Research briefings

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• All-women shortlists Published 18 December 2012 | Standard notes SN05057 This note looks at the background to the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 which allowed political parties to draw up all-women shortlists of candidates for elections; and its extension. It gives details of Labour candidates selected through all-women shortlists and methods of positive action used by the main political parties to increase the number of women MPs. Topic: Elections, Equality, General elections, Members of Parliament, Parliament, Political parties, Sex discrimination
• Membership of UK political parties Published 03 December 2012 | Standard notes SN05125 There has been a large decrease in reported membership of UK political parties over the post-war period. In 2011, only 1.0% of the electorate was a member of one of the three main political parties. Labour had approximately 193,000 members, the Conservatives 130,000 to 150,000 and the Liberal Democrats 49,000. However in the early 1950s, the Conservatives claimed nearly 3 million members while Labour claimed more than 1 million members. Topic: Political parties
• In brief: party funding Published 09 November 2012 | Standard notes SN06123 This note briefly draws together Library material on party funding issues; provides a chronology of Sir Hayden Phillips’ review of party funding; notes the information that the CSPL has published as its inquiry proceeded; notes press coverage the CSPL inquiry generated; and notes developments since the publication of the CSPL report. Topic: Political parties
• Non-domiciled donors-Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 Published 10 October 2012 | Standard notes SN06435 This standard note briefly discusses non-domiciled donors in relation to the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 Topic: Political parties
• PIL: Conservative Party: Chairmen of the party organisation Published 10 September 2012 | Standard notes SN03180 This PIL lists Chairmen of the Conservative Party since 1975 together with any ministerial office held. Topic: Political parties
• Short Money Published 11 July 2012 | Standard notes SN01663 This note provides details of the current levels of 'Short money' allocated to opposition parties for parliamentary duties, and a brief history of the scheme. Figures for the corresponding scheme in the House of Lords (Cranborne money) are provided.The note also provides details of allocations made under the representative money scheme. Topic: Parliament, Political parties
• In Brief: Election in Jordan 2010 Published 28 October 2010 | Standard notes SN05737 The forthcoming election in Jordan will not have a big impact on the country's political scene. Political parties are weak and the monarchy retains most of the power in the country. Topic: Elections, Middle East, Political parties
• Leadership Elections: Labour Party Published 06 October 2010 | Standard notes SN03938 This note outlines the rules under which leadership elections are conducted by the Labour Party and gives details of previous leadership contests. Topic: Political parties
• Hung parliaments Published 03 June 2010 | Standard notes SN04951 This note sets out situations where there has been no overall control in the House of Commons during the twentieth century. It considers precedents and conventions governing how the monarch might decide which party should form a government in such a situation, and when a request for a dissolution might be granted. The note also considers how a minority government or coalition might affect the work of Parliament. Lastly, it looks briefly at the formation of coalition governments in Scotland and Wales. Topic: Central government, General elections, Parliament, Political parties
• Pre-election contacts between civil servants and Opposition parties Published 13 January 2010 | Standard notes SN03318 By convention, opposition parties are entitled to enter into confidential discussions with senior civil servants in the run-up to a general election. This note outlines the current arrangements and also provides a brief history of the convention. Topic: Civil Service, Elections, General elections, Political parties
• Donations to Members of Parliament Published 17 December 2009 | Standard notes SN01119 From 1 July 2009 Members no longer have to report certain donations to both the Electoral Commission and Registrar of Members' Interests. The Note examines the history behind this dual requirement enacted in the Political Parties, Election and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). Section 59 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 provided for dual registration to end, but implementation of this provision was delayed until July 2009. The Note also sets out the new limits on donations which have to be declared by Members, enacted in the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009. Topic: General elections, Members of Parliament, Political parties, Public administration
• Progress of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2008-09 Published 27 July 2009 | Standard notes SN04967 The Political Parties and Elections Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 17 July 2008 and was carried over from the 2007-08 session. The Bill received Royal Assent on 21 July 2009. This Note summarises the debates and changes made to the Bill in the House of Commons and the House of Lords after Committee stage in the Commons Topic: Elections, Political parties
• Party finance - a chronology Published 04 June 2009 | Standard notes SN04527 This Note provides a chronology of events which is intended to supplement the information provided in Library Research Paper 07/34 The Funding of Political Parties, printed on 10 April 2007. Topic: Political parties
• Electoral performance of the British National Party in the UK Published 08 May 2009 | Standard notes SN05064 This note provides data on the electoral performance of the UK's British National Party (BNP) in local and parliamentary elections. This note has been updated to include results from the local elections held in England on 1 May 2008. It also comments upon results from various elections up to 2006, as well as overall results from the 2007 and 2008 local elections. Topic: Election results : UK, Elections, Electoral systems, European Parliament, Local government, Parliament, Political parties
• European Parliament Political Groups Published 26 March 2009 | Standard notes SN05031 This Note looks briefly at political groups in the European Parliament. Topic: Elections, European Parliament, Political parties
• Political Parties and Elections Bill: Committee Stage Report Published 16 December 2008 | Research papers RP08/91 This is a report on the Committee Stage of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2007-08 produced in response to a recommendation of the Modernisation Committee in its report on The Legislative Process (HC 1097, 2005-06). The Bill has been reintroduced as Bill 4 of 2008-09 and is awaiting a date for report stage in the Commons. Topic: Elections, Political parties, Election expenditure
• The Political Parties and Elections Bill Published 30 September 2008 | Research papers RP08/74 This Research Paper looks at the Political Parties and Elections Bill, it includes impacts on the Electoral Commission and political donations and expediture. Topic: Elections, Political parties, Election expenditure
• Peerage creations 1958-2008. LLN 2008/019 Published 24 July 2008 | Library notes LLN 2008/019 Amended 16 December 2011 This Note presents detailed information on all peerage creations since the first list of life peers was published on 24th July 1958. It updates earlier Notes to the situation at 24th July 2008. Topic: House of Lords, Members of Parliament, Members of the Lords, Political parties
• Third parties donations and expenditure: regulation by PPERA Published 16 July 2008 | Standard notes SN04804 This Note gives a brief guide to the rules governing campaigning by third parties or pressure groups in elections. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000 (PPERA) introduced regulation at a national level and also reformed the rules for individual elections at constituency level. Further reform has been suggested. Topic: Election expenditure, Elections, General elections, Political parties
• Leadership Elections: Liberal Democrats Published 22 October 2007 | Standard notes SN03872 This note outlines the rules under which leadership elections are conducted by the Liberal Democrats and provides details of previous leadership contests. Topic: Political parties