UK Democracy Bulletin
Issue #77 — February 2025
Monthly news, jobs, grants and gossip from across the democracy sector, brought to you by James Moulding and Max Roche of the UK Democracy Network. Read by 450+ democracy organisations. We read everyone’s newsletters & research so you don’t have to. If you want us to cover yours, let us know: hello@democracynetwork.org.uk
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- Join the Democracy Network
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Highlights
- Local Elections postponed in 29 council areas
- Filton 24 jury refuses to convict in high profile protest trial
- Transparency International UK continues slide down corruption rankings
- Patriotic Alternative calls for far-right group to be banned following BBC investigation
- BBC Charter Renewal government consultation blueprint for permanent decline, say campaigners
- mySociety hosting new freedom of information fest next Thursday 19 Feb
- UK Government launches review into foreign interference in British politics
- Speak Out civic space under unprecedented threat, warns conference
#DemocracyJobs
Featured Job Listings across the Democracy Sector. View the full database of upcoming job listings here — have we missed any? Add them via this form.
Rolling deadlines
- Multiple roles: Association of Democratic Services Officers
Featured upcoming roles
- Apply by February 13th: Researcher on Participation and Democratic Innovations at Joint Research Centre (€4,449,31–6,444,59)
- Apply by February 14th: Community Builder at Fawcett Society (£36–40,000)
- Apply by February 14th: Senior Communications Adviser at Spotlight on Corruption (£50,672)
- Apply by February 15th: CEO at Sheila McKechnie Foundation (£60–72,000)
- Apply by 15th February: Technical Project Manager at The Electoral Commission (£52,420 to £55,041)
- Apply by February 15th: Trustee (x2) Stuart Hall Foundation (voluntary)
- Apply by February 15th: PhD Student (Democratic Theory) at The University of Lausanne (Salary not stated)
- Apply by February 16th: Editorial Research Assistant at Westminster Forum Projects (dependent on experience)
- Apply by February 16th: Deputy Director at Campaign Lab (£60–65,000)
- Apply by February 23rd: Events and Community Officer at LabourList (£29–34,000)
- Apply by February 27th: Director (x3) at Elect Her (voluntary)
- Apply by February 27th: Chair of Board at 50:50 Parliament (voluntary)
- Apply by March 1st: Research, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at Future Advocacy (£28,000)
- Apply by March 8th: Non-Executive Directors at The Politics Project (voluntary)
- Apply by March 20th: Chair of the Board at Demos
Election News
Thirty English councils to delay elections
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed MP gave 30 councils permission to postpone their elections late last month, after dozens of councils came forward requesting a postponement citing concerns over capacity constraints.
Election postponement ‘dark days for democracy’, say Unlock Democracy
As millions see their local elections postponed for a second year in a row, in some areas voters will have gone seven years without any say on their local councillors or how their councils are run. Unlock Democracy highlight more than half of the postponed areas fall within areas where Labour performed poorly in the 2025 General Election.
Array of organisations including Electoral Commission highlight postponement concerns
The Electoral Commission has stated their disappointment at postponing elections just three months out from election day, whilst the Electoral Reform Society similarly criticise the government for late-stage postponement — reminding the UK government that ‘citizens have the right to expect regular local elections’. For all the info on postponement, see the Institute for Government’s brief on the upcoming poll. The Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle also remarked elections should go ahead as normal.
HOPE not hate organising locally to ‘make elections visible’
HOPE not hate is launching a new initiative this year called ‘Vote HOPE 2026’. It is a new project that aims to support people in communities to organise locally, make local elections more visible, and ultimately to act as a bulwark against the expansion of Reform UK and far-right groups, they say.
Reform UK launches legal challenge over elections, review due 19th Feb
Reform UK has launched a legal challenge through the High Court over the election postponements, with a review of the case due on 19th February. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) notes misleading reporting regarding the January 20th local election High Court ruling — that there is no block in place in relation to laying of Statutory Instruments, nor any decision made by the court.
