UCL Constitution Unit

Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025 The Constitution Unit’s annual conference took place on 18 and 19 June. Politicians and experts, including nine MPs, came together to discuss constitutional paths taken and not (yet) taken by this …

ON THE BLOG: Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025

@rowaninlondon.bsky.social summarises the contributions of politicians and experts at our annual conference in June. A recording of each session is available in full on YouTube and as episodes of our podcast.

Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025 The Constitution Unit’s annual conference took place on 18 and 19 June. Politicians and experts, including nine MPs, came together to discuss constitutional paths taken and not (yet) taken by this government. This blog post by Rowan Hall summarises their contributions across the six sessions, which are available in full on YouTube and in podcast form.

NEW BLOG: Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025

@rowaninlondon.bsky.social summarises the contributions of politicians and experts at our annual conference in June. A recording of each session is available in full on YouTube and as episodes of our podcast.

The government should use the forthcoming #ElectionsBill to abolish the Strategy and Policy Statement. As Lord Khan told Parliament last year: "The existence of a strategy and policy Statement for @electoralcommission.org.uk is inconsistent with the commission’s role as an independent regulator.”

🚨 Important intervention from the Committee on Standards in Public Life that they – like us and many others – are not happy with the government keeping the power to set the @electoralcommission.org.uk’s overall strategy.

The Constitution Unit. Stay up to date. Join our mailing list: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/get-involved/mailing-list. Read our blog: constitution-unit.com. Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/conunitucl.bsky.social. Listen to our podcast: https://linktr.ee/constitutionunit. Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/school/13023688. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@constitutionunit.

Say up to date with our latest research, blog posts, events, commentary, appearances and more!

Join our mailing list 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution....

Prince Harry, security and RAVEC: does the Court of Appeal ruling really ‘imprison other members of the royal family from choosing a different life’? Francesca Jackson argues that senior royals must serve the country because to refuse would pose an existential threat to the monarchy.

ON THE BLOG: Prince Harry, security and RAVEC: does the Court of Appeal ruling really ‘imprison other members of the royal family from choosing a different life’?

Francesca Jackson argues that senior royals must serve the country because to refuse would pose an existential threat to the monarchy.

The top of the voting record that we produce for each defeat.

Did you know that there have been 83 government defeats in the House of Lords so far this parliament?

We have a record on our website of every defeat of this kind dating back to 2005!

Find out more and sign up to our mailing list to be alerted of new defeats 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution....

Prince Harry, security and RAVEC: does the Court of Appeal ruling really ‘imprison other members of the royal family from choosing a different life’? Francesca Jackson argues that senior royals must serve the country because to refuse would pose an existential threat to the monarchy.

NEW BLOG: Prince Harry, security and RAVEC: does the Court of Appeal ruling really ‘imprison other members of the royal family from choosing a different life’?  

Francesca Jackson argues that senior royals must serve the country because to refuse would pose an existential threat to the monarchy.

Prince Harry, security and RAVEC: does the Court of Appeal ruling really ‘imprison other members of the royal family from choosing a different life’? Francesca Jackson argues that senior royals must serve the country because to refuse would pose an existential threat to the monarchy.

NEW BLOG: Prince Harry, security and RAVEC: does the Court of Appeal ruling really ‘imprison other members of the royal family from choosing a different life’?  

Francesca Jackson argues that senior royals must serve the country because to refuse would pose an existential threat to the monarchy.

Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired agenda at the cost of alienating opposition parties

ON THE BLOG: Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year

Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired agenda at the cost of alienating opposition parties

The top of the voting record that we produce for each defeat.

Did you know that there have been 83 government defeats in the House of Lords so far this parliament?

We have a record on our website of every defeat of this kind dating back to 2005!

Find out more and sign up to our mailing list to be alerted of new defeats 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution....

The top of the voting record that we produce for each defeat.

Did you know that there have been 83 government defeats in the House of Lords so far this parliament?

We have a record on our website of every defeat of this kind dating back to 2005!

Find out more and sign up to our mailing list to be alerted of new defeats 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution....

Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

ON THE BLOG: Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year

Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired agenda at the cost of alienating opposition parties

The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

ON THE BLOG: The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come

Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

ON THE BLOG: The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come

Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

ON THE BLOG: Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year

Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

ON THE BLOG: The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come

Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

ON THE BLOG: The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come

Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

NEW BLOG: The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come

Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

Much will now depend on how the new Ethics and Integrity Commission and changes to business appointments system for former ministers and officials are implemented, as in my blog for the @ UCL Constitution Unit

Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

ON THE BLOG: Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year

Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues that legislation would enhance further action should be taken before the end of the current parliament.

NEW BLOG: The government's proposed standards reforms are a promising start, but there should be more to come

Former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell welcomes the reforms, but argues legislation would enhance enforcement & further action should be taken during this parliament

Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

NEW BLOG: Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year

Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year  Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

NEW BLOG: Reviewing the Modernisation Committee’s first year 

Tom Fleming assesses the role of the Modernisation Committee, one year on from its creation: it has not delivered rapid reform, but nor has it driven through a government-inspired reform agenda at the cost of alienating opposition MPs

Don't let 16-year-olds vote without these changes to education We surely cannot extend the right to vote unless we put in place a system that enables the young to understand the responsibility they carry

With the announcement of #Votesat16, Lord Blunkett makes the argument for reinforcing Citizenship education in our schools & colleges, to equip young people with the knowledge they need before voting: ow.ly/PrXu50Wsr1H

#Votesat16 #Democracy #MakeSpaceforCitizenship

UCL research helps give Commons backbenchers greater control over parliamentary debates The House of Commons' Backbench Business Committee was established in 2010 following research by Professor Meg Russell which suggested that such a committee, with responsibility for programming a new category of backbench business, would open Westminster up to important debates that might not otherwise have taken place.

The Backbench Business Committee is 15! 🎂

An important part of the 'Wright reforms', the creation of this select committee with the power to schedule debates in the House of Commons is a key example of our real-world 'impact'. It came about thanks to research led by Meg Russell.

Find out more 👇

Plans for electoral reform mark a major step forward in reforming our democracy Speaking at the civil society summit, Sir Keir Starmer outlined a range of democratic reforms, including the introduction of votes for 16-year-olds. Professor Alan Renwick provides his in-depth…

'They should be the start of an ongoing process of fundamental democratic renewal. And on some of the matters requiring further change, the need for action is urgent.'

Read our Deputy Director, @alanrenwick.bsky.social's, instant analysis of the elections white paper for @uclpolicylab.bsky.social 👇

Monitor 90: Labour and the constitution, one year on Monitor 90, published today, provides an analysis of constitutional events over the last four months, a period in which the Unit hosted its annual conference and celebrated its thirtieth anniversar…

ON THE BLOG: Monitor 90: Labour and the constitution, one year on

In the lead article for the latest edition of Monitor, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social survey constitutional events over the past four months and describe this government's scorecard as 'mixed'.

Plans for electoral reform mark a major step forward in reforming our democracy Speaking at the civil society summit, Sir Keir Starmer outlined a range of democratic reforms, including the introduction of votes for 16-year-olds. Professor Alan Renwick provides his in-depth…

'They should be the start of an ongoing process of fundamental democratic renewal. And on some of the matters requiring further change, the need for action is urgent.'

Read our Deputy Director, @alanrenwick.bsky.social's, instant analysis of the elections white paper for @uclpolicylab.bsky.social 👇

The Hereditary Peers Bill: A missed opportunity The government still has time to act decisively, but they need to get started now.

Indeed.

leftfootforward.org/2025/07/the-...