Constitution Unit past events
Browse audio and video recordings from past Constitution Unit events.
2026 events
What next for constitutional reform in the UK?9 July 2026 Frances Foley, Dr Catherine Haddon and Lisa James discuss what the next Prime Minister could, and should, be thinking about the constitution. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2026: The Representation of the People Bill25 June 2026 Phoebe Arnold, John Pullinger and Philip Rycroft discuss the current Representation of the People Bill and whether it should go further. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2026: What next for standards in public life?25 June 2026 Baroness (Ruth) Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, Doug Chalmers, Dr Susan Hawley and Lord (Mark) Pack discuss what has, and remains to be done, to strengthen standards in public life. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2026: Making policy on difficult issues24 June 2026 Lord (Charlie) Falconer of Thoroton, Dr Ruth Fox and Professor Jane Suiter discuss how the policy-making process can best be designed to handle controversial issues |
Constitution Unit Conference 2026: How should political parties choose their leaders?24 June 2026 Lord (Graham) Brady of Altrincham, Sienna Rodgers and Dr Robert Saunders debate changing the way that political parties choose their leaders, just as a new leadership contest kicks off. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2026: How can public confidence in UK democracy be restored?24 June 2026 Polly Curtis, Anneliese Dodds MP, Professor Marc Stears and Sue Tibballs discuss what can be done to restore public confidence in democracy. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2026: UK–EU relations ten years after the referendum24 June 2026 Professor Katy Hayward, Professor Anand Menon and Lord (Jock) Stirrup discuss the UK’s relationship with the EU ten years to the day since the ‘Brexit’ referendum result was announced. |
The future of BBC governance30 April 2026 Professor Dame Diane Coyle, Professor Georgina Born and Sameer Padania discuss the future of BBC governance. |
How will the 2026 Senedd election change Welsh politics?5 March 2026 Jess Blair, Professor Laura McAllister and Sir Paul Silk look ahead to May’s Senedd election. |
Democracy In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence26 February 2026 Claudia Chwalisz, Dr Elizabeth Seger and Dr Melanie Smallman discuss how the state should respond to AI. |
The Breaking Point: Navigating The Global Rule Of Law Recession5 February 2026 Dr Marko Bošnjak, Dr Adam Bodnar and Dr Victoria Kristan discuss the present ‘rule of law’ crisis. |
Can the House of Commons handle multi-party politics?19 January 2026 Dr Ellie Chowns MP, Paul Evans and Dr Louise Thompson discuss how a more fragmented politics challenges the House of Commons and the parties within it. |
2025 events
Demystifying the UK honours system9 December 2025 Dame Sue Owen, Sir Peter Riddell and Dominic Grieve KC discuss the system ahead of the New Year Honours. |
Legislative Oversight of the Armed Forces27 November 2025 Philippe Lagassé, Dominic Grieve KC and Professor Veronika Fikfak discuss Lagassé’s new book. |
Votes at 16: Is Citizenship Education up to Scratch?20 November 2025 Hattie Andrews, Emma Connolly and Hans Svennevig discuss citizenship education in light of ‘votes at 16’. |
The Future of the ECHR - In Europe and UK7 November 2025 Robert Spano, Professor Jens Elo Peters Rytter, Professor Colm O’Cinneide, Professor Alice Donald discuss reform of the European Convention on Human Rights. |
Do the government’s electoral reforms go far enough?24 October 2025 Cat Smith MP, Rose Whiffen, Tom Hawthorn and Professor David Howarth discuss the UK government’s elections policy paper. |
How should the UK’s parliaments scrutinise international agreements?10 July 2025 Lord (Peter) Goldsmith KC, Arabella Lang and Clare Adamson MSP discuss parliamentary scrutiny of international agreements. |
England’s ‘devolution revolution’: prospects and challenges10 July 2025 Bella Sankey, Roger Gough and Professor Arianna Giovannini discuss the government’s plans for reforming regional and local government in England. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2025: Reflections on Labour’s constitutional agenda19 June 2025 In the sixth and final session of our conference, Alex Burghart MP, Sarah Olney MP and Baroness (Dianne) Hayter of Kentish Town reflected on Labour’s entire constitutional agenda. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2025: Reforming the House of Commons19 June 2025 In the fifth session of our conference, Cat Smith MP, Wendy Chamberlain MP and Dr Hannah White had an informative conversation about reforming the House of Commons |
Constitution Unit Conference 2025: The rule of law19 June 2025 In the fourth session of our conference, Andy Slaughter MP, Baroness (Victoria) Prentis and Dr Joelle Grogan discussed the rule of law |
Constitution Unit Conference 2025: The electoral system in a multiparty democracy18 June 2025 In the third session of our conference, Peter Lamb MP, Frances Foley and Professor Rob Ford debated the electoral system. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2025: Standards in public life18 June 2025 In the second session of our conference, Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP, Phil Brickell MP and Professor Gillian Peele discussed standards in public life. |
Constitution Unit Conference 2025: Opening keynote from Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office18 June 2025 In the first session of our conference, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP gave the opening keynote. |
AI and Democracy15 May 2025 Professor Danielle Allen, Professor Helen Margetts and Professor Ciaran Martin discuss the dangers and opportunities that AI represents to democracy. |
Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion28 April 2025 Professor Katy Hayward, Professor Alan Renwick, Ann Watt and Alan Whysall discuss possible reforms of Stormont. |
