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E81: How to be an effective opposition
An expert panel discusses being in opposition.
Speakers: Baroness (Kate) Fall – former Deputy Chief of Staff to David Cameron, and Conservative peer, Professor Marc Stears – former chief speechwriter to the Labour Party, and Director of the UCL Policy Lab and Dr Nigel Fletcher – co-founder of the Centre for Opposition Studies
Chair: Professor Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit
E80: How to be an effective select committee chair
An expert panel discusses chairing a select committee.
Speakers: Baroness (Margaret) Hodge of Barking – former chair of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, Labour peer and former Labour MP, Sir Charles Walker – former chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee and Administration Committee and former Conservative MP and Joanna Cherry KC – former chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and former SNP MP
Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit
E79: Prospects for the House of Commons Modernisation Committee
An expert panel discusses the new House of Commons Modernisation Committee.
Speakers: Greg Power – former special adviser to two Leaders of the House of Commons and Founder and Board Chair of Global Partners Governance, Darren Hughes – Clerk to the previous House of Commons Modernisation Committee 2007–08 and Managing Director of Social Development Direct and Dr Tom Fleming – Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics, Constitution Unit
Chair: Professor Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit
E78: Constitution Unit Conference 2024: House of Lords reform
In the fourth and final session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses House of Lords reform.
Speakers: Baroness (Helene) Hayman – Crossbench peer and former Lord Speaker, Darren Hughes – Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, Professor Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit
Chair: Lisa James – Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit
E77: Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Rule of law
In the third session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses the rule of law.
Speakers: Lord (Jonathan) Sumption – former Justice of the Supreme Court, Baroness (Shami) Chakrabarti – Labour peer, former Shadow Attorney General, former Director of Liberty, and author of Human Rights: The Case for the Defence, Jonathan Jones KC – former Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department
Chair: Professor Kate O'Regan – Director of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford, and former judge of the South African Constitutional Court
E76: Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Devolution within England
In the second session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses English devolution.
Speakers: Professor Tony Travers – Director of LSE London and Visiting Professor at the LSE, Professor Joanie Willett – Associate Professor in Politics and Co-Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies, University of Exeter, Akash Paun – Programme Director, Institute for Government, Ed Cox – Executive Director for Strategy, Economy and Net Zero at the West Midlands Combined Authority
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
E75: Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Standards in government and parliament
In the first session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses standards.
Speakers: Dominic Grieve KC – Chair of the UK Governance Project, former Attorney General and Conservative MP, Peter Riddell – former Commissioner for Public Appointments, Director of the Institute for Government and journalist, Tim Durrant – Programme Director, Institute for Government
Chair: Professor Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit
E74: Opinion polls
A UCL Uncovering Politics episode, Ben Lauderdale and Alan Renwick discuss opinion polls. How are they done? What makes them sometimes go wrong? And how should we interpret their findings?
Speaker: Professor Ben Lauderdale – Professor of Political Science
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit and Professor of Democratic Politics
E73: Priorities for new MPs' induction in the next parliament
An expert panel discusses the induction process for new MPs.
Speakers: Dr Ruth Fox – Director of the Hansard Society, Dr Hannah White – Director of the Institute for Government, Daniel Greenberg – Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Alistair Burt – former Conservative MP and minister
Chair: Professor Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit
E72: Changes and challenges in regulating elections
An expert panel discusses recent changes in election regulations ahead of the 2 May local elections.
Speakers: Laura Lock – Deputy Chief Executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, Lord (Paul) Tyler – Liberal Democrat peer and former MP, co-author of the 2023 book Can Parliament Take Back Control?, Professor Alistair Clark – Professor of Political Science, Newcastle University
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
E71: Should military action require parliamentary approval?
An expert panel discusses the UK parliament’s role in approving military action.
