Research Briefing
There may be many factors that have driven falling turnout at European Parliamentary elections over the years, but much of this may stem from the expansion of the Union itself. As time has passed and the EU has grown in size, European Parliamentary (EP) elections have seen a continual decline in turnout since the first
Research Briefing
As so often in the past, India’s electorate has sprung a surprise. The count on 16 May gave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its presidential candidate, 62 year-old Narendra Modi, a convincing victory in the elections to India’s lower house, the Lok Sabha. On a 66.38% turnout, the BJP won a majority of the seats – the first party to do so since 1984. Author and academic Sunil Khilnani described the outcome as “a democratic asteroid.” For the Congress Party, the result is a disaster.
Research Briefing
Religious slaughter – the preparation of halal and kosher meat – has hit the headlines in recent weeks with reports that some meat prepared for a potential halal market is being sold in supermarkets as own brand but not labelled as halal, and that halal and kosher meat has been served in food outlets without
Research Briefing
An impoortant second stage of negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme started in May.
Research Briefing
Legislation in England and Wales (the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013) and in Scotland (the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014) introduces marriage for same sex couples. The legislation will also enable civil partners to convert their civil partnership into marriage, and transsexual people to change their legal gender without necessarily having to end their existing marriage.
Research Briefing
The American economist James Tobin first made the suggestion for a tax on currency transactions to dissuade short term currency speculation in the 1970s. Recently the idea of a more general 'Tobin-like' tax on financial transactions has been discussed, in the wake of the global financial crisis. In January 2013 eleven Member States agreed to pursue the introduction of a Tobin-like tax, as consensus on an EU-wide tax proved impossible. The UK is not one of the participating States. This note looks at these developments, while a second note (SN1346) gives some historical background to the issue.
Research Briefing
On 7 May 2014, South Africa held its fifth national and provincial elections since the end of Apartheid. The African National Congress (ANC) triumphed once again, winning 62.15% of the vote - down 3.75% on its tally in 2009. The Democratic Alliance came second with 22.13%. - up 7.57% on 2009. But while there was no big opposition breakthrough, the ruling party cannot rest on its laurels - not least in Gauteng Province, the country's economic power-house, where its vote fell by over 10% to 53.59%. Debate also continues about creating a labour party to the left of the ANC.
Research Briefing
Women may soon be able to serve in combat roles in the Armed Forces. The Defence Secretary has launched a review of the current policy that excludes women from ground close combat roles. It will report back by the end of 2014, a shift from the Government’s previously stated position to not review the policy
Research Briefing
Women may soon be able to serve in combat roles in the Armed Forces. The current policy excluding women from ground close combat roles is to be reviewed and will report before the end of 2014. This note provides a short overview and a bibliography of sources of further reading.
Research Briefing
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
Research Briefing
Following five months of fierce fighting that has created a major humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan and his former Vice-President, Riek Machar, signed a peace deal on 9 May in Addis Ababa at talks brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The deal involves an immediate ceasefire
Research Briefing
This Note covers the campaign rules which are set out in the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013.
Research Briefing
A local plan is the key document which allows local authorities to guide development in their areas. In the absence of a local plan the Government’s “presumption in favour of sustainable development” comes into play. The presumption has caused some concern that local authorities without a local plan are vulnerable to applications for development, particularly
Research Briefing
The Bill proposes a range of measures in line with the Government’s aim to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses and public authorities.
Research Briefing
In November 2013, the Committee on Standards recommended changes to the rules on the registration of all-party groups. The Committee's report is scheduled to be debated on 13 May 2014.
Total results (page 383 of 639)