Are the UK’s party funding regulations fit for purpose?24 March 2025 Jackie Killeen, Lord (Mark) Pack, Dr Jess Garland and Professor Justin Fisher discuss the rules around political party donations. |
Improving parliamentary scrutiny of legislation24 February 2025 Professor Meg Russell, Sir David Natzler and Dr Daniel Gover discuss how to improve the UK parliament’s scrutiny of legislation. |
Making a sucess of votes at 1628 January 2025 Liz Moorse, Dr Christine Huebner and Marcus Flucker discuss making votes at 16 work, especially education for democracy. |
2024 events
Improving election discourse in the UK12 December 2024 An expert panel discusses election discourse in the UK. | |
Priorities for the new UK Government: Accountability in British Politics28 November 2024 An expert panel discusses accountability in the UK. | |
How to be an effective opposition4 November 2024 An expert panel discusses being in opposition. | |
How to be an effective select committee chair17 October 2024 An expert panel discusses chairing a select committee. | |
Prospects for the House of Commons Modernisation Committee13 September 2024 An expert panel discusses the new House of Commons Modernisation Committee. | |
Lessons from the 2024 general election16 July 2024 An expert panel reflects on the 2024 general election. | |
Constitution Unit Conference 2024: House of Lords reform25 June 2024 In the fourth and final session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses House of Lords reform. | |
Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Rule of law25 June 2024 In the third session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses the rule of law. | |
Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Devolution within England24 June 2024 In the second session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses English devolution. | |
Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Standards in government and parliament24 June 2024 In the first session of our 2024 conference, an expert panel discusses standards. | |
Priorities for new MPs’ induction in the next parliament5 June 2024 An expert panel discusses the induction process for new MPs. | |
Changes and challenges in regulating elections25 April 2024 An expert panel discusses recent changes in election regulations ahead of the 2 May local elections. | |
Should military action require parliamentary approval?13 March 2024 An expert panel discusses the UK parliament’s role in approving military action. | |
Women in British politics: progress, pitfalls and prospects7 March 2024 This event saw a former MP and leading scholars discuss the historical progress, contemporary pitfalls and future prospects for women in British politics. | |
UK Governance Project: proposals for reform21 February 2024 Dominic Grieve and Helen MacNamara discuss the recent report from their UK Governance Project with Prof Meg Russell. | |
Data-driven campaigning: how and why do political parties do it?8 February 2024 In this event, Prof Kate Dommett presented findings from her new book on the topic and, with Louise Edwards and Dr Miriam Sorace, delved into data-driven campaigning and its implications in the UK. | |
The Independent Commission on the Future of Wales: UK-Wide Implications31 January 2024 The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales launched its final report in January 2024. This event examines its recommendations and considers their implications for the whole of the UK. |
2023 events
Could Citizens’ Assemblies Improve Policymaking?14 December 2023 Citizens’ assemblies are increasingly proposed as ways of improving the functioning of democracy and policy-making. This seminar explored the issues around them with two leading experts in deliberative democracy and Martin Wolf, one of the UK’s most respected economic commentators. |
The Future of Democracy in the UK: Public Attitudes and Policy Options27 November 2023 This seminar gathered leading figures to explore the findings of the final report of the Democracy in the UK after Brexit project. |
Choosing Future MPs: Candidate Selection for the Upcoming UK Elections02 November 2023 How do parties decide which candidate gets selected to represent them? In this event, we were joined by a trio of seasoned political insiders to shine a light on the hidden selection processes that will determine the make-up of our next Parliament. |
Mark D’Arcy - Reflections on over 20 years of reporting on parliament24 October 2023 Recently retired BBC parliamentary correspondent, Mark D’Arcy, discusses his key reflections on parliament with Prof Meg Russell. |
Ian Dunt’s How Westminster Works … and Why It Doesn’t14 September 2023 A discussion with Ian Dunt and an expert panel about his recent book on the perceived problems facing the UK political system. |
UCL Constitution Unit Conference 2023: Implementing Constitutional Change29 June 2023 The Constitution Unit’s Summer Conference took place online across 28 and 29 June with an agenda packed with fascinating panels and speakers. |
UCL Constitution Unit Conference 2023: Constitutional Standards29 June 2023 The Constitution Unit’s Summer Conference took place online across 28 and 29 June with an agenda packed with fascinating panels and speakers. |
UCL Constitution Unit Conference 2023: Elections and Electoral Reform29 June 2023 The Constitution Unit’s Summer Conference took place online across 28 and 29 June with an agenda packed with fascinating panels and speakers. |
UCL Constitution Unit Conference 2023: Courts and the Rule of Law28 June 2023 The Constitution Unit’s Summer Conference took place online across 28 and 29 June with an agenda packed with fascinating panels and speakers |
UCL Constitution Unit Conference 2023: Devolution and the Union28 June 2023 The Constitution Unit’s Summer Conference took place online across 28 and 29 June with an agenda packed with fascinating panels and speakers |
UCL Constitution Unit Conference 2023: Parliament28 June 2023 The Constitution Unit’s Summer Conference took place online across 28 and 29 June with an agenda packed with fascinating panels and speakers |