Speakers: David Lidington – Chair of the Royal United Services Institute, former Conservative MP for Aylesbury, and former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Lord Chancellor, and Leader of the House of Commons, Dr Veronika Fikfak – Associate Professor in International Law, University College London, Dr James Strong – Senior Lecturer in British Politics and Foreign Policy, Queen Mary University of London
Chair: Lisa James – Research Fellow, Constitution Unit
E70: Do protests affect what politicians say?
A UCL Uncovering Politics episode, Tom Fleming and Alan Renwick discuss the effects of protest. Do protests influence what politicians talk about? And what does this say about the role of protests in democracy?
Speaker: Dr Tom Fleming – Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit and Professor of Democratic Politics
E69: UK Governance Project: proposals for reform
Dominic Grieve and Helen MacNamara discuss the recent report from their UK Governance Project with Prof Meg Russell.
Speakers: Dominic Grieve – chair of the UK Governance Project, former Attorney General for England and Wales, and former Conservative MP for Beaconsfield; Helen MacNamara – former Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Director General of the Cabinet Office Propriety and Constitution Group
Chair: Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
E68: The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales: UK-Wide Implications
The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales launched its final report in January 2024. This seminar examined its recommendations and considers their implications for the whole of the UK.
Speakers: Laura McAllister - Professor of Public Policy at Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre and co-chair of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales; Nicola McEwen - Professor of Public Policy in the College of Social Sciences and Director of the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow; Ciaran Martin - Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at the Blavatnik School of Government and former Constitution Director in the Cabinet Office
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
E67: How Parliaments Question Prime Ministers
A UCL Uncovering Politics episode, Ruxandra Serban and Alan Renwick discuss how parliaments question prime ministers. How does questioning work? And does it actually do any good?
Speaker: Ruxandra Serban, Associate Lecturer (Teaching) in Democratic and Authoritarian Politics
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
E66: The Future of Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland
First released on UCL's Uncovering Politics podcast, this episode looks at the politics of power-sharing in Northern Ireland. What is it? Why is it not currently working? And what is its future?
Speakers: Alan Whysall, Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Constitution Unit, Conor Kelly, Research Assistant at the Constitution Unit.
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
E65: The Future of Democracy in the UK: Public Attitudes and Policy Options
This seminar gathered leading figures from Westminster, with an expert on public attitudes and members of the project team, to explore the findings of the final report of the Democracy in the UK after Brexit project.
Speakers: Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister; Wendy Chamberlain MP, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Commons; Damian Green MP, former First Secretary of State and chair of the One Nation Conservatives; Professor Maria Sobolewska, Professor of Political Science, University of Manchester; Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
Chair: Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
E64: Mark D’Arcy - Reflections on over 20 years of reporting on parliament
Recently retired BBC parliamentary correspondent, Mark D’Arcy, discusses his key reflections on parliament with Prof Meg Russell
Speakers: Mark D'Arcy former BBC parliamentary correspondent, Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit.
E63: Ian Dunt's How Westminster Works...and Why It Doesn't
The recent book by journalist and author Ian Dunt provides a detailed and critical account of many aspects of the UK’s political system, including political parties and elections, parliament and the legislative process, the work of ministers and civil servants in Whitehall, and the role of the media. The book analyses various perceived problems, and proposes a range of possible solutions. In this seminar Ian presents some of his key arguments, and responds to comments and questions from a panel of experts and the online audience.
Speakers: Ian Dunt, journalist and author; Dr Ruth Fox, Director of the Hansard Society; Jill Rutter, Senior Research Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government; Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
Chair: Dr Tom Fleming, Constitution Unit, UCL
E62: The Future of the Constitution Conference - Elections and Electoral Reform
Conference panel | 1hr 13 mins | 29 June 2023
Adopting a more proportional electoral system is opposed by the Conservative Party, and by the Labour leader, but attracts growing support elsewhere. Would such reform be desirable or practical, and what might be its consequences? What might politicians wish to consider regarding other aspects of our elections, such as the minimum voting age, voter ID rules, or the reform proposals of the Law Commissions? How might any such changes be delivered?