Democracy Sector 🗳️
Max Roche set to leave the Democracy Network team
A valued member of the Democracy Network family, Max Roche has been working on the project, compiling our monthly bulletins and helping to maintain our various databases and jobs boards for over four years, first at the Centre for Democracy, then Involve — and now with our new hosts Democracy Club and The Politics Project. Max leaves us at the end of this month to take up a new role at the Future Governance Forum — Good luck Max!
Electoral Commission looking to improve election observation activities
Are you politically active with a public interest in politics or democracy? Do you work or volunteer for an organisation concerned with democratic rights — but don’t have public political ties? If so, the Electoral Commission would like to hear from you to help improve the transparency of democracy in the UK and work to observe elections and referendums.
mySociety investigates: What’s wrong with donations data?
Following hot on the heels of their report Beyond Transparency last year, mySociety have published a new report into what they’ve learned — and what they think could be better — about the systems for reporting elections donations. Download now and watch the launch event on YouTube.
Don’t miss: mySociety’s Freedom of Information Festival
On Thursday 19th February mySociety will be hosting their first Freedom of Information Festival, co-organised by the FOI Network, with support from the Birckbeck Centre for Political Life and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. Grab your ticket now.
Remembering Mark Longair
Mark Longair passed away last month. Mark was the creator of Democracy Club’s candidate crowd-sourcing website, a much valued developer at mySociety — who populated the original Scottish candidate listings on TheyWorkForYou, originator of the UK’s only open geographical dataset of postcode boundaries, and a widely respected figure in the UK civic technology community. See these posts celebrating and remembering Mark Longair — Sym Roe, Anna Powell-Smith, Tom Steinberg, Myfanwy Nixon.
UK to chair Open Government Partnership from October, Kevin Keith reports
UK Open Government Network Chair, Kevin Keith, reports that the UK is to chair the Open Government Partnership from this coming October, marking a significant opportunity for influence and engagement with the global open government movement.
The Politics Project launch new E-learning platform
With Votes at 16 just around the corner it’s more important than ever that schools, youth groups and organisations have access to high quality democratic education. Developed with the Electoral Commission, The Politics Project’s new E-learning platform includes training courses on how elections work, who can vote and how to support young people to confidently exercise their democratic rights — check it out now.
Filton 24 defendants acquitted in ‘powerful affirmation of jury independence and moral courage’
In August 2024, six people undertook direct action to dismantle military hardware to be exported for use by Israel as part of its ongoing military occupation of Palestine. The group were arrested in counter-terror raids and have been held on remand for two years. The case was originally used to justify the ban against Palestine Action. Last week a crown court jury refused to convict all Filton 24 defendants of every charge they faced, despite ‘extraordinary political pressure’, in what the Bristol Cable have called a ‘powerful affirmation of jury independence and moral courage’.
Compassion in Politics call on government to end misuse of terror laws
Following the Filton 24 trial last week, Compassion in Politics’ CEO, Jennifer Nadel, argues this legal victory must be turned into a policy mandate, ending attacks on the right to a trial by jury and ensuring no more terrorism labels for protesters, stating that the crown court victory shows current government policy is ‘fundamentally out of step with public conscience’. Compassion in Politics have started a new open letter calling for the end of terror laws used against nonviolent protesters.
Elect Her looking for three new Directors to join their board
Are you the right person to join the incredible team at Elect Her? Find out more about the three board positions and apply now, deadline 27th February.
Campaign Lab are on the lookout for a new Deputy Director
Hannah O’Rourke and the team at Campaign Lab are on the lookout for a new and senior member of their team to support their campaign innovation work. Find out more and apply before the 16th February deadline.
How can the UK social change sector meet the moment? Asks Natasha Adams and Jim Coe
Natasha Adams and Jim Coe have launched a new report exploring how UK civil society organisations can respond to growing authoritarianism and the rise of the far right. Developed from discussions with more than 140 civil society stakeholders, the report argues organisations need to respond urgently, radically and in a sustained way — find out more.
Electoral Reform Society Scotland reflect on Dunfermline New City Assembly
Willie Sullivan, Director of Electoral Reform Society Scotland, reports on the first meeting of the new Dunfermine New City Assembly. Check out Willie’s reflections on the new assembly in Fife.