Combatting democratic backsliding: what works?22 May 2023 Recent years have seen rising global concern about ‘democratic backsliding’. What can be done to combat these trends? |
How can we fix our democracy?16 May 2023 Inaugural lecture for Prof Alan Renwick. What are the problems with democracy in the UK and are there any solutions that would work in practice? |
Ministers also have Rights - Balancing Executive Prerogatives and Executive Scrutiny26 April 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? |
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement at 25: What Should London’s Priorities Be?25 April 2023 This seminar explored what London’s role and priorities should be as the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement passes its 25th anniversary. |
The Parliamentary Battle over Brexit and the Constitution23 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. |
Integrity and Accountability in Politics: What Do the Public Want?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. |
The Brown Commission: What Next?20 January 2023 What does the Commission’s report propose? What does it leave out? Could its proposals be practically implemented? If so, how might this be done? |
2022 events
Reform of the Prerogative08 December 2022 From the prorogation of parliament to military action, prerogative powers have been at the heart of recent political controversies. |
What does the new Prime Minister mean for the constitution?23 November 2022 An expert panel provides a constitutional stock-take at the start of the Sunak premiership |
Planning for the next Coronation, and the new Reign26 October 2022 The next big event for King Charles after accession will be his coronation, planned jointly by the monarch, church and state. |
Caretaker Conventions in British Government6 October 2022 What are the UK’s caretaker conventions? When do they apply? Should the existing conventions be clarified, codified, or reformed? |
The ‘Brexit Freedoms’ Bill and Retained EU Law22 July 2022 We discuss what the ‘Brexit Freedoms’ Bill might look like and what it could mean for the relative power of parliament and ministers. |
Keynote speech by Rory Stewart - The State of the Constitution 202223 June 2022 The keynote address from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution. |
Parliament: the decline of scrutiny? - The State of the Constitution 202223 June 2022 The fifth panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution. |
The Role of the Courts - The State of the Constitution 202223 June 2022 The fourth panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution. |
The Future of the Union and Devolution - The State of the Constitution 202223 June 2022 The third panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution. |
Northern Ireland: how can power-sharing be revived? - The State of the Constitution 202222 June 2022 The second panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution. |
Constitutional Standards - The State of the Constitution 202222 June 2022 The first panel from our 2022 conference, The State of the Constitution. |
The 1997 Labour government’s constitutional reform programme: 25 years on17 May 2022 We look back at the Labour reforms proposed in 1997 with a panel of experts who were closely involved from different perspectives. |
Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK28 April 2022 We discuss the newly published report of the Unit’s recent Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK. |
What role should party members have in leadership elections?7 April 2022 We explore the key arguments around how the role of members affects the kind of leaders and policies adopted, balanced with the role of MPs. |
The Platinum Jubilee and Future of the Monarchy17 March 2022 A panel of experts mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and explore what the future of the monarchy might look like. |
What Kind of Democracy Do People Want?10 February 2022 We discuss the newly published findings of our major survey of attitudes to democracy in the UK. |
What Can Be Done About the House of Lords?13 January 2022 A distinguished panel discuss the difficulties of Lords reform and whether new approaches are needed. |
2021 events
Riding the Populist Wave: UK Conservatives and the Constitution1 December 2021 This seminar reflects on the international trends of populism, with a particular interest in how they are affecting, and may continue to affect, the UK. |
Improving standards of conduct in public life12 November 2021 CSPL’s chair, Lord (Jonathan) Evans, talks about the Standards Matter 2 review and CSPL’s main recommendations with Professor Meg Russell. |
Reforming Elections: Assessing the Government’s Proposals23 September 2021 Leading experts Professor Justin Fisher, Laura Lock, Baroness (Nicky) Morgan of Cotes, and Louise Edwards discuss some of the controversial proposals put forward by the government in the Elections Bill and draft Online Safety Bill. |
The Gun, the Ship and the Pen: Warfare, Constitutions and the Making of the Modern World29 July 2021 The latest book by prize-winning author Prof Linda Colley FBA (Professor of History at Princeton) is about the global history of written constitutions from the 1750s to the modern day, and the close connections between constitutions and warfare. She discusses the ideas in the book with Dr Harshan Kumarasingham (Edinburgh) and Robert Hazell (Constitution Unit). |
Conference on Johnson’s Constitutional Reform Agenda17-18 June 2021 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), brought together politicians, policymakers and academic experts to discuss the government’s progress so far, and what lies ahead. |