Speakers: Cat Smith MP, Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, former Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office; Lord (Robert) Hayward, Conservative Peer; John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission; Professor Sarah Birch, Professor of Political Science at King's College London.
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit.
E61: The Future of the Constitution Conference - Implementing Constitutional Change
Conference panel | 1 hr 12 mins | 29th June 2023
This final keynote session considered the practicalities of delivering constitutional change in the round, whether under the current government, or a new Conservative, Labour, or coalition administration after the next general election. What kinds of changes might be ‘quick wins’, and which might instead take longer to deliver? How is the balance to be reached between public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny and achieving desired changes? Two senior figures with huge experience at the heart of British government reflected on these challenges.
Speakers: Lord (Charlie) Falconer of Thoroton, Labour peer, and former Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor; David Lidington, former Conservative MP for Aylesbury, and former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Chancellor, and Leader of the House of Commons.
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
E60: The Future of the Constitution Conference - Constitutional Standards
Conference panel | 1 hr 15 mins | 29th June 2023
The issue of ensuring high standards of behaviour in public life remains high-profile following the Johnson and Truss premierships. Rishi Sunak pledged to lead a government of ‘integrity, professionalism, and accountability’ when he first became Prime Minister, while Labour has proposed an extensive overhaul to the UK’s system of standards regulation. What are the key problems in the current system, and what reforms could most successfully address them?
Speakers: Lord (David) Anderson of Ipswich, Crossbench peer, and former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation; Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government; Jeremy Wright MP, Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Attorney General and former member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
E59: The Future of the Constitution Conference - Courts and the Rule of Law
Conference panel | 1 hr 11 mins | 28th June 2023
Relations between the political branches and the courts have been strained in recent years. Pushback against the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights has spilled over into determined attempts to ‘clip the wings’ of the UK’s own courts, with renewed interest in ‘ouster clauses' and attempts to repeal the Human Rights Act, against a steady drumbeat of complaint that courts have become too powerful in our constitutional arrangements. How can the damage be repaired? What should be the priorities of a future government interested in restoring the UK’s battered reputation as a rule of law-regarding nation?
Speakers: Laura Farris MP, Conservative MP for Newbury and former practising barrister at Matrix; Emily Thornberry MP, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and Shadow Attorney General; Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive, Justice
Chair: Murray Hunt, Director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law
E58: The Future of the Constitution Conference - Devolution and the Union
Conference panel | 1 hr 16 mins | 28th June 2023
Uncertainties over the UK’s future territorial politics are great. The SNP is in turmoil, and the UK government’s block on Holyrood’s gender legislation is being challenged in the courts. Labour’s Brown Commission has recommended major changes, and further proposals are being developed in Wales. Renewed devolution within England is on the cards. Is fundamental reform of the UK’s territorial arrangements needed? If so, what might this mean in practice?
Speakers: Dr Anwen Elias, Reader in Politics at Aberystwyth University, and member of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales; Kezia Dugdale, Director of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow, and former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party; Professor Michael Kenny, Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
E57: The Future of the Constitution Conference - Parliament
Conference panel | 1 hr 8 mins | 28th June 2023
The last few years have seen frequent controversy about parliament’s role, and the government’s openness to parliamentary accountability. What are the proper scrutiny roles of MPs and peers? Do they have the opportunities and resources to fulfil these? If not, what reforms might be needed?
Speakers: Thangam Debbonaire, Labour MP for Bristol West and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons; Professor Lord (Philip) Norton of Louth, Conservative peer, and Professor of Government at the University of Hull; Dr Brigid Fowler, Senior Researcher, Hansard Society; Alexander Horne, barrister, and Visiting Professor at Durham.
Chair: Dr Tom Fleming
E56: Combatting Democratic Backsliding: What Works?
Public Webinar | 1hr 7 mins | 13th June 2023
An expert panel discussed what we can learn from existing responses to democratic backsliding around the world.
