Study of Parliament Group
@studyofparl.bsky.social
The Study of Parliament Group aims to advance the study and public education of Parliament and other parliamentary institutions. RT ≠ endorsement Website: https://studyofparliamentgroup.org
The 17th Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians, held at the weekend at Wroxton College, Oxfordshire, co-sponsored by the University of Hull Centre for Legislative Studies and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, drew participants from 20 nations to address issues facing parliaments
We are excited to announce that our annual conference will take place at the University of Manchester on Monday 2nd of November 2027! 🎉🐝 There will also be an Early Career Research Workshop on Sunday 1st of November aimed at giving feedback on draft papers for a small number of our ECR members. 📝
🧵The House of Commons administration plans to abolish its world leading parliamentary outreach team. @aileenwalker.bsky.social & @estrangeirada.bsky.social explain why cutting in person public engagement across the UK in favour of digital only engagement is a mistake. Blog 🔗⬇️
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
I’m sad and disappointed to see that the regional outreach team (one of my old teams) is being discontinued by the House of Commons. I’ve written about it with @estrangeirada.bsky.social www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/parliam...
The rise and fall of the parliamentary outreach team: Why cutting regional engagement is a mistake
The House of Commons' proposal to abolish its regional parliamentary outreach service marks a significant retreat from two decades of leadership in public engagement. Replacing face-to-face community ...
hansardsociety.org.uk
🎤 It was an honour to host the Lord Speaker’s first speech since his election, in which he reflects on the danger of ill-considered House of Lords reform "blowing a constitutional fuse". 🎥 📖 Watch or read the @lordspeaker.parliament.uk's speech on our website & YouTube channel ⬇️
Rewiring politics: The danger of ill-considered House of Lords reform blowing a constitutional fuse - a speech by the Lord Speaker, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
On 16 July 2026, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean delivered his first major public speech since being elected Lord Speaker. At an event hosted by the Hansard Society, Lord Forsyth said that anyone advocating…
buff.ly
Congratulations to Eve Samson on her appointment as the next Clerk of the House of Commons www.parliament.uk/business/new...
Speakers have been allowing more Urgent Questions since 2010, but are there now too many? Are they a useful scrutiny tool? My blog for @hansardsociety.bsky.social looks at trends in UQs numbers and which departments were questioned in the 2024-26 session. www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/are-the...
Are there too many Urgent Questions in the House of Commons?
Urgent Questions have grown substantially since 2010 and are now a routine feature of House of Commons business. In this blog, Ruxandra Serban analyses the scale of that growth, which departments face...
hansardsociety.org.uk
I was on Radio 4’s Today in Parliament yesterday, discussing the assisted dying bill. We talked about how the Parliament Acts might be used to pass the bill, and how changes can still be made to it. Around 7:35 in: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
How is AI being used by Parliaments? This evening’s expert panel explored how these technologies are already being used, how Members are engaging with them, and the opportunities - and risks - ahead.
Enjoyed speaking to MPs' staff and other parliamentary personnel today for this session on private members' bills organised by the House of Commons Library.
Grateful for the chance to discuss private members' bills (usage, reform, etc) today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk - alongside @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social, @paulbrand.bsky.social, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & Luke Norbury. Recording here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/assist...
Are private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy issues? | Institute for Government
An expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Reforming the Commons: The backbench MP's guide to achieving procedural change Our new guide, published today, says that procedural reform is important, but changing how the House of Commons operates can appear daunting. It aims to help backbench MPs, and others, who want to do this. Read it 👇
Constitution Unit publishes guide to help backbench MPs reform the House of Commons
The Constitution Unit has today published Reforming the Commons: The backbench MP's guide to achieving procedural change by Hannah Kelly, Lisa James and Meg Russell.
ucl.ac.uk
NEW BLOG: Changing parliamentary procedure: a guide for MPs A new Unit report assesses how procedural change comes about, analysing successful past campaigns to identify lessons for would-be reformers. In this post the report’s authors discuss some key conclusions.
Changing parliamentary procedure: a guide for MPs
A new Unit report assesses how procedural change comes about, analysing successful past campaigns to identify lessons for would-be reformers. In this post the report’s authors discuss some key conclusions.
constitution-unit.com
There’s still time to sign up for tomorrow’s @instituteforgovernment.org.uk panel session on private members’ bills 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/assist...
Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2mo agoEVENT | Are private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy issues? 📅Thursday 4 June (tomorrow), 12:30–13:30 Join us tomorrow as an expert panel explore the value and effectiveness of private members' bills, and the wider role of backbenchers in shaping policy.
