This book contains a critical analysis of the law and politics governing the conduct of statutory elections in the United Kingdom.
The author argues that elections have now become a marketplace for 'buying' the most seemingly attractive political party on offer into power, rather than an expression of democratic self-government. Thematically arranged, he considers a number of issues dating from before the Civil War through nineteenth century reforms to the foundation of the Electoral Commission and up to their paper 'Securing the Vote' published in 2005. The book
Framing the debate for the Electoral Administration Bill 2005, it contains, amongst other legal analysis, analyses leading cases, including:
- Sanders v Chichester
- R v Jones
- R v Whicher; ex parte Mainwaring
- In re Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
The author presents an argument for a radical reappraisal of election law which involves, rather than excludes the self-governing citizenry, suggesting that election law, perhaps above all other kinds of law, should be the subject of vigorous and open public debate.
Biography
Bob Watt, BA (CNAA), BCL (Oxon). After working for sixteen years, latterly as a biochemistry technician, and in a variety of voluntary roles, Bob Watt studied at Oxford Polytechnic where he was awarded a first class honours degree in Law and Politics. He then studied at Balliol College, Oxford where he was awarded the BCL having studied employment law, comparative human rights, legal and political theory, and the philosophy of the common law. Bob is now a Senior Lecturer in Laws at the University of Essex. His main interests are in employment law, public and electoral law, and legal and social policy and theory.
'His(Watt's) assessment is insightful, and there is a great deal here that should be of interest to scholars of election law, inside and outside the UK.' - The Law and Politics Book Review, Vol.16 No.6
'Watt is a persuasive advocate and his book offers a valuable guide to recent developments in British election law.' - Lori Ringhand, University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, KY USA