Speakers: Professor Kim Lane Scheppele, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University; Ken Godfrey, Executive Director of the European Partnership for Democracy; Dr Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment at International IDEA
Chair: Professor Meg Russell
E55: How can we fix our democracy?
Inaugural lecture | 1 hr 7 mins | 26th May 2023
Prof Alan Renwick's inaugural lecture. What are the problems with democracy in the UK and are there any solutions that would work in practice?
Speaker: Professor Alan Renwick
Respondent: Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe
Chair: Professor Meg Russell
E54: Ministers also have rights - balancing executive prerogatives and executive scrutiny
Inaugural lecture | 1 hr 15 mins | 22nd May 2023
Inaugural lecture for Sir Peter Riddell, Honorary Professor in Political Science and member of the Constitution Unit. Is there middle ground in the culture war over ministerial standards?
Speaker: Sir Peter Riddell
Respondent: Rt Hon Jack Straw
Chair: Professor Meg Russell
E53 | The Parliamentary Battle over Brexit
Podcast | 36 minutes | 4 May 2023
This week we ask: What does the process of Brexit tell us about the role of the UK’s parliament and whether it needs reform? This episode was first recorded for our sister podcast - UCL Uncovering Politics.
Guests: Professor Meg Russell & Lisa James
Host: Professor Alan Renwick
E52 | The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement at 25: What Should London's Priorities Be?
Public Webinar 2023 75 minutes | 29 April 2023
As the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement passes its 25th anniversary, uncertainty remains over whether Northern Ireland’s power-sharing institutions will be restored any time soon. Debate has intensified over possible reforms, notably to how the Northern Ireland Executive is formed and to voting procedures within the Assembly. There are also differing views over the optimal forms of North–South and East–West engagement. The UK government has a vital role in shaping Northern Ireland’s future, but trust in it is exceptionally low across all Northern Ireland’s communities. In this seminar, a panel of leading authorities will explore the question of what London’s role and priorities should be.
Speakers: Simon Hoare, Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Baroness (Angela) Smith of Basildon, Alan Whysall
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick
E51 | The Parliamentary Battle Over Brexit and the Constitution
Public Webinar 2023 75 minutes | 23 March 2023
Since the 2016 referendum, the hotly contested issue of Brexit has raised fundamental questions about the workings of British democracy. A new book by the Constitution Unit’s Meg Russell and Lisa James charts The Parliamentary Battle Over Brexit, and this seminar discussed the book’s key arguments and conclusions, including why this period was so difficult, and what if anything might need to change in the UK’s parliament and wider constitution.
Speakers: Professor Meg Russell, Lisa James, David Gauke, Joanna Cherry MP, Dr Robert Saunders
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick
E50 | Integrity and Accountability in Politics: What Do the Public Want?
Public Webinar 2023 75 minutes | 13 March 2023
Topics covered include the role of parliament, the future of the House of Lords, voting reform, the role of judges, and integrity in public life.
Speakers: Professor Alan Renwick, Professor Joe Tomlinson, Dr Hannah White, Professor Paula Surridge
Chair: Professor Meg Russell
E49 | The Brown Commission: What Next?
Public Webinar 2023 75 minutes | 24 January 2023
What does the Commission’s report propose? What does it leave out? And could its proposals be practically implemented?
Speakers: Prof Aileen McHarg, Akash Paun, Arabella Lang, Prof Meg Russell
Chair: Prof Alan Renwick
E48 | A Primer on the House of Lords
'UCL Uncovering Politics' episode, 35 minutes | 21 December 2022
Meg Russell & Alan Renwick discuss the House of Lords: What does it do? And how, if at all, should it be reformed?
E47 | Reform of the Prerogative
Public Webinar 2022 65 minutes | 14 December 2022
From the prorogation of parliament to military action, prerogative powers have been at the heart of recent political controversies.
Speakers: Prof Robert Hazell, Sir Peter Riddell, Arabella Lang, Prof Philippe Lagassé
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E46 | How should politicians’ behaviour be regulated?
