When will our political leaders realise that the action they take when dealing with the European Union will have a direct and significant effect on their success at the polls? Looking at lists of the issues people prioritise when it comes to voting in general elections, concern about Britain's relationship with the EU tends to linger some way behind the economy, schools, hospitals and crime. ...

Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party, said in Feltham and Heston this morning: "Thank you to the people of Feltham and Heston. "You have again put your trust in Labour and we are determined to repay that trust. Seema Malhotra will work everyday to show that they made the right choice and will repay the trust you put in her. "By-elections are not general elections...

Ministers narrowly win their parliamentary battle over plans to hold general elections every five years.

Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy, leader of the opposition Partido Popular, yesterday agreed to insert a limit on the level of public debt and deficit into the Spanish constitution. With widespread support it is hoped the law can be passed before the parliament is dissolved on 27 September, ahead of general elections.

Good news from the Cabinet Office, with its announcement of pre-legislative scrutiny of plans to increase the timetable for general elections and, more significantly, for Parliamentary by-elections.

If AV is a controversial step, what about tackling non-participation? The last four UK General Elections have also been the lowest in terms of turnout since World War II, according to this site: Statistically, there appears to be only a slight negative correlation between the size of turnout and the size of the winner's majority, as witness the 2010 results: ... but the British system is full...

Adam Boulton and Joey Jones, the authors of Hung Together: The 2010 Election and the Coalition Government, have produced a book of the sort that, after previous general elections, would have been deserving of praise and interest. Their bad luck for the 2010 election is that there are several high quality alternatives available, in particular

Prisoners will be given the vote in general elections for the first time in 140 years after David Cameron conceded there was nothing he could do to halt a European court ruling demanding the change, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

AT THE 1997 General Election every Scottish Conservative candidate was defeated. At three subsequent general elections Scotland has sent just one Scottish Tory to Westminster.

The use of the Alternative Vote delivered the Labour Party a leader who was not their first choice. They're stuck with Ed Miliband now - and he may yet to prove more impressive than his over-rated brother (see below) - but the impact of AV on General Elections has now been given a more in depth academic study in Parliamentary Affairs magazine. Tory blogger Iain Dale has referenced the new article ...