Hybrid | What can we do about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny?

Speaker: Professor Meg Russell FBA, UCL Constitution Unit
Chair: Denis Edward

About this talk

"A recent analysis by Professor Meg Russell published in the Journal Public Law documented various forms of decline in the quality of government scrutiny by parliament. Although concerns were particularly raised during the Brexit and Covid years, this work shows that decline continued further subsequently. This lecture will summarise Meg Russell's findings, and encourage the audience to engage in a discussion about what can be done to improve the situation. Many of the problems lie with government, but parliament could do more to defend its scrutiny role. With the 2024 House of Commons including an unusually high number of new MPs, and a new government keen to pursue its policy programme, how can a culture that values the benefits of scrutiny be re-established?

About the speaker

Professor Meg Russell FBA is the Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL, where she is Professor of British and Comparative Politics. She is best known for her work on parliament. Her books include The Contemporary House of Lords: Westminster Bicameralism Revived (OUP, 2013), Legislation at Westminster: Parliamentary Actors and Influence in the Making of British Law (OUP, 2017) and the Parliamentary Battle over Brexit (OUP, 2023). Meg has worked closely with policymakers throughout her career, and the Constitution Unit focuses to a significant extent on real-world 'impact'. She has previously served as a full-time adviser to the Leader of the House of Commons (2001-03), and a specialist adviser to various parliamentary committees, most recently including the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, and the Lord Speaker's Committee on the Size of the House of Lords. Meg is currently leading projects at the Constitution Unit on House of Commons procedure, and on Constitutional Principles and the Health of Democracy.

Ticket fees

Online and In-person Ticket price: £8
Lectures are free of charge for individal and institutional members of the Statute Law Society (SLS) and UCL Staff & Students.

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The Statute Law Society is a charity which aims to promote knowledge and understanding about legislation and the legislative process. Join via www.statutelawsociety.co.uk

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