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Dr Tom Fleming

Dr Tom Fleming
Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics
Location: 3.01, 31 Tavistock Square
Telephone: 020 3108 1879 (Internal: 51879)
Email: tom.fleming@ucl.ac.uk
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Career

Tom Fleming is a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics. He joined the Constitution Unit in September 2021. His research largely focuses on parliament, but he has also written on a number of other topics including cabinet reshuffles and constitutional reform processes. Tom has provided evidence to several recent parliamentary inquiries in the UK.

Before joining UCL, Tom was a Lecturer in the Department of Politics at the University of York between 2020 and 2021. Prior to that, he completed a doctorate in Politics at the University of Oxford.

Research

Tom’s research focuses largely on legislative politics, from both a British and comparative perspective.

His recent work has focused particularly on understanding how parliamentary rules are chosen and reformed. As part of this research agenda, Tom is currently leading the ESRC-funded project 'The Politics of Parliamentary Procedure'. He also jointly runs the ParlRulesData project, which collects and publishes data on formal parliamentary rules in the UK and beyond. Tom’s doctorate explored how legislative politics might be changed by voters’ waning attachments to political parties.

Beyond this, Tom has also written on a range of other related topics. In particular, his recent projects have explored the government’s power to prorogue parliament, the Johnson government’s proposals for establishing a Constitution, Democracy, and Rights Commission, and the causes and consequences of cabinet reshuffles.

Publications
 
Blog posts

The controversial origins of centralised agenda control at Westminster 

The 1902 ‘Balfour reforms’ established a core feature of the UK House of Commons: ministers’ control of the agenda. In a new article summarised here, Tom Fleming, Simon Hix, and Radoslaw Zubek explore how this important change came about, and question the idea that it was adopted with cross-party consensus. 

Have select committee chair elections got more competitive? 

Since 2010, the chairs of most House of Commons select committees have been elected by MPs. In this post, Tom Fleming explores recent suggestions that these elections have become more competitive. Results from five rounds of elections suggest a more complicated picture. 

Select committee elections: how should a ‘proportional’ allocation between parties be calculated? 

Chairs and members of House of Commons select committees are allocated between political parties in proportion to their strength in the House. But in practice, a proportional allocation can be calculated in a number of different ways, which produce different outcomes. As the House starts electing its committees, Alan Renwick and Tom Fleming discuss the options and their consequences. 

What is the point of maiden speeches?

This year’s general election saw 335 new MPs elected to the House of Commons. Parliament has thus seen a large number of so-called ‘maiden speeches’, with many more still to come. In this post, Tom Fleming discusses maiden speeches’ potential benefits and downsides, and whether parliament could use its limited time more effectively. 

Delivering House of Commons reform after the general election 

How can House of Commons reform be delivered in the next parliament? A new Constitution Unit report explores past approaches to developing and delivering changes to the Commons’ procedures, and the implications for current advocates of reform. Tom Fleming and Hannah Kelly summarise the report’s findings and conclusions.  Background  House of Commons reform is likely […]

The House of Commons row over opposition day amendments: procedural background and implications

Last week’s opposition day debate in the House of Commons about Gaza and Israel was overshadowed by a bitter procedural row over the Speaker’s selection of amendments. But the rules governing opposition days – and their role in allowing these arguments – are not straightforward. Tom Fleming discusses the procedural background and implications. The background […]

Recall petitions: process, consequences, and potential reforms

A recall petition is currently open in Wellingborough, which could lead to MP Peter Bone being recalled by his constituents, followed by a by-election. This is the fifth such petition in as many years. Tom Fleming outlines how the UK’s recall system works, summarises its effects to date, and outlines possible areas for reform. How […]

Scrutinising delegated legislation: what can Westminster learn from other parliaments?

Recent years have seen increasing expressions of concern about whether the UK Parliament has adequate procedures for scrutinising delegated legislation. In a recent article in Political Quarterly, Tom Fleming and Tasneem Ghazi explore the lessons which might be learned from how other parliaments approach that challenge. This blog summarises those lessons. There is wide concern about […]

How far did parliament influence Brexit legislation?

Parliament’s role in the Brexit process has been the subject of widespread controversy among politicians, commentators, and experts. This makes it important to understand exactly what kind of influence parliament wielded in that period. Tom Fleming and Lisa James shed new light on this question by summarising their recent article, Parliamentary Influence on Brexit Legislation, […]

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Teaching

 Tom is co-teaching two undergraduate modules in the academic year 2024/25: British Politics and Introduction to Politics.