Brexit, Parliament and the Constitution

Brexit continues to be the central controversy in British politics. Not only has it divided the public, it has brought key aspects of the UK constitutional settlement into doubt. Recent months have been dominated by stories of parliament seeking to "seize control' from the executive, and of a Prime Minister seeking to prorogue parliament to force through a 'no deal' Brexit – even bringing into question the role of the Queen. The Constitution Unit's work has focused on many topics central to the Brexit debates: including the conduct of the 2016 referendum, the prospects for a further referendum or a citizens assembly on Brexit, and the proper place and power of parliament.

This session will include a panel of expert commentators reflecting on recent controversies and possible ways forward, followed by audience discussion.

Speakers

Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit

Meg Russell is an established specialist on various aspects of the British constitution, and particularly on parliament. She is Senior Fellow at the UK in a Changing Europe, and is undertaking a project on ‘Brexit, Parliament and the Constitution’. She is a frequent public commentator, and worked alongside Alan Renwick on the Unit’s recent projects on referendums and citizens’ assemblies.

Jeff King, Professor of Law, UCL Faculty of Laws

Jeff King’s research interests include UK and comparative constitutional and administrative law, human rights and political theory. He was recently appointed Legal Adviser to the House of Lords Constitution Committee.  His book Judging Social Rights (CUP 2012) won the Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship. His most recent article addresses ‘The Democratic Case for a Written Constitution’.

Alan Renwick, Associate Professor in British Politics and Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit

Alan Renwick specialises in the mechanisms through which citizens can participate in formal politics: particularly elections, referendums, and deliberative processes. He was Director of the Constitution Unit’s Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit (2017), and Research Director to the Unit’s Independent Commission on Referendums (2017-18). With Meg Russell, he co-authored the Unit’s report on options for a further Brexit referendum.

Chair

Lisa James, Research Assistant

Lisa James has recently completed her Masters studies at King's College London, including a dissertation on the parliamentary passage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act. She has now joined the UCL Constitution Unit, working with Meg Russell on the 'Brexit, Parliament and the Constitution' project.