Climate Emergency UK hosting Accelerating Local Climate Action Conference
Climate Emergency UK’s upcoming conference aims to gather climate and democracy sector organisations in support of accelerating council climate action. Their latest report explores the impact of their 2025 Scorecards, looking at how the wealth and governance of a council and public participation accelerates council climate action and policy implementation. Find out more.
Together Alliance aims to provide hope in response to rise of racism and far-right
A new alliance of hundreds of organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain, Friends of the Earth, National Union of Students, British Medical Association, Refugee Action, Trades Union Congress, the Security Industry Federation, Social Enterprise UK and many more, with celebrity support ranging from Paloma Faith to Asim Chaudry — have come together to reject narratives of division and racism and unite against far-right politics across the UK. The Together Alliance has announced a march and demonstration on 28 March in London.
Hope Not Hate announce new A Million Acts of Hope partnership
38 Degrees, Hope Not Hate, the Refugee Council, Good Faith Partnership, faith organisations and community organisations across the UK, are coming together for a week of action 13th — 20th May aimed at inspiring common acts of hope and kindness in communities up and down the country, against those ‘who seek to spread hate and harm our communities’.
Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub discussion paper outlines new devolution approaches
In their latest paper, Drs Amy Burnett, Jason Leman and Daniel Ozarow look at the role of town and parish councils and their role in making devolution work for communities. The paper was developed following the National Association of Local Councils’ Power Shift Conference and responds to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill — Read on for their key findings.
Taxpayers Alliance cite ‘no taxation without representation’ over council tax rises
As local authorities delay elections, some without elections for more than seven years, the Tax Payers Alliance recalls the principle of ‘no taxation without representation’, as 29 postponing councils increase rates.
Applications open for 5-year PhD position exploring democratic theory
The University of Lausanne in Switzerland is looking for a new PhD student to join on a 5-year contract. The prospective doctoral assistant will work with Professor Sandrine Baume on the topic of ‘the relationship between democracy and the life cycle (e.g. old age or youth)’. Application deadline — 15th February.
Training course on Citizen Engagement in Policymaking
Delivered by the EU Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy community of practice, the new training course (open to UK citizens) provides participants with insights into rationales for citizen engagement, principles of good practice, as well as tools for running citizen engagement activities. Registration opens 17th Feb — sign up now.
More in Common polling looks at the state of social cohesion in 2026
More in Common asked Britons how they felt about the divisions facing the country. Their polling finds Britons see migrants versus those born in the UK as the biggest divide, overtaking class as the top faultline. A record number (64%) say the UK is divided and only 15% feel united, although 55% still think the differences can be bridged.
Explore the Kingdom — new tool for discovering constituency data
Produced by Jethro Reeve the new tool, currently in beta, surfaces constituency data and allows for comparative analyses of data across multiple regions. Check it out now.
Democratic Reform & Innovation 💡
UK Parliament to trial citizen-assembly-style events on immigration
The Home Affairs Committee is partnering with Demos and the Centre for British Democracy at King’s College London to host a series of deliberative events to better understand public attitudes on the trade-offs between legal migration and economic growth. 100 people across three locations will be selected to take part with the hosts keen to understand whether any points of consensus exist on the issue.
Citizens’ assembly decides on cultural investment in the West of England
The UK’s first citizens’ assembly on regional culture has published their first report on the West of England. The group has now formed a ‘Citizens for Culture’ panel which has received £100,000 funding from Esmee Fairburn Foundation to pilot ideas to broaden access to arts and culture across the region.
University of Westminster hosts first ever student and staff citizen assembly
Dr Graham Smith of the University of Westminster’s Centre for the Study of Democracy announces the first ever student and staff climate assembly, representing over 20,000 students and 2,000 staff, funded by the Quentin Hogg Trust. At their first meeting, the assembly was welcomed by the University’s President and Vice Chancellor, Peter Bonfield, before design and facilitation lead Sarah Allan led participants through the exciting process — find out more!
