News
Latest news, updates and announcements from The Constitution Unit
Press Release: Lord O'Donnell Delieverd his Inaugural Speech on 24th April 2013
Lord O’Donnell delivered his inaugural lecture last night (24 April) in UCL Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, Wilkins Building, UCL. The text of the lecture can now be viewed on the link below.
Press Release: Inaugural Lecture by the former Cabinet Secretary Lord (Gus) O’Donnell
Job Advert: Research Assistant - Ref: 1328077
Professor Robert Hazell comments on Baroness Thatcher's funeral
VIDEOS: Dr Ruth Levitt & Stephen Boys Smith on Expertise and Policy: the Rise of the Government "Tsar
Summer Internship applications now open for July 2013
Dr James Melton's Grant on Constitutional Excerpts Project Has Been Awarded
Book review on The Politics of Coalition
Video: What Place for the Referendum in the UK?
One difficulty with the referendum is that the question is decided by the politicians, not by the voters. The questionthat the voters wish to answer may not be on the ballot paper. In 2011, survey evidence indicated that the favoured option for most electoral reformers was proportional representation, not the alternative vote. Yet that option was not on the ballot paper. In Scotland, survey evidence indicates that further devolution is the favoured option rather than the status quo or independence. Yet that option is not to be on the ballot paper. On Europe. David Cameron proposes a referendum on renegotiated terms of membership, but survey evidence indicates that people favour an in/out referendum. Some means, therefore, should be found for taking the referendum out of the hands of the politicians.

