UCL Constitution Unit

23/01/2023

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26/07/2022

ON THE BLOG: The PM must consider how the ministerial standards regime should function before appointing an Independent Adviser

Peter Riddell, former Commissioner for Public Appointments, analyses the Adviser's role and discusses a proposal for the next appointee to be assisted by Privy Counsellors.

Following the resignation of the second Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests in two years, it now seems likely that it will fall to Boris Johnson’s successor as Prime Minister to…

14/07/2022

ON OUR BLOG: Parliamentary scrutiny of international agreements

David Natzler & Charlotte Sayers-Carter argue such scrutiny should include telling parlt of politically significant non-binding agreements & allowing for oversight & expression of dissent.

https://constitution-unit.com/2022/07/12/parliamentary-scrutiny-of-international-agreements-should-not-be-limited-to-treaties/

13/07/2022

ON OUR BLOG:

The Unit today published a report, 'Parliament's watchdogs: independence and accountability of five constitutional regulators', In this post, Robert Hazell outlines the context for the report, summarises its analysis and recommends key changes.

The Unit today published a new report, Parliament’s Watchdogs: Independence and Accountability of Five Constitutional Regulators. Robert Hazell explains that public awareness of these regulators is…

11/07/2022

ON OUR BLOG: Rebuilding constitutional standards: five questions for the next Conservative leader

Unit Director Meg Russell, Deputy Director Alan Renwick & Prof. Robert Hazell outline key constitutional questions leadership candidates should consider:

Boris Johnson yesterday fired the starting gun on a Conservative leadership race which should make the winner Prime Minister. Meg Russell, Alan Renwick and Robert Hazell pose five key questions whi…

06/07/2022

ON THE BLOG: What is democratic backsliding and is the UK at risk?

Unit Director, Meg Russell, Deputy Director, Alan Renwick & Research Fellow, Lisa James outline some features of democratic backsliding & look at the UK in an international context.

This blog is the first in a series of briefings on constitutional principles and the health of democracy.

Concerns about the health of UK democracy and the risk of democratic backsliding are rising. Meg Russell, Alan Renwick and Lisa James warn that MPs, who are the ultimate democratic safeguard, canno…

06/07/2022

🎙The first two podcasts from our conference are now available!

🧐 Constitutional Standards
📍 Northern Ireland

You can listen back and subscribe to the Unit podcast below:

https://the-constitution-unit.simplecast.com/

26/05/2022

NEW BLOG: The evolution of MPs' staffing arrangements: how did we get here

Unit Research Fellow, Rebecca McKee, who is currently running a project on MPs’ staff, examines the evolution of staffing arrangements, providing context so we can understand how best to reform them.

The current system of recruiting and employing MPs’ staff is not one you would design if you were starting from scratch, but before considering an overhaul, it is useful to ask how we got here. In …

25/05/2022

With back in the news, take a look back at this post by Unit Director Meg Russell which looks at how in our political constitution the ultimate responsibility for policing standards - which is a very heavy and serious one - lies with MPs in the governing party.

Boris Johnson and his Chancellor have now been fined for breaking lockdown restrictions. Both have misled parliament over Downing Street parties. These are clear breaches of the Ministerial Code, w…

23/05/2022

ON OUR BLOG: Post-election negotiations must set the Belfast Agreement on a firmer footing

Alan Whysall argues the foundations of devolution continue to weaken, but can be rebuilt, despite a lack of leadership from London.

Alan Whysall, Honorary Senior Research Associate of the Constitution Unit, looks at the Northern Ireland Assembly elections held last week. He suggests that the foundations of the Belfast/Good Frid…