Tessera

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 5d ago

ON THE BLOG: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social discuss their new report on measures that can be taken to 'future proof' the UK constitution, including how to implement them. Read it 👇️

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience

The Constitution Unit today publishes a new report: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience. In this post its authors, Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, discuss some of the report's conclusions.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

David Anderson @bricksilk.bsky.social · last wk.

The House of Lords Constitution Committee is starting a wide-ranging inquiry into strengthening our constitutional safeguards - as proposed by (Lord) Peter Hennessy. Look East, look West, and see the urgency. Written evidence requested by 28th of September. committees.parliament.uk/committee/17...

The UK’s constitutional safeguards inquiry launched by Lords Constitution Committee - Committees - UK Parliament

The House of Lords Constitution Committee has today published a call for evidence for its inquiry into the UK’s constitutional safeguards. It is inviting interested individuals and organisations...

committees.parliament.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · last wk.

ON THE BLOG: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social discuss their new report on measures that can be taken to 'future proof' the UK constitution, including how to implement them. Read it 👇️

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience

The Constitution Unit today publishes a new report: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience. In this post its authors, Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, discuss some of the report's conclusions.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

'[T]his contribution is to be welcomed and the paper should be widely read... Our constitutional arrangements are vulnerable and it is complacent to think otherwise.' @davidallengreen.bsky.social discusses our new report in @prospectmagazine.co.uk. Read it 👇️

Can we safeguard our constitution before the next general election?

We have time, but not that much time, to make changes before any incoming radically illiberal government

prospectmagazine.co.uk

Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 2w ago

In today’s Lightbulb, Prospect’s free daily newsletter, The Empty City calls on the PM to seize the constitutional moment. Plus: World Cup politics and Soviet wrapping paper

Time for constitutional change

Plus: World Cup politics and Soviet wrapping paper

prospectmagazine.substack.com

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

'Burnham has advocated a more collaborative approach to politics, and a less centralised state. Our proposed reforms offer practical ways of delivering those goals – and of safeguarding the UK constitution.' @lisajames.bsky.social has written an op-ed for @politicshome.bsky.social. Read it 👇

The steps Burnham can take to safeguard our constitution

Over the past decade, political shocks like Brexit and Covid have combined with longer-term political, social and technological change to put the U...

politicshome.com

The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW Can we safeguard our constitution before the next general election? How we have time, but not that much time, to make changes before any incoming radically illiberal government My Weekly Constitutional at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

There is an old English saying, dating from the 16th century: to make hay while the sun shines. A variation of this is that the best time to fix a roof is also while the sun shines. There are times when it is easier to do certain things.

Currently, there is a parliament which could last all the way until the summer of 2029. The next election must be held no later than 15th August 2029, though of course the new prime minister Andrew Burnham may call one sooner. But the fact remains that we may be less than halfway through this five-year parliament. The last general election was only two years ago this month.

And in this parliament, there is a majority for what is at least nominally a left-of-centre Labour party. There are currently 403 Labour members of parliament, and there are also 71 Liberal Democrats, 12 Scottish and Welsh nationalists, five Green MPs and two SDLP.

Never in recent history has there been such a potential majority for fundamental constitutional reform. The rump of 117 Conservatives, seven Reform and five DUP MPs, and various others, would not be able to stop any concerted effort at fundamental change. And nor would the House of Lords, as there would still be time to use the Parliament Acts against any upper house veto.

PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 2w ago

There are several ways Burnham can safeguard our constitution, writes @conunitucl.bsky.social Lisa James Donation caps would prevent a small, wealthy group from enjoying disproportionate political influence, while reforms to stop PMs appointing as many Lords as they like would constrain patronage

The steps Burnham can take to safeguard our constitution

Over the past decade, political shocks like Brexit and Covid have combined with longer-term political, social and technological change to put the U...

politicshome.com

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

ON THE BLOG: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social discuss their new report on measures that can be taken to 'future proof' the UK constitution, including how to implement them. Read it 👇️

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience

The Constitution Unit today publishes a new report: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience. In this post its authors, Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, discuss some of the report's conclusions.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

ON THE BLOG: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social discuss their new report on measures that can be taken to 'future proof' the UK constitution, including how to implement them. Read it 👇️

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience

The Constitution Unit today publishes a new report: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience. In this post its authors, Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, discuss some of the report's conclusions.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Our new report acknowledges that resources and time are limited. It focuses on 'must do' changes to safeguard the constitution – many of which can be quickly and easily implemented. Watch @lisajames.bsky.social explain how. Read the report 👉️ www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

What do we know about how Andy Burnham's 'rewired Britain' might look? And did you know that the government is already proposing fiscal devolution and new powers on overnight visitor levies? Read more in Monitor 93 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

England

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act received royal assent on 29 April. The Act contains significant regulation-making powers on matters as diverse as Local Growth Plans, community right to buy, local scrutiny committees, and neighbourhood area committees. Further policy decisions will appear in these areas in the coming months.

