Norris was considered for numerous by-elections the following year, including the Richmond contest which elected William Hague, and eventually won the seat of Epping Forest.

BBC: Steve Norris: Tory who ran as a liberal

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the leading Shia cleric, has called for direct elections in Iraq by the end of June, sparking numerous demonstrations.

CNN: U.N. help sought on Iraq vote

Saudi Arabia's rulers, for instance, have just scorned another of the numerous petitions from their people demanding democratising reforms, showing disdain by abruptly postponing the only elections the country runs, to half the seats on town councils that do not do much anyway.

ECONOMIST: Kuwait's mould-breaking election