People Powered publish latest research on impacts of citizens assemblies
The new research by People Powered details the considerable momentum behind citizens assemblies as an innovative tool for participatory deliberation and agenda setting, drawing from more than 70 studies from across the field. Check out their findings now.
Demoxis — new Innovate UK civic engagement platform
Demoxis is an Innovate UK–funded civic engagement platform designed to strengthen communication between verified citizens and the leaders who represent them, turning fragmented public input into clear, structured insight. They’re preparing small, learning-focused pilots with councillors and MPs to test the platform in real communities and refine what works in practice. The Demoxis team would welcome conversations with councils or civic organisations interested in exploring a limited pilot or collaboration.
Upcoming PSA conference on Democratic Innovations & Democratic Futures
The PSA Participatory and Deliberative Democracy Specialist Group, in collaboration with the Centre for Democratic Futures, are hosting an upcoming conference on participatory and deliberative democracy, to be held at the University of Southampton on 7–8 July 2026.
Two thirds of Labour members support proportional representation, according to new polling
According to a new poll, 66% of Labour members would support the adoption of proportional representation ahead of the next general election. 77% of members who voted for Lucy Powell in the recent deputy leadership race support the change, compared to just under half (49%) of those who voted for Bidget Phillipson.
Democracy Next launch new paper: Scaling Democratic Innovation
The new paper — Scaling Democratic Innovations: Features of Effective Catalyst Organisations & Future Frontiers — looks at the often invisible system of networks, capacity building efforts and relationships with power that drive the success of new democratic projects. Based on 22 interviews with key leaders and stakeholders, the report identifies six core features of successful efforts to scale democratic initiatives.
Social media ban must be compatible with votes for 16-years-olds, says Labour MP
Backbench Labour MP, Josh Dean, told PoliticsHome that whilst he is not against a social media ban for young people, the government needs to carefully consider how it will impact their policy to extend the voting age to 16-year-olds. The 26-year-old MP said the government must work hard to take young people with them so they don’t feel the ban is punitive and unfair.
Democratising the Media 📰
Editors unite to demand action on SLAPPs
Editors of The Telegraph, Guardian, The Independent, Financial Times, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Bloomberg and others, including leading media figures, have signed an open letter calling for the next King’s Speech to limit Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) targeting journalists, news orgs and whistleblowers — as a matter of urgency.
BBC Charter Review Green Paper ‘blueprint for permanent decline’ say Media Reform Coalition
The Government’s Green Paper proposals for reform of the BBC call for commercialisation of the BBC funding model, ‘abandonment’ of the BBC’s principles of universality and signify a ‘lack of commitment to democratic accountability’, say the Media Reform Coalition. The landmark paper on BBC Charter renewal has been rushed through via a 12 week online survey, they say. Find out more via the MRC’s in-depth analysis of the proposals.
Demos call for greater public deliberation to ‘future-proof’ BBC
Demos has published a new paper, Our BBC: A blueprint for a more independent and future-proofed BBC, outlining their vision for how to strengthen the independence and accountability of the BBC. They propose significant reforms to the corporation’s constitution and governance, including embedding public deliberation as a route to deepening resilience. They are now preparing a submission to the Charter Review consultation process.
Indie News Week is back in 2026
From Monday 15th to Sunday 21st June, the Public Information News Foundation will be hosting Indie News Week 2026, returning for its third year in a row. Under the slogan, ‘No News is Bad News’ the campaign will celebrate the vital role local news outlets play in strengthening democracy.
Israeli armed forces responsible for nearly half of all global journalist deaths in 2025
A new report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) finds that Israeli military forces killed 43% of all recorded journalist deaths in 2025. Mexico was recorded as the second most dangerous country for journalists last year, with 24% of journalist murders recorded in the country. RSF Director General, Thibaut Bruttin, said of the findings, ‘We must be wary of false notions about reporters: no one gives their lives for journalism, it is taken from them, journalists do not just die, they are killed.’
