Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025
This online conference brought together politicians and experts to discuss Labour’s constitutional agenda in office.
Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025
18 Jun 2025 - 19 Jun 2025
This summer marks a year since Labour’s landslide victory at the 2024 general election. The party’s manifesto contained a number of pledges for reforming the UK’s constitution and political institutions. So how have those pledges fared since Labour took office? Which promises have been delivered? What unexpected changes have been introduced? And what further reforms will – or should – be on the government’s agenda?
This online conference took stock of constitutional developments in the last year, and looked ahead, with a range of senior speakers including parliamentarians, academics, and commentators.
Day 1 – Wednesday 18 June
10am – 11am: Opening keynote from Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office
In this opening keynote address, Nick Thomas-Symonds summarised the government’s approach to the constitution, and priorities for constitutional reform. What has been achieved so far, and what are the most important priorities for the future? Which key principles underpin the government’s plans?
Listen to the session as a podcast
Speaker:
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP is Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with responsibility for the constitution and EU relations. He has been the Labour MP for Torfaen since 2015 and his previous posts include Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Solicitor General. He is a former barrister and academic.
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit
1pm – 2:15pm: Standards in public life
The Labour Party put standards and ethics at the heart of its attacks on the previous Conservative government, promising to bring in a ‘politics of service’. Has the party’s conduct in office lived up to this rhetoric? How has it changed the regulation of standards in government and parliament? What further changes are needed in this area, and what is the best means to ensure that these are delivered?
Listen to the session as a podcast
Speakers:
- Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP – Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Attorney General and former member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
- Phil Brickell MP – Labour MP for Bolton West
- Professor Gillian Peele – member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Emeritus Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Oxford
Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit
3pm – 4:15pm: The electoral system in a multiparty era
The growth of multiparty politics raises questions about whether the First Past the Post electoral system can still be justified. What are the arguments for and against reform? What alternative systems might be considered? And, with ministers saying they will maintain the status quo, is there any way reform could actually come about?
Listen to the session as a podcast
Speakers:
- Peter Lamb MP – Labour MP for Crawley
- Frances Foley – Deputy Director of Compass
- Professor Robert Ford – Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick - Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
Day 2 – Thursday 19 June
11am – 12:15pm: The rule of law
The Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General have both placed great emphasis on this new government upholding the rule of law. What does this mean in practice? Has the government delivered on this aspiration, and what more is needed to do so? What challenges has it faced?
Listen to the session as a podcast
Speakers:
- Andy Slaughter MP – Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, and chair of the House of Commons Justice Committee
- Baroness (Victoria) Prentis of Banbury KC – Conservative peer, former Attorney General and former Conservative MP
- Dr Joelle Grogan – legal academic and presenter of The Law Show on BBC Radio 4
Chair: Professor Veronika Fikfak – Professor of Human Rights and International Law, UCL
1pm – 2:15pm: Reforming the House of Commons
The newly established Modernisation Committee has set out broad objectives of reforming standards, working practices, and procedure in the House of Commons. The Commons Procedure Committee has also announced a large number of inquiries. What are the priority areas for Commons reform? What should any reforms aim to achieve, and how can they balance competing priorities, for example of strengthening scrutiny and easing MPs’ working lives? How can reforms successfully attract broad support and allow the Commons to work more effectively?
Listen to the session as a podcast
Speakers:
- Cat Smith MP – Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, and chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee
- Wendy Chamberlain MP – Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, and member of the House of Commons Modernisation Committee
- Dr Hannah White – Director of the Institute for Government
Chair: Dr Tom Fleming – Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics, UCL
3pm – 4:15pm: Reflections on Labour’s constitutional agenda
This closing session brought together a cross-party senior panel to offer reflections on the Labour government’s constitutional agenda, and possible alternative priorities.
Listen to the session as a podcast
Speakers:
- Alex Burghart MP – Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Sarah Olney MP – Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office
- Baroness (Dianne) Hayter of Kentish Town – Labour peer, and former Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit
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