawyers and journalists warn
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A Crisis of Leadership and the Shortening of the Ministerial Lifespan
Max Colbert reports that 147 members of the Government have either resigned or been sacked this year alone — one every two days
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‘Beware Absolute Monarchs Bearing Gifts’
Afsana Lachaux warns of the impact of Britain’s dependence on the £140bn invested by Gulf states, from the impact on London’s housing to a rising political influence
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Government May Face Legal Challenge Over Voter ID in Elections Next Year
A legal briefing by Good Law Project says that election groups will have to closely monitor who loses out when mandatory voter ID comes into force in just a matter of months
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The Toxin of Televisuality
As the democratic dangers posed by social media are exposed, the degradation of our politics by the small screen should not be forgotten, writes AC Grayling
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‘They Know Who I Am, They Know What I’m Doing’: Arrested Journalists Speak Out over New Policing Act
Josiah Mortimer talks to Tom Bowles and Rich Felgate who were locked up for covering an environmental protest, and reports on more repressive legislation to come.
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The US Midterms and the Lucrative Business of Election Denial
Matt Bernadini inspects the funding sources of those backing Trump’s ‘stolen election’ theory
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‘Amateur Hour in British Politics’
As more and more ministers are handed top jobs for their loyalty rather than their competence, former diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall considers what we can do about this democratic deficit
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‘Musk’s Twitter Buy Makes No Sense – Unless It’s Part of Something Bigger’
Brexit and Trump were initially seen as jokes, but the new owner of the social media giant could pose a serious threat to democracy – and a boon for Vladimir Putin, writes David Troy
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The American Midterms: ‘This Might be the Last Election Where Your Vote Matters’
Heidi Siegmund Cuda speaks to academic and author Jason Stanley on how solidarity on the left is America’s last great hope against fascism
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‘The Suella Braverman Scandal Shows Rishi Sunak has Quickly Traded “Integrity” for Power’
The new Prime Minister’s deal with the disgraced Home Secretary gives the lie to claims he is making a clean break from the Truss and Johnson eras, writes Adam Bienkov
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All But One of Boris Johnson’s Cabinet Ministers Used Private Email – Why?
Suella Braverman has returned to the Home Office following her resignation last week over her use of private email – but Iain Overton reports how using personal channels is a common occurrence among cabinet ministers
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Government Rushing Ahead with Voter ID Next Year Despite Warning It Poses ‘Significant Risk to Safe Elections’
David Hencke reports on the controversial move to make voters bring photographic ID when they turn up to vote in next year’s May local elections in England
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‘How Will We Know Putin hasn’t Picked the Most Disruptive Candidate?’
Security experts and democracy campaigners raise fears over wild west Conservative leadership election if it goes to members, reports Josiah Mortimer
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‘Bringing Back Johnson would be a Betrayal of Sexual Harassment Survivors’
The former Prime Minister’s downfall followed his claims he did not know about sexual assault allegations against an ally – that alone means he should not be returned to high office, argues Sian Norris
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‘The “Second Coming” of Boris Johnson Shows the Conservatives are a Party Woefully Out of Ideas’
That the scandal-prone former Prime Minister is even being discussed as a replacement for Liz Truss proves how out-of-touch with reality the governing party now is, writes George Llewelyn
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Strange Allies: Hungary, Russia and the UK
Szabolcs Panyi looks at the affinities between British Conservatives and Viktor Orbán in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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Was Justice a Victim of the War in Afghanistan?
New data shows how complaints against the UK military in Afghanistan were highly unlikely to be prosecuted, report Iain Overton and Murray Jones
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‘Lack of Evidence’ of Drugs Use in Parliament, Met Concludes
A series of confusing, contradictory statements have been issued about cocaine being found in parliamentary bathrooms
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Reform or Ruin: Could Labour Win the Next Election but Lose the Future?
AV Deggar considers the structural changes needed from Labour, if it knocks the Conservatives out of power at the next election
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China: The Dawn of the Authoritarian Century?
Chris Ogden looks at how democracy is retreating in the face of China’s ‘Pax Autocratica’ – capitalism combined with state intervention and one-party rule
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Saudi Oil Decision Exposes More Failed British Diplomacy
Saudi Arabia is following the example of Russia by mocking Britain’s permissive, pro-trade policies, say Sam Bright and Sian Norris
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‘The UK Must Help Bosnia Resist Putin’s Pressure’
Following Bosnia’s elections, Labour MP Fleur Anderson discusses the country’s prospects and what Britain can do to help
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Who Voted For This, Liz?
Rupert Read says Liz Truss has no authority to govern based on 80,000 Conservative members and calls for an immediate general election
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Individuals on UN Sanctions List Allowed to Trade in UK
Diogo Augusto unpicks the UK’s lax surveillance of company directors