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 36 minutes | 30 November 2022
How should politicians’ behaviour be regulated? How, that is, can we best ensure that politicians are honest, play fair, and do a decent job?
Guests: Prof Robert Hazell, Sir Peter Riddell
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E45 | What does the new Prime Minister mean for the constitution?
Public Webinar 2022 75 minutes | 24 November 2022
How will Rishi Sunak approach his predecessors’ legislative proposals relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol, retained EU law, and human rights? How will he deliver on his pledge to prioritise integrity, professionalism, and accountability? This expert panel provides a constitutional stock-take at the start of the Sunak premiership.
Panel: Jill Rutter, Dr Ruth Fox and Prof Colm O’Cinneide
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E44 | Parliament’s Role in Brexit
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 38 minutes | 04 November 2022
This episode comes from our sister UCL podcast - Uncovering Politics - and looks at parliament’s role in shaping Brexit-related legislation between 2017 and 2019. We ask: What role did parliament play in Brexit? More particularly, how much influence has it had over Brexit legislation? And has it done harm or good?
Guests: Dr Tom Fleming and Lisa James
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E43 | Planning for the next Coronation, and the new Reign
Public Webinar 2022, 73 minutes | 26 October 2022
The next big event for King Charles after accession will be his coronation, planned jointly by the monarch, church and state. Parliament will need to update the Regency Acts to provide for additional Counsellors of State. Meanwhile several Commonwealth countries have declared their intent to leave the monarchy and become republics.
Panel: Catherine Pepinster, Dr Craig Prescott, and Dr Sue Onslow
Chair: Prof Robert Hazell
E42 | Caretaker Conventions in British Government
Public Webinar 2022, 72 minutes | 06 October 2022
What are the UK’s caretaker conventions? When do they apply? Should the existing conventions be clarified, codified, or reformed? If so, what lessons might be learned from experience in other countries?
Panel: Lord (Gavin) Barwell, Lord (Gus) O’Donnell, and Professor Anne Tiernan
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E41 | Keynote Speech by Rory Stewart - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022
The State of the Constitution 2022, 58 minutes | 23 June 2022
The keynote address from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E40 | Parliament: the decline of scrutiny? - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022
The State of the Constitution 2022, 73 minutes | 23 June 2022
The fifth panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E39 | The Role of the Courts - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022
The State of the Constitution 2022, 71 minutes | 23 June 2022
The fourth panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution.
Chair: Joshua Rozenberg QC (Hon)
E38 | The Future of the Union and Devolution - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022
The State of the Constitution 2022, 76 minutes | 23 June 2022
The third panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution.
Chair: Prof Alan Renwick
E37 | Northern Ireland: how can power-sharing be revived? - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022
The State of the Constitution 2022, 72 minutes | 22 June 2022
The second panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution.
Chair: Prof Alan Renwick
E36 | Constitutional Standards - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022
The State of the Constitution 2022, 74 minutes | 22 June 2022
The first panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E35 | The 1997 Labour government's constitutional reform programme: 25 years on
Public webinar, 77 minutes | 17 May 2022
We look back at the Labour reforms proposed in 1997 with a panel of experts who were closely involved from different perspectives.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E34 | Politics in Northern Ireland
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 36 minutes | 12 May 2022
This episode of 'Uncovering Politics' week looks at politics in Northern Ireland in the wake of the Assembly elections. Can power-sharing government return? And what are the implications for Northern Ireland’s future?
Panel: Alan Whysall and Professor Etain Tannam
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E33 | Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK
Public webinar, 72 minutes | 28 April 2022
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E32 | What role should party members have in leadership elections?
Public webinar, 74 minutes | 7 April 2022
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E31 | The Platinum Jubilee and Future of the Monarchy
Public webinar, 75 minutes | 17 March 2022
Chair: Prof Robert Hazell
E30 | What Kind of Democracy Do People Want?