Launch event: Final Report by the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland9 June 2021 The Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland published its Final Report on 26 May. The report explores how any potential future referendum or referendums on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would best be designed and conducted. A panel discuss its findings: Professor John Coakley, Sarah Creighton, Dr Avila Kilmurray, Alan Renwick, Patrick Maguire. Chair: Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan. |
Ministerial Standards24 May 2021 Westminster and Holyrood have both been engulfed by scandals over ministerial behaviour in the past year. The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) has launched a further review, Standards Matter 2, to evaluate the institutions and processes that uphold standards of conduct in Westminster and beyond.Sir Alex Allan, Susan Deacon and Richard Thomas CBE discuss this matter. |
Regulating Public Appointments29 April 2021 Peter Riddell steps down as the Commissioner for Public Appointments in September 2021. The Commissioner’s role is to ensure fair and open competition, with the final choice made by ministers. In this valedictory talk, he reflects on the system of public appointments, and discusses what changes are needed to provide public confidence in the system. |
Can Johnson Prevent Indyref2?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? Prof Aileen McHarg explains the legal issues; James Forsyth the politics, and the need for an alternative offer; and Dr Alan Renwick the referendum process, if the Scots are to make a fully informed decision. |
Attitudes to Democracy in the UK Today25 February 2021 How do people in the UK view democracy? How do they think UK democracy ought to operate? What roles do they think should be played by parliament, government, the courts, and the public themselves? How do such attitudes vary across the population, and what shapes them? Professors Jane Green and Claudia Landwehr and Deborah Mattinson discuss. |
Boris Johnson and Parliament27 January 2021 In partnership with The UK in a Changing Europe, two seasoned Conservative parliamentarians — Lord Young of Cookham and Mark Harper MP —and the director of the Constitution Unit look back at Boris Johnson’s relationship with parliament, reflecting on the highs and lows, expectations and reality, and lessons for the future. |
Taking Back Control: Why the House of Commons Should Govern its own Time19 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, and what should be done; this launch event discusses its findings with its authors, Valerie Vaz MP, Karen Bradley MP, Sir David Natzler, and the report authors - Professor Meg Russell and Dr Daniel Gover. |
2020 events
Devolution and the Union4 December 2020 How will devolution and the Union change post-Brexit? As the final part of the Constitution Unit’s 25th anniversary celebrations, we examine devolution and the Union with four academic experts, one from each part of the UK: Professors Laura McAllister, John Denham, Cathy Gormley-Heenan and Michael Keating. Chair: Prof Robert Hazell. |
Report launch: Interim Report of the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland3 December 2020 The Interim Report of the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland was published on 26 November. The report explores how any potential future referendum or referendums on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would best be designed and conducted. This webinar discusses the report’s purposes, analysis, and conclusions with speakers Professor Alan Renwick, Clare Slaters, Alan Whysall and Martin Kettle. This event was chaired by Professor Meg Russell. |
Constitutional Reform, Then and Now3 November 2020 What were the key questions, and motivating factors, then and now? As part of the Constitution Unit’s 25th anniversary celebrations, this online seminar hosts speakers Jack Straw, Professor Francesca Klug and David Gauke. They look back at the constitutional reform agenda of the 1997 Labour government, and forward at the constitutional reforms proposed in the 2019 Conservative manifesto. This event was chaired by Prof Meg Russell. |
Repealing the Fixed Term Parliaments Act5 October 2020 The Conservative party had a clear commitment to repeal the FTPA, which was repeated in the Queen’s speech. Nothing further has happened from the government. But in September, two parliamentary committees published reports explaining complications. In this webinar, Baroness Taylor, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP and Professor Petra Schleiter discuss these reports and their implications. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
The Role of the Monarchy in Modern Democracy30 September 2020 ‘The Role of Monarchy in Modern Democracy: European Monarchies Compared’ is the first comparative study of European monarchies, written with 20 academic experts. An expert panel of Lord Janvrin, Valentine Low, Professor Jean Seaton, Jonny Dymond and Professor Rudy Andeweg discuss the book’s main findings. Namely, how an ancient, hereditary institution has survived as a central part of these democracies. Chair: Jonathan Dimbleby. |
Reporting on politics in lockdown2 July 2020 This webinar is about the challenges of reporting on politics, and on parliament, during the lockdown. What have journalists lost with no access to the lobby, and what alternative sources can they use instead? Mark D’Arcy, Esther Webber and Brian Taylor give their thoughts. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
Deliberation in a virtual parliament and online citizens’ assembly: challenges and opportunities1 June 2020 Lockdown has seen parliament and the Climate Assembly UK conducting business online. This webinar hosts four experts, Baroness Morgan of Cotes, Greg Power, Sarah Allan and Doreen Grove to explore key questions about the effects of lockdown. What has been lost? What lessons might be learned? Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
Former Father of the House of Commons Ken Clarke in conversation with Meg Russell27 February 2020 Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke QC has had a unique parliamentary career. He was an MP for 49 years, held the status as Father of the House (i.e. longest-serving member), and served in a variety of ministerial posts. In this session, he reflects on his career in conversation with Meg Russell. |
