The third element of the coalition agreement relates to the powers of the Welsh Assembly. At present we can only pass laws piecemeal. An order passing legislative competence in a specified area of policy is requested by the Assembly, scrutinised by us and by the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and then passed in Cardiff Bay

The Tories' plan to introduce 12 mayors for Britain's biggest cities by 2012 prompts speculation that existing council leaders could be renamed as mayors beforehand

Government plans to hold local referendums on new housing schemes in England could tear village communities apart, rural campaigners say.

An excellent post from Neil Stockley: Holding a public vote on changing the voting system is a radical step for the UK. But it has been done before. In 1993, my home country, New Zealand held the second of two referendums to decide how to elect MPs. An established Westminster democracy voted by a 54:46 per cent margin

Responding to the Queen's Speech, Sir Jeremy Beecham, Labour's Leader in Local Government, said, "Proposals in the Queen's Speech on education and referendums on council tax increases confirm fears that under the guise of localism the ConDem Coalition is bent on marginalizing councils and councillors." He continued, "Councils do not currently 'control' schools, they suppor...

One side effect of a coalition government full of reforming zeal is lots of opportunities for the good people of Britain to troop down to their local polling station and make the appropriate mark on a ballot paper. Here are the elections and referendums that look to me to coming our way in the next few

Why is making decisions for the nation a right of the government and not one of the people, asks Melanie McDonagh.

Here is the long awaited Sir Em report. £1.3 million wasted on an exercise in stating the bleeding obvious i.e. that the current system of obtaining competence for the Assembly is a dog's breakfast and sometimes referendums are won or lost on issues outwith the scope of the question being voted upon. Will the next million pound Assembly commissioned report be on the defecatory habits of forest dw...

David Davis's article this morning is forceful. But it needs to be understood alongside his earlier decision to quit Parliament and force a by-election over 42 days. Both reflect his impatience with parliamentary democracy and his instinctive sympathy for populism....

Forthcoming US elections, including two governorships, one House seat and a handful of mayoralties and referendums, will be scrutinised for what they imply for mid-term congressional elections a year from now. But beware the 'narrative', says Jurek Martin