Public webinar, 78 minutes | 10 February 2022
We discuss the findings of our major survey of attitudes to democracy in the UK.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E29 | What Can Be Done About the House of Lords?
Public webinar, 73 minutes | 13 January 2022
There are regular calls for reform of the House of Lords. This distinguished panel considered the difficulties of achieving even small, incremental reforms, and whether new approaches are needed.
Panel: Baroness (Angela) Smith, Lord (Michael) Jay, Sir Bernard Jenkin MP
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E28 | Riding the populist wave: the UK Conservatives and the constitution
Public webinar, 73 minutes | 1 December 2021
Professor Tim Bale’s book, 'Riding the Populist Wave', highlights how mainstream right-wing parties across Europe – including the UK Conservatives – have faced challenges responding to electoral pressure from the populist radical right. How such parties respond may have important implications for everyday politics, and raise concerns about the robustness of constitutional protections, and even of liberal democracy itself. This seminar reflects on the international trends, with a particular interest in how they are affecting, and may continue to affect, the UK.
Panel: Prof Tim Bale, Lord (Daniel) Finkelstein
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E27 | Improving Standards of Conduct in Public Life
Public webinar, 55 minutes | 12 November 2021
CSPL's chair, Lord (Jonathan) Evans, discusses the final report of their Standards Matter 2 review and their recommendations.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E26 | Reforming elections: assessing the government’s proposals
Public webinar, 71 minutes | 23 September 2021
Leading experts discuss some of the controversial proposals put forward by the government in the Elections Bill and draft Online Safety Bill.
Panel: Prof Justin Fisher, Laura Lock, Baroness (Nicky) Morgan of Cotes, Louise Edwards
Chair: Prof Alan Renwick
E25 | The Gun, the Ship & the Pen: Warfare, Constitutions and the Making of the Modern World
Public webinar, 75 minutes | 29 July 2021
In discussion with Prof Linda Colley FBA about her latest book on warfare, constitutions and the making of the modern world.
Panel: Prof Linda Colley, Dr Harshan Kumarasingham
Chair: Prof Robert Hazell
E24 | Devolution and the future of the Union
Conference on Johnson's Constitutional Reform Agenda, 75 minutes | 18 June 2021
The second panel of day two of our conference on Johnson's constitutional reform agenda explored devolution and the future of the Union with four experts based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Panel: Prof Adam Tomkins, Prof Laura McAllister, Prof Katy Hayward, and Prof John Denham
Chair: Prof Robert Hazell
E23 | Judicial review, human rights and judiciary
Conference on Johnson's Constitutional Reform Agenda, 71 minutes | 17 July 2021
The second panel of our conference on Johnson's constitutional reform agenda looked at the government's recent review of administrative law and programme for reform of human rights and the judiciary.
Panel: Lord Faulks, Prof Kate O'Regan and Joshua Rozenberg
Chair: Prof Catherine Barnard.
E22 | Elections and referendums - updating campaign regulation for a digital era
Conference on Johnson's Constitutional Reform Agenda, 56 minutes | 18 June 2021
The first panel of day two of our conference on Johnson's constitutional reform agenda discussed the need to update political campaigning regulations for a digital era.
Panel: John Pullinger, Dr Kate Dommett, and Prof Rachel Gibson
Chair: Prof Alan Renwick
E21 | Re-balancing between parliament, executive and the courts
Conference on Johnson's Constitutional Reform Agenda, 58 minutes | 18 June 2021
The closing panel of our conference on Johnson's constitutional reform agenda examined the re-balancing of power between parliament, the executive and the courts.
Panel: Dominic Grieve QC, Peter Riddell, Prof Meg Russell, and Prof Tim Bale
Chair: Prof Petra Schleiter
E20 | Review of Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Conference on Johnson's Constitutional Reform Agenda, 72 minutes | 17 June 2021
The third panel of day one of our conference on Johnson's constitutional reform agenda examined the government's review of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act and it's repeal bill: the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill.