The Johnson government’s constitutional reform agenda: prospects and challenges4 February 2020 The Conservative party’s 2019 manifesto commits the new government to ‘look at the broader aspects of our constitution.’ There are also specific commitments: to update the Human Rights Act; to ensure judicial review is not abused; and to set up a ‘Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission’. Two Conservative experts, Lord Dunlop and Chris White discuss how the new government might implement this agenda and possible obstacles. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
2019 events
Election Replay with the Experts16 December 2019 In this seminar, three UCL experts and Dr Sofia Collignon discuss key aspects of the general election. Prof Ben Lauderdale analyses the accuracy of polling; Dr Sofia Collignon talks about the main characteristics of the candidates; Professor Alan Renwick about the performance of the campaign rules; and Prof Meg Russell about the likely political dynamics in the new parliament. Chair: Lisa James. |
Do We Need a Written Constitution?28 November 2019 ‘Brexit has triggered a constitutional as well as a political crisis, and it is time that we had a written constitution.’ So many people believe this statement; but are they right? And how should we set about drafting one? In this seminar, experts Professors Sionaidh Douglas and Nick Barber make the case for and against a written constitution. Chair: Professor Robert Hazell. |
Prerogative versus Parliament: What can be Done?23 October 2019 Brexit has seen the government not merely proroguing parliament for five weeks, but also threatening that the Queen might be advised to withhold Royal Assent from parliamentary bills, or even that the Privy Council might suspend Acts of parliament the government doesn’t like. In this seminar, experts Professor Anne Twomey and Professor Alison Young discuss whether the prerogative needs to be more regulated, and how this might be done. Chair: Professor Robert Hazell. |
UCL It’s All Academic Festival - Brexit, Parliament and the Constitution5 October 2019 Brexit continues to be a central controversy in British politics: it has divided the public and brought key aspects of the UK’s constitutional settlement into doubt. A panel of expert commentators, Professors Meg Russell, Jeff King and Alan Renwick reflect on recent controversies and possible ways forward. Chair: Lisa James. |
If there is a snap election, what can we do to improve the campaign?12 September 2019 The rules governing election campaigns are no longer fit for purpose: parliamentary committees, independent reports, and even the government have acknowledged this. Yet, if an early election is called, these rules will not have been updated. Experts Dorothy Byrne, Ed Humpherson, Joe Mitchell and Will Moy give their opinions on what others (journalists, regulators, researchers, campaigners) can do in the meantime to improve the information available? Chair: Professor Alan Renwick. |
Parliament and Brexit: An end of term report card22 July 2019 A panel of experts, Hilary Benn MP, Professor Meg Russell, Brigid Fowler and Chris White analyse parliament’s handling of Brexit thus far. Have procedures been used appropriately? What do recent events tell us about parliament’s power over government? What is the effect on public perceptions of both? Chair Dr Daniel Gover. |
Brexit and the Constitution15 July 2019 This full-day event, brings together experts, academics and politicians to consider the implications of Brexit for the constitution. The event was co-badged with the UK in a Changing Europe and the Hansard Society. |
Citizens’ Assemblies: What are they good for?1 July 2019 This event brings together a panel of experts: Joanna Cherry MP, Lilian Greenwood MP, Sarah Allan and Graham Smith. These experts give their thoughts on the following questions: How do citizens’ assemblies work in practice? What are they good for? Are there topics or circumstances for which they are not suitable? Chair: Professor Alan Renwick. |
Who Should Select Party Leaders? MPs, Members or a Wider Public?17 June 2019 In this seminar, experts on all the main political parties — Tim Bale, Paul Webb, Jess Garland and Mark Pack — discuss the process by which leaders of political parties are selected. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
Rethinking Democracy: Is Our Democracy Fit for Purpose?14 May 2019 This seminar launched Rethinking Democracy, a collection of essays edited by Andrew Gamble and Tony Wright. Leading academics Andrew Gamble, Joni Lovenduski, Tony Wright and Albert Weale explore the problems of democracy and suggest ways it might now be extended and deepened. Chair: Meg Russell. |
Challenges for Parliament: Looking Back and Looking Forward – Sir David Natzler in conversation19 March 2019 On 1 March 2019 Sir David Natzler retired from his role as Clerk of the House of Commons. Sir David joined the House Service in 1975, and has held various senior appointments during his career. In this event, Sir David reflects on his 40+ years in parliament and the challenge ahead for parliament in conversation with Professor Meg Russell. |
Public Appointments: Two Years on from Grimstone - Finding the Right People to Run Public Bodies21 February 2019 A seminar with Dame Sue Owen (Permanent Secretary at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and Peter Riddell (Commissioner for Public Appointments). Sue Owen discusses the challenges of making public appointments to 45 public bodies in the fields of culture, media and sport. Peter Riddell reflects on how the system of public appointments has developed in the light of the Grimstone review of spring 2016. |
