After reports that police are investigating alleged voting fraud in the Glasgow North East by-election, a leading democracy group has called for reform of the system.

Bonfire Night is coming home to Parliament again this year, with a special floating effigy heading down river to remind MPs not to "duck the challenge" of political reform.

Campaigners for parliamentary reform are to condemn the “Parliament of the Living Dead” by dressing as zombies in a Halloween-themed protest. A “zombie walk” will include Parliament Square, Whitehall and Downing Street.

As the political fallout from recent scandals continues, many are in favour of change, says Simon Barrow. But they do not necessarily want this change to make any real difference.

A statement about electoral reforms made by Gordon Brown yesterday, which could include the end to the first-past-the post voting system in general elections, has been given a cautious welcome by democracy campaigners who also expressed concern.