Panel: Lord McLoughlin, Chris Bryant MP, Prof Petra Schleiter, and Prof Alison Young
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E19 | Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland discusses the government's constitutional reform agenda
Conference on Johnson's Constitutional Reform Agenda, 43 minutes | 17 June 2021
Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland delivered the keynote speech to open our conference on Johnson's constitutional reform agenda in which he provided an overview of the government's plans.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E18 | Final Report by the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland
Public webinar, 78 minutes | 9 June 2021
It would be 'highly unwise' for any referendum on Northern Ireland's constitutional future to be called without having a clear plan for what would follow. That is the central conclusion of the Final Report by the Working Group. So, how would any such referendum best be designed and conducted?
Panel: Prof Alan Renwick, Prof John Coakley, Sarah Creighton, Dr Avila Kilmurray and Patrick Maguire
Chair: Prof Cathy Gormley-Heenan
E17 | Deciding Northern Ireland's Future
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 38 minutes | 3 June 2021
This episode of 'UCL Uncovering Politics' looks at referendums on the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. Could they happen? If so, how would they best be designed and conducted?
Guests: Prof Katy Hayward, Dr David Kenny, and Dr Etain Tannam
Host: Dr Alan Renwick
E16 | Does the UK Still Have a Political Constitution?
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 36 minutes | 28 May 2021
This episode of 'UCL Uncovering Politics' looks at the UK’s constitution. What form does it take? And is that changing?
Guest: Prof Richard Bellamy
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E15 | Ministerial Standards
Public webinar, 69 minutes | 24 May 2021
Westminster and Holyrood have both been engulfed by scandals over ministerial behaviour in the past year. This webinar discussed standards of conduct in Westminster and beyond.
Panel: Sir Alex Allan, Susan Deacon and Richard Thomas CBE
Chair: Prof Robert Hazell
E14 | Regulating public appointments
Public webinar, 72 minutes | 29 April 2021
Peter Riddell steps down as the Commissioner for Public Appointments in September. In this valedictory talk, he will reflect on the system of public appointments, and discuss what changes are needed to provide public confidence in the system.
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E13 | Ideas of Democracy
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 32 minutes | 25 March 2021
This episode of 'UCL Uncovering Politics' focuses on contemporary ideas of democracy. What kinds of democratic system do people want? And what understandings of democracy underpin them?
Guests: Prof Alan Renwick, Prof Meg Russell, and Prof Albert Weale
Host: Prof Jennifer Hudson
E12 | Can Johnson prevent indyref2?
Public webinar, 75 minutes | 22 March 2021
If the SNP win a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, Nicola Sturgeon will declare they have a mandate for a second independence referendum. Boris Johnson has said he will refuse to allow one. But can he can really resist?
Panel: Prof Aileen McHarg, James Forsyth, and Prof Alan Renwick
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E11| The Prerogative Powers of Governments
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 28 minutes | 11 March 2021
This episode of 'UCL Uncovering Politics' explores the powers of political executives. What can ministers and presidents do without the consent of the legislature? And what place should such powers have in a democracy?
Guest: Prof Robert Hazell
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E10| Attitudes to Democracy in the UK Today
Public webinar, 72 minutes | 25 February 2021
How do people in the UK view democracy? How do they think UK democracy ought to operate? To launch the Unit's new ESRC-funded research project, 'Democracy in the UK after Brexit', we hosted a webinar with three leading experts in the field to unpack these questions.
Panel: Prof Jane Green, Prof Claudia Landwehr and Deborah Mattinson
Chair: Prof Alan Renwick
E9| Boris Johnson and Parliament
Public webinar, 61 minutes | 27 January 2021
In partnership with The UK in a Changing Europe, two seasoned Conservative parliamentarians and the director of the Constitution Unit look back at Boris Johnson’s relationship with parliament, reflect on the highs and lows, expectations and reality, and lessons for the future.