Provisions to allow the government to impose new strategic authorities on areas that were unable to agree to work together were dropped from the bill during ping pong. This means that the government has no legal tools to ensure that their commitment to ‘complete the map’ is delivered. In June it was reported that plans for devolution in Thames Valley (Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon) had fallen prey to party political disagreements.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has proposed a roadmap towards fiscal devolution to England’s mayoralties. It is understood that officials are examining the practicalities of devolving a share of income tax revenue to mayoral areas, and possibly also a share of business rates revenue. An interim report is expected later this summer, with the full...

APPG for Fair Elections @appgfairelections.bsky.social · 2w ago

The Constitution Unit has a new report with 21 recommendations for safeguarding UK democracy, including: 🔍 How a review of the electoral system should work 💰 A donations cap for political parties 🤖 Tackling misinformation and AI deepfakes at elections www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

New Constitution Unit report makes recommendations to safeguard UK democracy

A new Constitution Unit report, Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience, by Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, focuses on protecting the constitution.

ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Our latest report says that the constitution should be strengthened by: ➰ Addressing loopholes and vulnerabilities ⏰ Enabling institutions to meet modern challenges 🙋 Supporting people to participate. Watch @lisajames.bsky.social explain why. Read the report 👉️ www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Our newest report draws on our long-term thinking about the health of UK democracy – as well as detailed work in various policy areas. Watch @lisajames.bsky.social explain what constitutional resilience, the focus of the report, is. Read the report 👉️ www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

It is great to see our new report covered in @politico.eu's London Playbook newsletter this morning! Find out more 👇

CLASSLESS CHAPS: The UCL Constitution Unit has warned that relying on the “good chaps” approach to governing and hoping politicians do not exploit or undermine parliamentary rules no longer works after Brexit, Covid and assorted Westminster stress tests exposed how much power still sits with the executive. The academics have a 28-point checklist to protect integrity in the system including: curbing prime ministerial patronage in the Lords, giving MPs more control of their own agenda, toughening scrutiny of laws and treaties and making Commons approval necessary for prorogation and dissolution. It remains unclear which politicians they had in mind when they wrote these up.

UCL Constitution Unit@conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience Our latest report, by @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social, sets out concrete reforms in a number of areas to safeguard the constitution and protect the integrity of democracy. Read it 👇

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 2w ago

Excellent cut-&-keep guide by @conunitucl.bsky.social on how to repair Britain's constitutional system: Restricting patronage over the Lords, citizenship education for primary schools, giving Commons control of its timetable, fixing the tyranny of statutory instruments www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

New Constitution Unit report makes recommendations to safeguard UK democracy

A new Constitution Unit report, Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience, by Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, focuses on protecting the constitution.

ucl.ac.uk

Joshua Rozenberg @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 2w ago

The United Kingdom’s uncodified constitution must be safeguarded if it is protect the integrity of our democracy, public policy experts argue in a report published today. Also this morning: more ministerial changes at the Ministry of Justice rozenberg.substack.com/p/safeguardi...

Safeguarding the constitution

And more ministerial changes at the Ministry of Justice

rozenberg.substack.com

Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 2w ago

Great to see the Constitution Unit doing this work. Most of these proposals are not flashy or headline-grabbing, but they are substantial & achievable. And the issues they address - defending Parliament, tackling corruption, protecting fair elections, maintaining trust in politics - matter hugely.

UCL Constitution Unit@conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience Our latest report, by @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social, sets out concrete reforms in a number of areas to safeguard the constitution and protect the integrity of democracy. Read it 👇

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 2w ago

In our chapter for the Brexit Effect book, @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I argued that Brexit exposed the feebleness of many of our constitutional protections - and argued no party had an agenda to address them. Good that @conunitucl.bsky.social has put forward some ideas on how to do that.

Jonathan Jones@sirjjkc.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is a powerful & important set of recommendations from @conunitucl.bsky.social for bolstering the constitution and strengthening democracy. I hope the new PM and his government pay attention Keir Starmer’s government made some - but limited and frankly disappointing - progress in this area

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

ON THE BLOG: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social discuss their new report on measures that can be taken to 'future proof' the UK constitution, including how to implement them. Read it 👇️

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience

The Constitution Unit today publishes a new report: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience. In this post its authors, Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, discuss some of the report's conclusions.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

Jonathan Jones @sirjjkc.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is a powerful & important set of recommendations from @conunitucl.bsky.social for bolstering the constitution and strengthening democracy. I hope the new PM and his government pay attention Keir Starmer’s government made some - but limited and frankly disappointing - progress in this area

UCL Constitution Unit@conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience Our latest report, by @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social, sets out concrete reforms in a number of areas to safeguard the constitution and protect the integrity of democracy. Read it 👇

Rowan Hall @rowaninlondon.bsky.social · 2w ago

Our latest report is incredibly timely — my colleagues explain what is needed to protect the UK constitution and our democracy, including against an unscrupulous government. They also discuss how to implement it! I am particularly proud of the videos (recorded just yesterday) — do take a look!