Brexit and the Constitution: A Conversation with Vernon Bogdanor11 February 2019 Brexit will be a momentous event. Discussion has largely focused on its economic consequences but it will also have large consequences for the British constitution. Could Brexit result in greater powers for government rather than parliament? How will rights be impacted? Prof Vernon Bogdanor author of Beyond Brexit, explores these questions in this event. |
2018 events
Democratic Competition: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly12 December 2018 Ian Shapiro discusses his new book, ‘Responsible Parties: Saving Democracy from Itself’ with Frances Rosenbluth and Dr Sherrill Stroschein. He explores the varieties of political competition across the democratic world and suggests that efforts to make political parties more democratic over the past several decades have backfired. |
Digital Democracy: Brave New World or Bubble and Hype?3 December 2018 Digital campaigning has received bad press recently. But the internet also has huge potential to engage and mobilise people, and enable them to be more active citizens. In this seminar, three leading figures, Areeq Chowdhury, Joe Mitchell and Will Moy speak about ways in which technology can enhance democratic participation, and also about some of its limitations. Chair: Professor Alan Renwick. |
The Burns report on Shrinking the Lords: Where are we, One Year on?28 November 2018 The House of Lords has become increasingly controversial, with its numbers reaching around 800: up from less than 700 in 1999. In October 2017, the Lord Speaker’s Committee, chaired by Crossbencher Lord Burns, proposed a system of phased retirements and a more regulated system for appointments. At this event, Burns reflects upon progress since the report alongside Baroness Taylor and Sir Bernard Jenkin. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
Citizens’ Assemblies: How can the UK learn from Ireland?15 October 2018 Do citizens’ assemblies allow for more effective public participation? Are they sufficiently representative? How do they interact with the rest of the democratic process? At this seminar, two of Ireland’s leading experts on citizens’ assemblies, Professor David Farrell and Dr Jane Suiter, reflect on the experience in Ireland and draw out potential lessons for the UK. Chair: Professor Alan Renwick. |
Brexit: The Endgame27 September 2018 How many days’ debate will the Brexit legislation require? How many votes will Theresa May need to stave off confidence motions? What counts as a confidence motion under the new rules of the Fixed Term? Dr Jack Simson Caird, Dr Alan Wager, and Matthew Bevington discuss. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
The Future of Referendums in the UK: Launch of the Report of the Independent Commission on Referendums11 July 2018 In October 2017 the Constitution Unit established the Independent Commission on Referendums to review the role and conduct of referendums in the UK. The Commission met over eight months, took evidence, deliberated, and produced a detailed report containing comprehensive recommendations. At this seminar, members Sir Joe Pilling, Professor Alan Renwick, Jenny Watson CBE, and Deborah Mattinson discussed the recommendations and how they were reached and considered what could be done to take the proposals forward. |
Representation in Britain18 June 2018 Drawing on a four-year ESRC funded study of parliamentary candidates standing in the 2015 and 2017 general elections, this event shares research and insights into key questions around selection, campaigning, election and representation in Britain. Who are our parliamentary candidates? What motivates them to stand? How much does it cost to run? Are they representative of the constituents they serve? Speakers: Prof Rosie Campbell; Dr Sofia Collignon Delmar; Dr Stefanie Reher; Dr Javie Sajuria; Dr Maria Sobolewska; and Lord Hayward. |
Planning the next Accession and Coronation30 May 2018 Robert Hazell and Bob Morris present the findings of two of their recent reports: ‘Planning for Accession and Coronation’ and ‘The Accession Declaration and Coronation Oaths.’ |
Regulating Debate in Elections and Referendums15 May 2018 There is widespread concern about the quality of debate that precedes elections and referendums. Campaigners’ claims are often seen as false or misleading. Many voters feel they cannot find reliable information on the options before them. But what can be done to improve this situation? This seminar explores emerging ideas and compares how the issue is tackled in other countries. Professor Aan Renwick, Dr Jane Suiter and Lord Foulkes discuss in this event. Chair: Professor Robert Hazell. |
Political Polling and Digital Media17 April 2018 The House of Lords created an ad hoc Committee to explore how influential political polling and digital media is on politics and democracy in the UK. The Committee is due to report in March 2018. Lord Lipsey, chair of the committee, discusses the committee’s findings and recommendations, with responses from Prof Will Jennings and Martin Boon. Chair: Jennifer Hudson. |
Intimidation of candidates and others in public life21 March 2018 In December the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) published its report on intimidation of parliamentary candidates and others in public life. At this seminar, experts Lord Bew, Jane Ramsey and Sofia Collignon explore the Committee’s recommendations, which are directed to government, social media companies, political parties, the media, and MPs themselves. Chair: Jennifer Hudson. |
Online targeting of voters on social media21 March 2018 In recent elections and in the EU referendum, concerns have been raised about online targeting of voters in social media and the use of voter data. Dr Martin Moore’s research for his latest book suggests there is cause for concern. He is director of the Centre for the Study of Media, Communication and Power at King’s College London, and was previously founding director of the Media Standards Trust. |
Dominic Grieve QC MP: ‘A backbencher’s view of Brexit’23 January 2018 This event is the inaugural annual lecture of The Constitution Society, hosted by the Constitution Unit. Dominic Grieve QC MP offers his distinctive perspective on Brexit, discussing the concept of parliamentary sovereignty, the role of international courts in UK law, and the more troubling aspects of the Withdrawal Bill itself. |