Panel: Mark Harper MP, Lord Young of Cookham, and Prof Meg Russell
Chair: Jill Rutter
E8| Taking Back Control: Why the House of Commons Should Govern its Own Time
Private webinar, 84 minutes | 22 January 2021
'Taking Back Control: Why the House of Commons Should Govern its own Time' is a Constitution Unit report which explores why MPs lack control of their own institution, what problems this causes, & what should be done; this webinar discusses its findings and implications.
Panel: Karen Bradley MP, Valerie Vaz MP, Sir David Natzler, Prof Meg Russell (co-author), and Dr Daniel Gover (co-author)
Chair: Jill Rutter
E7| Devolution and the Union
Public webinar, 72 minutes | 4 December 2020
As the final part of the Constitution Unit’s 25th anniversary celebrations, we looked at devolution and the Union. Devolution had a deceptively easy start under the Labour government but it has become increasingly under pressure with the ruptures of Brexit and the election of governments of different persuasions. Four academic experts, one from each part of the UK, discuss the devolution journey so far, and its future.
Panel: Prof John Denham, Prof Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Prof Michael Keating, and Prof Laura McAllister
Chair: Prof Robert Hazell
E6| Interim Report by the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland
Public webinar, 87 minutes | 3 December 2020
The Interim Report of the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland explores how any potential future referendum or referendums on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would best be designed and conducted. This webinar discussed the report’s purposes, analysis, and conclusions.
Panel: Prof Alan Renwick, Alan Whysall, Clare Salters, and Martin Kettle
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E5| Populism and the Rise of Autocracy
Public webinar, 70 minutes | 3 December 2020
There are concerns about the rise of populism and erosion of democratic standards throughout the world. Examples include countries such as Hungary, Poland and Brazil, growing support for populist parties in western Europe, and recent development in the US. Populism has grown through new challenger parties, but also through capture of previously mainstream parties. In this Policy and Practice seminar three international experts discuss these worldwide trends.
Panel: Anne Applebaum, Rory Stewart and Prof Nadia Urbinati
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E4| Constitutional Reform, Then and Now
Public webinar, 80 minutes | 27 November 2020
As part of the Constitution Unit’s 25th anniversary celebrations, this online seminar looks back at the constitutional reform agenda of the 1997 Labour government, and forward at the constitutional reforms proposed in the 2019 Conservative manifesto. What were the key questions, and motivating factors, then and now?
Panel: Jack Straw, Prof Francesca Klug OBE, and David Gauke
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
E3| Monarchy in Modern Democracy
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 30 minutes | 22 October 2020
Serious books on monarchy are rare, but a new volume on Europe’s eight contemporary democracies helps to fill the gap. Does monarchy still deserve the attention of students of politics? And is the fact that most of the world’s healthiest democracies are monarchies anything more than a coincidence? In this episode of UCL Uncovering Politics, book co-author, Prof Robert Hazell, explores some of these questions.
Guest: Prof Robert Hazell
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E2| Checks and Balances in Democracy
'UCL Uncovering Politics' podcast episode, 38 minutes | 8 October 2020
The long-standing idea that democracy needs checks and balances is questioned in some quarters. So what is the case for checks and balances, and what are the arguments against? Should we look upon different kinds of checks and balances in different ways? And what are the contemporary tensions bringing these debates to the fore? This UCL Uncovering Politics podcast episode explores these questions with three leading thinkers on constitutional politics.
Guests: Prof Meg Russell, Prof Richard Bellamy, and Prof Jeff King
Host: Prof Alan Renwick
E1| The Johnson government's constitutional reform agenda
Public event, 80 minutes | 14 January 2020
The Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto commits the new government ‘to look at the broader aspects of our constitution: the relationship between the government, parliament and the courts; the functioning of the Royal Prerogative; the role of the House of Lords; and access to justice for ordinary people’. This event recording discusses how the new government might implement this agenda and what obstacles it might face.
Panel: Lord Dunlop and Chris White
Chair: Prof Meg Russell