Integrity & Transparency 📣
Mandelson allegations show urgent need for stronger misconduct laws, say Transparency International
Jon Norcross and the team at Transparency International UK argue that the Mandelson case underscores how enabling environments for corruption can intersect with other serious abuses, stating the government should accelerate current misconduct reforms to arrest the UK’s declining reputation as a beacon of good governance.
Gordon Brown calls for corruption as new statutory offence
Gordon Brown has called for corruption as a new statutory offence, and that the Ethics and Integrity Commission should be placed on a statutory footing — as Transparency International UK Spotlight on Corruption and others, including the UK Open Government Network, have supported.
Minister commissioned investigation of journalists reporting on Labour Together thinktank
Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP, commissioned an investigation into journalists reporting on the activities and finances of Labour Together, according to investigations by Democracy for Sale. Simons hired PR firm APCO for £30,000 to identify journalists’ sources amidst then ongoing reports of discrepancies in their financial reporting, which led to Electoral Commission fines. The PR industry’s professional body has now opened an investigation into APCO following Democracy for Sale’s findings.
Government launches review into foreign interference in politics
Following the recent prosecution of former MEP Nathan Gill, who took bribes to engage in pro-Russian propaganda, the government has announced an urgent review into foreign interference in UK politics. The review will provide an in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards, and offer recommendations to further mitigate risks from foreign political interference. A 38 Degrees petition calling on the government to close loopholes in foreign political influencing has amassed nearly 50,000 signatures.
UK continues slide down corruption rankings, report Transparency International
In a major new report 2025 Corruptions Perception Index, Transparency International mark the continued backsliding of the UK down global corruption rankings, falling from a score of 71 to 70 in the space of a year. The report highlights a generalised decline among advanced democracies, including the United States, UK, Canada, New Zealand, France and Sweden, combined with parallel trends in scores covering freedom of expression, association and assembly, marking a significant deterioration in civic space. Chair of the Anti-Corruption APPG, MP Phil Brickell, said this “must serve as a wake-up call for the Government.”
Corporate donations to British parties triple over last three elections, report Democracy for Sale
As the new Elections Bill is introduced, Democracy for Sale found UK parties took £42 million in corporate cash in the year prior to the 2024 election, almost double that of the 2019 election, and triple that of the 2017 poll. Check out the full analysis via Democracy for Sale.
UK civic space under unprecedented threat, Speak Out conference warns
Held late last month and organised by Speak Out and Quakers in Britain, the London conference gathered charity leaders, civil rights groups and campaigners for a special event focused on declining UK civic space. Paul Parker of Quakers in Britain remarked at the conference: “UK civic space is at a precipice. When the right to speak out, to organise and to challenge those in power is under attack, we all face a diminished democracy. Healthy democratic debate is an essential prerequisite for peace.”
Government to reclassify animal testing sites as ‘national infrastructure’
Currently passing through the Lords, the Government is set to classify animal testing as ‘national infrastructure’ amending the 2023 Public Order Act via a statutory instrument, which has been widely panned by cross party MPs, civil liberties and animal rights groups. Labour MP John McDonnell has called for a full debate on the matter, saying the proposal sets a dangerous precedent and is a “slippery slope”.
Ofcom and ICO to investigate whether Musk’s X has breached Online Safety Act
Elon Musk is under pressure again after it emerged that X’s Grok AI tool had produced sexualised images of women and minors. Ofcom has launched a full investigation into whether this constitutes a breach of the Online Safety Act, with the government suggesting they would support the outcome of their investigation, including an outright ban on the platform in the UK. The ICO also launched an investigation into Grok in relation to processing of personal data. 80,000+ have signed a 38 Degrees petition calling for action.
Labour MPs demand government leaves Musk’s X platform in leaked WhatsApp messages
Leaked messages show backbench MPs believe the government should ‘show direction to others in the UK’ by leaving X. MPs in the leaked Whatsapp group complain that they are still expected to share content on the platform, despite the fact that many in the group see X owner Elon Musk as a ‘fascist’ and that the platform’s AI tool, Grok, had put ‘children in harm’s way’.
