Big news from the Constitution Unit! Meg has been an outstanding Director; I have learned a huge amount from her over the past six years.

We're also very lucky to have a fantastic incoming Director in @alanrenwick.bsky.social - the Unit is in very good hands.

Trade in a turbulent world: how should the UK respond? This week, trade ministers from across the world will gather at the 14th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Interesting piece on non-FTA trade agreements - and the scrutiny implications of their growing use - by the chair of @houseoflords.parliament.uk International Agreements Committee.

www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

The latest Constitution Unit Monitor, rounding up constitutional developments since November, is now online.

It's a bumper edition. Challenges to the established order are growing. The government is pursuing some changes in response. But are they enough?

Is government by executive order a plausible model for the UK? | Institute for Government Senior Reform UK members are reportedly exploring a US-style executive order approach to government.

Senior Reform UK members are reportedly exploring a US-style executive order approach to government.

@sirjjkc.bsky.social examines whether government by executive order is a plausible model for the UK www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

The Scottish Parliament | The Scottish Parliament MSPs have agreed that the Scottish Parliament should elect conveners instead of appointing them through party negotiations. Following a debate led by Standards Convener Martin Whitfield MSP, the Stan...

Exciting: committee convenors in the Scottish Parliament will now be elected.
www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...

Since graduating:
1. GFC
2. Austerity
3. Brexit
4. Covid-19
5. War in Europe
6. Oil/gas crisis
7. Global trade war
8. War in the Middle East
9. Another oil/gas crisis

A recurring pattern in UK politics.

Labour in opposition: Parliament must scrutinise treaties and trade agreements properly.

Labour in government: the current system works fine.

Today's House of Lords debate (16 March) on treaty scrutiny will highlight the problem.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and filibustering in the House of Lords The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – commonly known as the assisted dying bill – is now very unlikely to pass in this session. Its supporters have accused opponents of filibustering – a charge which they strongly deny. Lisa James looks at how delay tactics work in the House of Lords, where they have been used in the past, and what peers could do to stop individuals using procedure to block bills rather than allowing them to stand or fall on their merits.

NEW BLOG: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and filibustering in the House of Lords

@lisajames.bsky.social looks at how delay tactics work in the Lords, and what peers could do to stop individuals using procedure to block bills.

The Representation of the People Bill: contours of the debates to come The government’s long-awaited proposals for electoral reforms, published last month, will receive their first scrutiny in the House of Commons next Monday. Ahead of that debate, Alan Renwick analys…

*Representation of the People Bill update*

Steve Reed has just announced: 'We will repeal in full the power for government to impose a strategy and policy statement on the Electoral Commission'.

A very welcome change. I set out last week why it was needed.

constitution-unit.com/2026/02/26/t...

Very cool to see the cover design for my forthcoming (first) book with
@routledgebooks.bsky.social

Available for pre-order in a few months time :)

Lords chamber

A new Lords committee has been set up to consider a participation requirement for members of the House, plus a retirement age.

The Retirement and Participation Committee wants to hear from people with an understanding of the Lords.

➡️ Share your views by 26 February https://orlo.uk/iL4Qa

Happy last sitting day of 2025 everyone - glad we had that promised parliamentary vote on the way forward for R&R before the end of the year...

If you use the Unit's research, come to our events, or interact with us in any other way - we want to know what you think!

What do you like about our work? What are we missing? What should we keep doing, and what could we do better?

Take our survey below 👇

The Covid Inquiry has missed vital lessons on how to make better decisions | Institute for Government We have not learnt much that is new from the inquiry’s Module Two report.

New from @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I on the missed opportunity of the covid inquiry's module 2 report to dig deeper into how decisions were made in government during the pandemic

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

Job opportunity: Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics The UCL Department of Political Science and Constitution Unit are seeking to appoint a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics. The successful candidate will join the senior team at the Unit.

Join and help to lead the Constitution Unit!