UCL Constitution Unit@conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience Our latest report, by @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social, sets out concrete reforms in a number of areas to safeguard the constitution and protect the integrity of democracy. Read it 👇

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience Our latest report, by @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social, sets out concrete reforms in a number of areas to safeguard the constitution and protect the integrity of democracy. Read it 👇

New Constitution Unit report makes recommendations to safeguard UK democracy

A new Constitution Unit report, Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience, by Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, focuses on protecting the constitution.

ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW BLOG POST: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience @lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social discuss their new report on measures that can be taken to 'future proof' the UK constitution, including how to implement them. Read it 👇️

Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience

The Constitution Unit today publishes a new report: Safeguarding the Constitution: Key Steps to Strengthen UK Democratic Resilience. In this post its authors, Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick, discuss some of the report's conclusions.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Have you read the Ethics and Integrity Commission's report on lobbying, business rules and disclosure, extensively citing us? Did you know that the bill that came first in the House of Lords private members' bill ballot is about lobbying? Read more in Monitor 93 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Lobbying

Baroness (Dianne) Hayter of Kentish Town came first in the private members’ bills ballot in the House of Lords, with her Lobbying Transparency (In-house Lobbyists) Bill. The system for regulating lobbying introduced by the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 applies only to consultant lobbyists, and with only 240 lobbyists on the Register, is estimated to catch only 4% of lobbying activity. Hayter’s bill would extend the regulatory regime to in-house lobbyists, such as David Cameron when he was working for Greensill.

The bill would not extend reporting requirements, which currently apply only to ministers and permanent secretaries, to contacts with other senior civil servants and special advisers. Nor does the bill expand the requirement to report who has been lobbied, or on what subject. And it does not end the exemption for ‘incidental lobbying’, or for people below the VAT threshold.

Second reading of the bill took place on 3 July. It received wide support across the chamber. But the relevant minister, Baroness (Ruth) Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, said the government...

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

It is still not clear who Andy Burnham's ministers for the constitution and democracy (previously spoken up as interests of his) are. @alanrenwick.bsky.social and Tom Fleming were critical last week that responsibility was fragmented across government, and insufficiently coordinated. Read more 👇️

Times of transition: Starmer’s record and Burnham’s agenda

The past four months have seen nationally important by-elections, local elections in England, national elections in Scotland and Wales, and Keir Starmer’s resignation. In this post, which replicates the lead article of the latest issue of Monitor, Alan Renwick and Tom Fleming reflect on the constitutional successes and failures of the Starmer government, and look ahead to what a Burnham government might bring for the constitution.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

🧵 The government was defeated in the House of Lords once Monday, 20 July 2026. The government was defeated 232 to 146 votes on amendment 25 to the Social Housing Bill [HL] at report stage. 👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

ON THE BLOG: Time to make lobbying more transparent The EIC has published a report on how to reform how lobbying of government is regulated, reported and monitored. @peterr48.bsky.social welcomes many of the findings and recommendations, and calls for a broad standards bill to be passed.

Time to make lobbying more transparent

The Ethics and Integrity Commission has published a report on how to reform how lobbying of government is regulated, reported and monitored. Peter Riddell welcomes many of the findings and recommendations, and urges Andy Burnham to legislate to implement as many of the report's recommendations as possible, preferably in a broader bill that seeks to make large scale reforms to the wider standards regime.

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Did you know that Supplementary Vote has been reintroduced for some mayoral elections in the UK? This means that the Greater Manchester mayoral election on 30 July will be the first not to take place under First Past the Post since 2022. Read more in Monitor 93 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Mayoral voting system and election in Greater Manchester

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, which received royal assent in April (see below), includes provision to replace the voting system for directly elected mayors in England, and for police and crime commissioners. Until 2022, the Supplementary Vote system was used for these elections: voters could express first and second preferences; if no candidate secured more than 50% of first preferences, all but the first two candidates were eliminated, and the second preferences of the eliminated candidates’ supporters were added to the tallies of the remaining candidates to determine the winner. That system was replaced by First Past the Post through the Elections Act 2022. The new legislation reverses that change.

The provision required secondary legislation to bring it into force. After the Makerfield by-election was called, ministers noted there was ‘now a possible scenario in which a Mayoral election may need to be held in Greater Manchester in the coming months’. They therefore brought the order forward, and it came into force on 18 June. In consequence, the Greater Manchester Mayor election, scheduled for 30 July, will take place using the Supplementary Vote...