Taking a Deliberative Approach to Complexity: What can we learn from the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit?23 January 2018 This seminar examines what we can learn from the experience of holding a citizens’ assembly about Brexit and considers the role of such participatory processes in current decision-making in Scotland. Experts Professor Alan Renwick, Kaela Scott, James Mitchell and Oliver Escobar discuss. Chair: Doreen Grove. |
The Independent Commission on Referendums: who, what, why and how?17 January 2018 In October the Constitution Unit launched an Independent Commission on Referendums, to review the role of referendums in British democracy and consider how their rules and practice could be improved. At this seminar, the chair and members of the Commission discuss their task, how they are setting about it, and the input they need from other experts and the public to ensure the Commission draws on the widest possible evidence base. Speakers Professor Alan Renwick, Sir Joe Pilling, Sue Inglish and Sue Baxter discuss. Chair: Professor Meg Russell. |
2017 events
Citizens’ Assemblies on Brexit: What kind of Brexit do people want?13 December 2017 In September the Constitution Unit convened a Citizens’ Assembly to engage in detailed, reflective and informed discussions about what the UK’s post-Brexit relations with the European Union should be. 50 members of the public - carefully selected to reflect the diversity of the UK’s population - met over two weekends in Manchester. Its findings were presented at this seminar. |
Organising a Snap Election: At the centre, on the ground, and in Parliament20 November 2017 In April the Prime Minister announced a snap general election to be held on 8 June. This created a six month hiatus in Parliament, with legislation rushed through before the election, and then a long delay before Parliament was fully up and running again. Meanwhile election officials had just seven weeks to prepare for polling day. In this seminar we discussed the preparations necessary for a snap election. |
Legislation at Westminster: The impact of parliament on government bills15 November 2017 Meg Russell’s latest book Legislation at Westminster, co-authored with Daniel Gover, demonstrates that parliament has much greater influence over legislation than is often supposed. She discussed the book at this seminar. |
Parliament’s biggest test: The EU Withdrawal Bill12 September 2017 The prospects for the Withdrawal Bill’s passage were discussed by the BBC’s parliamentary correspondent Mark D’Arcy and Ruth Fox, Director of the Hansard Society: they assess the balance of forces in each House, and the main amendments which were proposed. |
Reassessing the Fixed Term Parliaments Act22 May 2017 This event featured a debate between two legal experts, Carl Gardner (author of What a Fix Up!) and Professor Gavin Phillipson (Durham University). |
Ruth Davidson ‘Nationalism should not be confused with patriotism’ – our divided politics15 May 2017 The Orwell Prize Shortlist Lecture 2017, Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, discussed patriotism, nationalism and the current state of politics in the United Kingdom. |
Devolution in England10 April 2017 Professor Tony Travers (LSE) spoke about the prospects for further devolution in England, in an age of greater austerity and growing uncertainty post-Brexit. |
Brexit at Westminster: Can Parliament play a meaningful role?12 March 2017 Brexit presents Parliament with daunting challenges, politically and procedurally. Every Select Committee has an interest, and over 40 committee inquiries have been launched. A new Brexit Committee of twice the normal size was established in October. At this seminar, its Chair, Hilary Benn, spoke about the challenges it faces; Baroness Kishwer Falkner explained the work of the Lords EU Committee and its sub-Committees; and Commons legal adviser Arnold Ridout spoke about the Brexit work of the other Select Committees in the Commons. |
LGBT Candidates in UK Elections: How much has changed?6 March 2017 Recent research shows that the UK parliament has more openly LGBT members than any other legislature in the world. This seminar will brought together the author of that research - Professor Andrew Reynolds of the University of North Carolina - and four of the UK’s most prominent LGBT politicians. It will explored how the barriers faced by LGBT candidates and politicians have changed in the UK , why the UK appears to stand out so far among liberal democracies in the presence of openly LGBT politicians, and whether any problems remain. |
Brexit, Federalism and Scottish Independence13 February 2017 Jim Gallagher has suggested that the return of powers from Brussels not only to Whitehall, but also the devolved governments, presents an opportunity to move the UK towards a confederal constitution (Constitution Unit Blog 10 October). Kezia Dugdale has called for a People’s Constitutional Convention to devise a new Act of Union. Kenny MacAskill sees some advantages in a confederal solution, and federalism is a longstanding policy aim of the Liberal Democrats. These issues and more were discussed at this Constitution Unit seminar. |
Brexit in the Supreme Court: The Case of the Century30 January 2017 An expert panel of lawyers discussed the reasoning behind the court’s judgement, public and press reaction, and the constitutional implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling. |
2016
Public Appointments: Should Ministers Have more control?8 December 2016 The Government published Grimstone’s report on public appointments, proposing major changes to the way Ministerial appointments to public bodies are regulated. Sir David Normington reviewed the arguments for and against giving Ministers more control over public appointments. |