Naked Politics report on police attitudes towards far right, ignoring reported hate crimes
Jemima Elliot writing for Naked Politics last month explores how Northumbrian police have acted to ignore far-right hate crime in the city, including Nazi symbology and salutes by far right activists and racial slurs outside of refugee hotels aimed at threatening asylum seekers and counter-demonstrators.
Farage apologises for breaking the MPs’ code of conduct seventeen times
The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, has issued a public apology after it was revealed that he had broken the MPs’ code of conduct seventeen times. The seventeen breaches amount to over £380,000 of undeclared funds. The Reform leader apologised remarking he is ‘an oddball who does not do computers’.
‘Tendrils of Big Tech’ have reached Westminster, says campaigner threatened with US deportation
The CEO of British NGO Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), Imran Ahmed, was threatened with deportation from the US on Christmas Eve, despite having a green card allowing him to live in Washington. The US state department announced the sanctions alongside several other European campaigners accusing them of targeting American social media platforms and coercing them into censoring content they oppose.
Demos investigate: How to safeguard future elections from ‘epistemic security risks’
Demos is convening leading thinkers to address how to protect the UK’s ‘Epistemic Security’, the resilience of the UK’s information supply chains that British democracy depends on. Their latest briefing looks at the government’s upcoming Elections Bill setting out recommendations to safeguard future elections from the spread of false or unreliable information and the harassment of MPs and candidates.
Dame Sara Khan calls for Patriotic Alternative to be banned as leader attends Russian extreme ethnonationalist conference
Head of British far right group Patriotic Alternative, Mark Collett, addressed a conference of extreme nationalist groups convened in Russia hosted by Putin-aligned oligarch Alexander Dugin, leading to renewed concern by MPs of political subversion by Russian state-sponsored influence operations. Collett has denied involvement with Russian state actors. Last month, a years-long BBC investigation found PA activists using racial slurs and calling for ‘migrants to be shot’, with Dame Sara Khan calling for the government to urgently ban the far right group. See Hope Not Hate’s report on Patriotic Alternative.
Study finds Youtube algorithm radicalised key members of far right group
According to new research by City St George University of London, YouTube is a key tool in recruiting far-right activists to the largest British fascist group Patriotic Alternative (PA). Analysing 40 PA activists’ conversion to the far right group, researchers found the YT algorithm played a key role in nudging them towards more radical content.
Spycop tried to incite activists to firebomb shop, inquiry hears
As part of the ongoing Spycops inquiry, three anti-fascist activists have accused an undercover police officer of trying to incite them to bomb a shop that was said to be a front for the far-right. The officer, Soracchi, who pretended to be an anti-fascist and socialist campaigner between 2000 and 2006, is due to be questioned by the inquiry next month. To find out more about the inquiry into undercover political policing, see Spycops and Police Spies Out of Our Lives.
Journalists barred from reporting on Reform UK official’s photo shoot
The Leicester Mercury was barred from reporting on a panel meeting with Reform UK’s Police and Crime Commissioner in Leicestershire, Rupert Matthews, over an alleged email he sent asking a police officer to help him organise a ‘Vladimir Putin-style’ photograph of him on a horse. Despite the Mercury demanding the meeting be held in public, arguing that constituents have a right to know that elected officials are being held to account, the challenge was rejected and the meeting was held in private.
And now for something completely different …
Democracy across the pond: New York Mayor establishes Office of Mass EngagementMayor Mamdani has started their new term by creating a new Office of Mass Engagement which promises to transform how New Yorkers are able to participate in democratic decision making.
Baden-Württemberg citizens assemblies booming
In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, 10 of the 21 parties running in the March state elections are promising more citizens assemblies. Since 2011, following disputes around a major rail project, the state government has been practising what it calls ‘a policy of being heard’ focused on maximising dialogue-based participation formats — see more.
Political Technology Summit sees civic orgs gather on Berlin
Over 900 politicians, campaigners, civic and political technologists from over 50 countries gathered in Berlin late last month for Political Tech Summit 2026, focused on connecting those working across democracy and technology and exploring the impact of technology on democratic politics.
See you next time,
James, Max and the Democracy Network team