Opinion pieces

Control the PR, lose the hangers-on: lessons for Charles from Europe’s royals

Five lessons the king may want to consider, based on what has gone right – and wrong – for Europe’s surviving monarchies. Robert Hazell in the Guardian.

The Guardian | 5 May 2023

The Privileges Committee matters; but Boris Johnson’s far greater dishonesty was over Brexit

The Privileges Committee matters; but Boris Johnson's far greater dishonesty was over Brexit

Prospect | 28 April 2023

Netflix’s Harry & Meghan: the Sussexes are not unique in being royal victims

Robert Hazell & Bob Morris argue that the challenges faced by Harry & Meghan are shared by royals across Europe.

The Conversation | 19 December 2022

Adviser on integrity

Meg Russell joins Daniel Bruce (Transparency International), Susan Hawley (Spotlight on Corruption), Dave Penman (FDA) & Hannah White (Institute for Government) in this letter to the Times, urging Prime Minister to appoint an Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests, and to strengthen the scope of the role in line with CSPL recommendations.

The Times | 3 December 2022

Why abolishing the House of Lords is not the answer

Keir Starmer is right to want to reform the second chamber, argues Meg Russell, but the key question is how far to go.

Prospect Magazine | 24 November 2022

'Baroque' leadership rules and cabinet changes

Following the fall of Liz Truss and installation of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister, Meg Russell authored a letter in the Times arguing that the episode demonstrates that membership ballots risks instability.

The Times | 26 October 2022

Why member ballots for party leaders threaten parliamentary democracy

Meg Russell argues that the UK's parliamentary system is undermined when party leaders are chosen by grassroots members, but lack support from their own MPs.

Prospect Magazine | 23 October 2022

No 10’s Brexit posturing is dicing with disaster in Northern Ireland.

Following the results of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, in this lead letter to the Sunday Times, Professor Alan Renwick stresses that constructive engagement from London will be needed to restore power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

The Times (£) | 10 May 2022

Commons Cause

In the lead up to the local elections, Professor Alan Renwick argues that Boris Johnson's fate should not be determined by the outcome. As Constitution Unit research shows, one politician lying erodes public trust in all, so public disapproval cannot be gauged by how many votes shift between parties. It is up to MPs to act.

The Times (£) | 24 April 2022

Electoral Fairness

Prior to a House of Lords vote on proposals to change how the Electoral Commission is governed, Professor Alan Renwick, along with Robert Blackburn, Kate Dommett, Justin Fischer, and Sam Power, urge peers to reject the proposal to add a 'Strategy and Policy statement' setting out how the Commission should operate.

The Times (£) | 22 April 2022

Parties scandal and calls for the PM to resign

The Prime Minister and Chancellor have broken the Ministerial Code, writes Professor Meg Russell in this letter for the Times. Both are resigning matters, but the keeper of the code is the PM himself. In the absence of compliance it falls to MPs to act.

The Times (£) | 14 April 2022

Voters care about integrity in politics even more than you think.

Politicians lying may not always lose them votes—but it is deeply damaging to our democracy argues Professor Alan Renwick, commenting on the conclusions of the Citizens' Assembly on Democracy in the UK after Brexit.

Prospect Magazine | 11 April 2022

British voters want lying politicians to face consequences – new study

Commenting on the latest Constitution Unit findings on public attitudes towards democracy in the UK, Professor Alan Renwick outlines the key conclusions of the Citizens' Assembly on democracy in the UK, which confirmed that integrity and honesty in politics are of great concern to the public. This means that there is a desire to see ministers kept in constant check by parliament, courts and the public at large.

The Conversation | 7 April 2022

Voters value honesty in their politicians above all else – new study

In the wake of 'partygate' allegations, Professor Alan Renwick discusses major new findings on public attitudes towards democracy in the UK. The results of a large-scale survey of the UK population show that integrity and 'being honest' are among the most valued qualities in a politician.

The Conversation | 26 January 2022

Headshots of Bob Morris and Robert Hazell

Robert Hazell and Bob Morris think the statutory oaths that the new sovereign will have to make need to be revised and updated.

In the lead letter to the Guardian, Professor Robert Hazell and Dr Bob Morris propose revisions to the three statutory oaths which must be taken by the reigning Monarch.

The Guardian | 31 December 2022

How might Irish unification be decided?

If a referendum on Irish unification ever takes place, how should it be designed and conducted? Alan Renwick and Conor J. Kelly explore the issue of Irish unification from the perspective of how best to plan for a possible future referendum.

The Loop | 11 December 2022

The “cash for peerages” scandal shows we urgently need better democratic protections

The Lords places far too much patronage power in the hands of a potentially rogue prime minister, argues Professor Meg Russell.

Prospect Magazine | 9 November 2021

When to call a referendum in Northern Ireland

Professor Alan Renwick explains how the UK government should judge when and whether a majority for Irish unification has emerged.

Prospect Magazine | 3 June 2021

UK government must loosen its grip on parliamentary process

Temporary measures introduced in a pandemic panic should have been phased out a long time ago, argues Professor Meg Russell.

Financial Times (£) | 24 April 2021

Marginalised MPs

Parliament's marginalisation by the government during the pandemic has been 'shocking', writes Professor Meg Russell; Dr Ruth Fox, Hansard Society; Dr Ronan Cormacain, Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law; and Dr Joe Tomlinson, University of York and Public Law Project, in a letter to The Times.

The Times (£) | 21 April 2021

Scottish independence referendum options

In the lead letter to The Times, Professors Alan Renwick and Meg Russell explain that Scotland has a right to a referendum if voters want one, and such a referendum needn't be between binary choices.

The Times (£) | 24 February 2021

It’s time for MPs to take back control of the Commons

The government’s level of control over what is debated in the House of Commons, and when, undermines parliamentary accountability and needs addressing urgently, argues Professor Meg Russell, joint author of a new report on the issue.

Times Red Box (£) | 19 January 2021

Democracy at Risk

In the wake of the storming of the Capitol in Washington DC, Professor Meg Russell warns that if senior political figures in the UK fail to respect, uphold, and celebrate constitutional rules, they risk undermining the legitimacy of core institutions of democracy.

The Times (£) | 11 January 2021