Westminster Insider How to fix British politics — with help from around the world
Mar 27, 2026
Jack Blanchard, POLITICO Playbook editor with US cabinet insights; Mark Paul, Irish Times correspondent who explains Ireland’s citizens’ assemblies; Lauren Edwards, Australia-born Labour MP who discusses compulsory voting. They explore compulsory voting and flexible voting, Italy’s 15-day polling blackout and quieter campaigns, how citizens’ assemblies work in Ireland, and US-style cabinet appointments versus frequent UK reshuffles.
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Compulsory Attendance Changes Political Targeting
- Lauren argues compulsory attendance forces politicians to listen to all voices because they can no longer target only likely voters.
- She links policies like the triple lock for pensioners to politicians catering to groups who reliably turn out.
Pilot Flexible Pre Voting Windows
- Sascha and Lauren highlight flexible voting options like pre-voting weeks to help shift workers and busy officials cast ballots.
- The UK plans a flexible voting pilot, which Lauren supports to reduce postal-vote risks and accessibility barriers.
Italy's Polling Blackout Origin Story
- Marco Varvello explains Italy bans publishing polls 15 days before an election partly to blunt media mogul influence, a reform passed after Silvio Berlusconi's era.
- The law aimed to reduce late-stage media-driven swings by forcing a quieter pre-election period.