Constitution Unit news

In front of the Procedure Committee, the Director of the Constitution Unit was positive about select committee chair elections, but highlighted problems with select committee member elections.

The Constitution Unit has today published new and updated briefings as part of its Constitutional Principles and the Health of Democracy project.

The Constitution Unit’s Monitor 90 covers limited House of Lords reform, government–parliament tensions, plans for electoral and standards reforms, the ECHR, English devolution and much more.

New opinion polling for the Constitution Unit fielded by YouGov shows overwhelming public support for going further than the government's plan to remove hereditary peers, in line with key amendments.

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP gave the keynote speech on the first day of the Constitution Unit's annual conference today, focusing on what constitutional reform means for UK democracy and the public.

The Constitution Unit is sad to mark the death of Honorary Senior Research Associate Bob Morris (1937–2025).

Alan Renwick, Conor J. Kelly and Alan Whysall gave oral evidence to the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

Mary McAleese, who served as President of Ireland between 1997 and 2011, has been awarded an honorary degree by UCL.

The Constitution Unit has today released a new report, Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion, by Conor J. Kelly, Alan Renwick and Alan Whysall.

The Constitution Unit’s Meg Russell and Ruxandra Serban, alongside various fellows and honorary staff, are among the 73 contributors to the second edition of Exploring Parliament.

The Constitution Unit’s Monitor 89 covers ongoing House of Lords reform, Commons procedure, electoral reforms, civil service reform, the Attorney General, English devolution, Northern Ireland, the new

The Director of the Constitution Unit joined other experts to discuss committee effectiveness before the Scottish Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

The Constitution Unit is welcoming applicants to The British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme for September 2026 entry, with an internal deadline of 13 May 2025.

The Constitution Unit has today published a major new report, The Constitutional Landscape: Options for Reform, by Lisa James, Patrick Thomas, Alan Renwick and Meg Russell.

New research by the Director of the Constitution Unit indicates that standards of parliamentary scrutiny in recent years have declined, including after the Brexit and the Covid-19 periods.