@uclspp.bsky.social is looking for a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics who will also join our senior team and contribute to our research and impact activities.

Applicants must have, or be near to finishing, a PhD.

Apply 👇

This is a fascinating topic and a great panel - really looking forward to watching!

The latest edition of our triannual constitutional review is now available!

Monitor 91 warns that 'changes feel timid and reluctant in the face of serious threats' and explains what is happening across the constitutional spectrum.

Read it 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Or browse our thread 👇

Tyranny, anarchy and the rule of law: Reflections on a major report by the Constitution Committee The House of Lords Constitution Committee’s new report on the rule of law provides an excellent overview of the concept and of the many challenges it finds itself under in the UK today. But the rep…

New post: Tyranny, anarchy and the rule of law: Reflections on a major report by the Constitution Committee

publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/11/20/t...

We @conunitucl.bsky.social submitted evidence on this topic, looking at the steps government and parliament could take to help make the legislative process more effective, and the importance of political culture:

committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...

Rule of law: holding the line between anarchy and tyranny - Committees - UK Parliament The rule of law in the UK is being weakened, and everyone must take steps to protect it against further erosion, says the House of Lords Constitution Committee.

The @houseoflords.parliament.uk Constitution Committee report on the rule of law is now out.

It's good to see the committee include legislative scrutiny as a key means of upholding the rule of law (and mention some recent problems with quality of scrutiny).

committees.parliament.uk/committee/17...

Good thread on what looks like a rather unusual appointment process all round 👇

Reflections on the Brexit Revolution: 2025-26 Mackenzie-Stuart Lecture YouTube video by Cambridge Law Faculty

I did a lecture on the impact of Brexit on British politics. Watch it here if you're really bored www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztqL...

The government must explain and defend its grooming gang inquiry decisions | Institute for Government Some disagreement when setting up an inquiry isn’t necessarily bad – but how it is handled matters.

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment from me

The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...

A welcome clarification on the rules ‘gagging’ civil servants | Institute for Government New guidance on civil servants speaking in public is a welcome return to common sense.

Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules

Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...

How does politics work in Northern Ireland? Politics in Northern Ireland has long been dominated by two alternative constitutional visions: remaining part of the United Kingdom, or unifying with Ireland. In this post – part of the Unit’s new and updated briefing series on key constitutional topics – Lisa James, Conor J. Kelly and Alan Renwick discuss Northern Ireland’s distinctive politics and political structures, and explain the UK government’s role in supporting long-term stability.

NEW BLOG: How does politics work in Northern Ireland?

@lisajames.bsky.social, @conorjkelly.bsky.social and @alanrenwick.bsky.social explain Northern Ireland's politics and political structures, including power-sharing, the impact of Brexit and debates over Northern Ireland's future.

The Constitution Unit. Do the government's electoral reforms go far enough? 24 October 2025, 1:00pm–2:00pm. Cat Smith MP (Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre). Rose Whiffen (Senior Research Officer at Transparency International UK). Tom Hawthorn (Head of Policy at the Electoral Commission). Prof David Howarth (Professor of Law and Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and former Electoral Commissioner). Chair: Prof Alan Renwick (Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit).

Does the elections white paper go far enough?

Next Friday, join @catsmithmp.bsky.social, @rosewhiff.bsky.social, Tom Hawthorn and David Howarth at our free, online event to consider if the government's plans are sufficient to ensure electoral integrity.

Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

The UCL Constitution Unit has an excellent briefing series on UK politics that is perfect for students of all ages and levels. The latest release includes a briefing on #NorthernIreland, which I co-authored.

Read it for free here: www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

@conunitucl.bsky.social

We've updated all our briefings - explaining how key parts of the constitution work, and why they matter to a healthy democracy.

Want to know how the territorial constitution works? What the UK's constitutional regulators do? Or why the quality of political discourse matters? We have you covered.

Giving this talk tmr!