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Conference on Johnson’s Constitutional Reform Agenda
17 June 2021–18 June 2021, 9:30 am–1:00 pm
The government had a wide ranging agenda for constitutional reforms on page 48 of its 2019 election manifesto. This conference, co-organised by the Constitution Unit, the Department of Politics & International Relations at the University of Oxford and UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE), brings together politicians, policy makers and academic experts to discuss the government’s progress so far, and what lies ahead.
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
Rachel Cronkshaw02076794977
After two years in power, how much of its constitutional reform agenda has the current government achieved? What remains to be done? What further constitutional change can be expected - whether part of the government’s agenda or not?
Over two half-days, this conference brings together a diverse range of speakers to discuss the biggest constitutional and democratic issues from judicial review to elections and referendums, from the review of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act to devolution and the future of the union.
This event will be held via Zoom webinar. If you are unable to join for the full conference, you are welcome to dip in to specific sessions.
Programme
Day 1 - Thursday 17 June
| Time | Topic | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 9.30 | Keynote speech: Overview of the government’s agenda | Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP Chair: Prof Meg Russell FBA, Constitution Unit, UCL |
| 10.15 | Judicial review, human rights and judiciary | Lord Faulks QC, Chair of Independent Review of Administrative Law Chair: Catherine Barnard, UKICE |
| 11.30 | Coffee break | |
| 11.45 | Review of Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 | Lord McLoughlin, Chair of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Review of the FTPA Chair: Prof Meg Russell FBA, Constitution Unit, UCL |
| 13.00 | End of day one |
Day 2 - Friday 18 June
| Time | Topic | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 9.30 | Elections and Referendums. Updating campaign regulation for digital era | John Pullinger, Chair of Electoral Commission Chair: Dr Alan Renwick, Constitution Unit, UCL |
| 10.30 | Devolution, Scotland and future of the union | Prof Adam Tomkins, Glasgow Chair: Prof Robert Hazell, Constitution Unit, UCL |
| 11.45 | Coffee break | |
| 12.00 | Concluding panel. Re-balancing between parliament, executive and the courts | Dominic Grieve QC, former Attorney General Chair: Prof Petra Schleiter, Oxford |
| 13.00 | Conference close |
Links and related Constitution Unit projects
- University of Oxford Department of Politics and International Relations
- UK in a Changing Europe
- Professor Meg Russell
- Brexit, parliament and the constitution
- Working group on unification referendums on the island of Ireland
- Democracy in the UK after Brexit
Improving discourse during election and referendum campaigns
Image credit: Dave Busfield-Birch
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