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

This summer will mark a year since Labour’s landslide victory at the 2024 general election. The party’s manifesto contained a number of pledges for reforming the UK’s constitution and political institutions. So how have those pledges fared since Labour took office? Which promises have been delivered? What unexpected changes have been introduced? And what further reforms will – or should – be on the government’s agenda? 

This online conference will take stock of constitutional developments in the last year, and look ahead, with a range of senior speakers including parliamentarians, academics, and commentators. 

The draft conference programme is below. A further session and/or speakers may be added in due course.

Day 1 – Wednesday 18 June 

10am – 11am: Opening keynote from Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office 

In this opening keynote address, Nick Thomas-Symonds will summarise the government’s approach to the constitution, and priorities for constitutional reform. What has been achieved so far, and what are the most important priorities for the future? Which key principles underpin the government’s plans? 

Speaker:

• Nick Thomas-Symonds MP is Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with responsibility for the constitution and EU relations. He has been the Labour MP for Torfaen since 2015 and his previous posts include Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Solicitor General. He is a former barrister and academic. 

Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit 

1pm – 2:15pm: Standards in public life 

The Labour Party put standards and ethics at the heart of its attacks on the previous Conservative government, promising to bring in a ‘politics of service’. Has the party's conduct in office lived up to this rhetoric? How has it changed the regulation of standards in government and parliament? What further changes are needed in this area, and what is the best means to ensure that these are delivered?  

Speakers:

• Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP – Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Attorney General and former member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life 
• Phil Brickell MP – Labour MP for Bolton West 
• Professor Gillian Peele – member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Emeritus Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Oxford 

Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit 

3pm – 4:15pm: The electoral system in a multiparty era

The growth of multiparty politics raises questions about whether the First Past the Post electoral system can still be justified. What are the arguments for and against reform? What alternative systems might be considered? And, with ministers saying they will maintain the status quo, is there any way reform could actually come about

• Frances Foley – Deputy Director of Compass
• Professor Robert Ford – Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester

Chair: Professor Alan Renwick - Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit

Day 2 – Thursday 19 June 

11am – 12:15pm: The rule of law 

The Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General have both placed great emphasis on this new government upholding the rule of law. What does this mean in practice? Has the government delivered on this aspiration, and what more is needed to do so? What challenges has it faced? 

Speakers:

• Andy Slaughter MP – Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, and chair of the House of Commons Justice Committee  
• Victoria Prentis KC – former Attorney General and Conservative MP 
• Dr Joelle Grogan – legal academic and presenter of The Law Show on BBC Radio 4 

Chair: Professor Veronika Fikfak – Professor of Human Rights and International Law, UCL 

1pm – 2:15pm: Reforming the House of Commons 

The newly established Modernisation Committee has set out broad objectives of reforming standards, working practices, and procedure in the House of Commons. The Commons Procedure Committee has also announced a large number of inquiries. What are the priority areas for Commons reform? What should any reforms aim to achieve, and how can they balance competing priorities, for example of strengthening scrutiny and easing MPs’ working lives? How can reforms successfully attract broad support and allow the Commons to work more effectively? 

Speakers:

• Cat Smith MP – Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, and chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee  
• Wendy Chamberlain MP – Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, and member of the House of Commons Modernisation Committee 
• Dr Hannah White – Director of the Institute for Government 

Chair: Dr Tom Fleming – Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics, UCL 

3pm – 4:15pm: Reflections on Labour’s constitutional agenda 

This closing session will bring together a cross-party senior panel to offer reflections on the Labour government’s constitutional agenda, and possible alternative priorities. 

Speakers:

• Sarah Olney MP – Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office 
• Baroness (Dianne) Hayter of Kentish Town – Labour peer, and former Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords 

Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit

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