Emma Harrison on UK Democracy Reform

Emma Harrison discusses the crisis in British democracy, highlighting issues like declining voter turnout, lack of trust in politics, and the influence of media and money. She advocates for proportional representation as a solution, emphasizing the need for a system that reflects the public's will. The talk concludes with a call to action for democratic reform.

What is Emma Harrison's role in the context of the discussion?

• Member of the House of Commons

• Leader of the Electoral Reform Society

• Chief Executive of Make Votes Matter

• Founder of Transparency International

What significant event does Emma mention that has impacted trust in UK democracy?

• The Brexit vote

• The introduction of voter ID laws

• The rise of social media

• The general election

What percentage of the electorate has stopped voting since 2001, according to Emma?

• 40%

• 20%

• 10%

• 30%

How does Emma describe the current voter ID scheme in the UK?

• Not applicable in the UK

• Equivalent to US state laws

• Stricter than any US state

• More lenient than any US state

What concern does Emma raise about the role of media in politics?

• Media promotes voter engagement

• Media is unbiased and fair

• Media creates echo chambers

• Media has no influence on politics

What is a 'safe seat' as discussed by Emma?

• A seat with no political influence

• A seat that is always contested

• A seat with high voter turnout

• A seat that never changes party

What does Emma suggest is a major flaw of the current electoral system?

• It leads to many votes being wasted

• It encourages high voter turnout

• It promotes collaboration among parties

• It reflects the public's will accurately

What percentage of the public believes a change in the voting system is necessary, according to Emma?

• 25%

• 52%

• 68%

• 80%

What is the main benefit of proportional representation as advocated by Emma?

• It eliminates the need for elections

• It reduces the number of political parties

• It ensures a government that works for everyone

• It increases the power of media barons

What does Emma believe is necessary for reviving democracy in the UK?

• Maintaining the current system

• Adopting proportional representation

• Reducing the number of political parties

• Introducing more voter ID laws