Join the Constitution Unit! We are welcoming British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme applications for September 2027 entry. If you are interested, contact your proposed mentor by next Monday. Applicants must have had their PhD viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. Find out more 👇
Constitution Unit welcomes British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship applications 2026/27
The Constitution Unit is welcoming applicants to the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme for September 2027 entry, with an internal deadline of 25 May 2026.
ucl.ac.uk
Yesterday, an expert panel explored how parliament should approach the major restoration project, including lessons from other countries and industry. You can watch or listen back on our website: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...
On Thursday, MPs will hold this year's private members' bills ballot. Supporters of the assisted dying bill will hope to bring the bill back - allowing them to override the Lords using the Parliament Acts. But they face 4 challenges. My article ⬇️ theconversation.com/can-the-assi...
Can the assisted dying bill be brought back? It’s possible – but supporters face four challenges
There are said to be around 200 MPs who are willing to reintroduce it as a private member’s bill.
theconversation.com
EVENT | Lessons from the assisted dying bill: Are private members bills a good way to change the law? 📅 Tuesday 4 June Join us as @paulbrand.bsky.social @danielgover.bsky.social @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social, Luke Norbury discuss how MPs outside of government can fulfil their role as legislators
Congratulations to Alan and Tom as they begin their new roles at the Constitution Unit today. As Meg steps down as Director, we look forward to her continued contributions to the study of Parliament in the years to come.
UCL Constitution Unit@conunitucl.bsky.social · 3mo agoToday is a big day at the Constitution Unit as @alanrenwick.bsky.social takes over as Director and Tom Fleming becomes Deputy Director. Congratulations and good luck! Read our announcement from last month 👇
Have Urgent Questions increased during this session of parliament? Yes, given it was a two-year session, and at least one UQ occurred on 132 of the 280 sitting days. But not to an unusual extent compared to other sessions since Speaker Bercow revived UQs in the 2010-15 Parliament. Short 🧵 1/
"What next for restoration and renewal of parliament?" Join us on Monday 11 May as we explore how R&R could reimagine an historic landmark for future generations & what the project could mean for parliament, industry and the wider public Link below www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...
The 17th Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians, taking place in July nortonview.wordpress.com/2026/05/07/t...
The 17th Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians
In 1994, at the request of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), I organised a Workshop of Parliamentary Scholars and Parliamentarians. It was designed to enable academics to pre…
nortonview.wordpress.com
Join the Constitution Unit! We are welcoming British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme applications for September 2027 entry. If you are interested, contact your proposed mentor by 25 May. Applicants must have had their PhD viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. Find out more 👇
Constitution Unit welcomes British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship applications 2026/27
The Constitution Unit is welcoming applicants to the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme for September 2027 entry, with an internal deadline of 25 May 2026.
ucl.ac.uk
With Parliament now prorogued, one novelty of this session has been Keir Starmer’s longer answers to the ‘engagements’ question at PMQs. The EQ is an established feature of PMQs, but was controversial when introduced in the 1970s, and Harold Wilson referred to it as an 'abuse of the House'. 1/🧵
We are set to enter a new era on 13 May as @alanrenwick.bsky.social takes over from Meg Russell as our Director. Tom Fleming will become Deputy Director and a new lecturer will join us next year. We can also confirm that our annual conference will happen on 24 and 25 June. Read all about it 👇
Alan Renwick to succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit
In May, Alan Renwick will succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit. Tom Fleming will become Deputy Director. A new lecturer is also set to join the Unit next year.
ucl.ac.uk
The Backbench Business Committee 15 years on: has it given backbench MPs a stronger voice in the House of Commons? from yours truly with @louisevthompson.bsky.social for the @hansardsociety.bsky.social : www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blog/backben...
The Backbench Business Committee 15 years on: Has it given backbench MPs a stronger voice in the House of Commons?
Fifteen years after its creation, the Backbench Business Committee has become an important mechanism through which MPs can secure debates and raise issues in the House of Commons. Drawing on new resea...
hansardsociety.org.uk
Very pleased to see our article on backbench roles in the HoC published in @hansardsociety.bsky.social Parliamentary Affairs. @carolinebha.bsky.social @socialpolicy.bsky.social & I group MPs by activity across 26 measures, identifying 7 roles. It's free to read! academic.oup.com/pa/advance-a...
Remembering David Judge (1950 - 2026). I first met David in 1999. He was such an incredible person, we could do with more Davids in academia. Here is something I wrote when I heard the news last week, published by @psa-parliaments.bsky.social: psaparliaments.org/2026/02/17/r...