English Votes for English Laws: One Year on: A Critical Evaluation28 November 2016 In 2015 the House of Commons approved an important set of procedural changes known as ‘English Votes for English Laws’. This event marked the publication of a report by Michael Kenny and Daniel Gover about EVEL’s first year in operation. The authors propose a number of changes to the current system and discussed their main recommendations. |
The Regulation of the EU Referendum15 September 2016 The EU referendum raised many questions about how referendums in the UK should best be conducted. This seminar explored these and other questions with four speakers who were uniquely well placed to provide a broad range of fresh insights |
Book Launch: ‘Faces on the Ballot: The Personalisation of Electoral Systems in Europe’26 July 2016 This event celebrates the launch of Alan Renwick’s new book, Faces on the Ballot: The Personalisation of Electoral Systems in Europe. Dr Renwick introduced the book, which he co-authored with Professor Jean-Benoit Pilet. He discussed the implications for current electoral reform debates in the UK, then three leading experts on electoral systems presented their responses to the book. |
Five years as Lords Speaker: Reflections on the Lords and its Future20 July 2016 The position of Lord Speaker is very different to that of Speaker of the House of Commons, and much less well understood. Baroness D’Souza reflected on her term of office in discussion with Meg Russell, outlining the Lord Speaker’s role, the highs and lows, her achievements and hopes for the future. The discussion was informal and wide ranging, and was followed by audience questions. |
UCL EU Referendum Debate: To Remain or To Leave?16 June 2016 Following the murder of the MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox, campaigning for the EU referendum was suspended on 16 June 2016. The planned UCL EU Referendum Debate was therefore changed into a Meet the Experts Q&A. A panel of academics with expertise in the politics and economics of the EU and processes around the referendum answered a wide range of audience questions. |
Brexit: Its Consequences for Other Member States2 June 2016 What are the likely effects of Brexit on politics within other member states? Would Brexit change remaining member states’ relationships with the EU? Would it affect decision-making within member states? This seminar explored how these issues might play out in a diverse range of member states. |
Things flying apart? Analysing the results of the devolved elections25 May 2016 On 5 May votes went to the polls for the devolved assembly elections in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The next five years will be critical for devolution and the future of the Union, with devolution of significant tax powers to Scotland, future powers for Wales, and the promise of a fresh start in Northern Ireland. A panel of three experts will discuss the implications for the UK. |
Brexit: Its Consequences for Devolution and the Union19 May 2016 What will happen if the UK votes to leave the EU, but a majority in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland vote to remain? Will such an outcome trigger a second Scottish referendum? Would Wales or Northern Ireland follow suit? What would the broader implications of Brexit be for devolved areas of the UK? |
Brexit: Its Consequences for the EU’s Political System5 May 2016 How would Brussels manage the negotiation process, constitutionally and politically? What would be the short term institutional consequences of Brexit for the UK’s MEPs, the 2017 UK Presidency, and voting rights in the Council of Ministers. In the long run, how would Brexit impact on the balance of power between member states in the EU’s policy process? |
Brexit: Its Consequences for Westminster & Whitehall21 April 2016 This seminar considered the implications for Whitehall and Westminster both of Brexit itself and of the process of negotiating Brexit. How would Whitehall manage the negotiating process and what would be the role of Westminster? How would the UK’s new relationship with the EU be managed post-Brexit? Would Brexit require a re-configuration within Whitehall or Westminster? |
The Policy Impact of Parliament15 March 2016 The Westminster parliament is classically presented as a weak institution with respect to the all-powerful UK executive - but is this really the case? A workstream at the Constitution Unit has focused on the policy impact of parliament. This seminar drew on extensive research by two of the leading experts on parliament. The event was organised in collaboration with the Hansard Society and the Parliament and Constitution Centre. |
The Human Rights Act 1998: Past, Present and Future7 March 2016 The UK government intends to replace the Human Rights Act with a new ‘British Bill of Rights’. However, any change to existing human rights law promises to be a complex and difficult project. Reform of the HRA has the potential to impact upon devolution and the UK’s relationship with its European partners. This seminar explored the state of play and considered the past, present, and future of the HRA. |
Citizens’ Assemblies and Democracy in the UK: Lessons from Two Successful Pilots10 February 2016 Two pilot citizens’ assemblies were held in Sheffield and Southampton in autumn 2015. Dr Alan Renwick from the Constitution Unit and Katie Ghose fro Electoral Reform Society were both members of the team that ran these assemblies. In this seminar they presented evidence on how well they functioned and discussed the degree to which they engaged citizens in policy-making. |
Individual Electoral Registration: The Inside Story25 January 2016 Individual electoral registration has been a huge project, running for several years, and requiring tight co-ordination between the Cabinet Office, Government Digital Service, Electoral Commission, and individual Electoral Registration officers in local authorities. Representatives from all four bodies spoke at this seminar about challenges they faced, and how they project was brought to a successful conclusion. |