Congratulations to @alanrenwick.bsky.social (and to Meg #notonthesocials)

End of an era! The Constitution Unit was my first home after my PhD and where I worked throughout Covid. I learnt a HUGE amount about parliament, the constitution, work, life. leadership and much more from Meg.

Congrats to @alanrenwick.bsky.social and Tom! Excited to see what you do next.

Congrats @alanrenwick.bsky.social!

Big news in the wonderful world of constitutional nerdery:
Sad to see the excellent Meg Russell departing, but big congratulations to @alanrenwick.bsky.social on taking over. The Unit does great work, which is needed now more than ever.

I'm thrilled to be taking over as Director of the Constitution Unit next month. Amid many challenges to democracy, our work remains vital.

But, gosh, it's daunting to try to fill Meg Russell's shoes! She has been a terrific Director for over a decade, and will be an incredibly hard act to follow.

Well well well. Meg can be proud of her achievements, and yet @conunitucl.bsky.social have found a more than worthy successor in @alanrenwick.bsky.social Congrats all round 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

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…

In February, @alanrenwick.bsky.social wrote a blog post about which of the bill's proposals – and omissions – are likely to spark most contention.

One of these, retaining a Strategy and Policy Statement written by ministers for the Electoral Commission, has already been scrapped.

Read more 👇

21 April 2026 - Modernising Elections - Oral evidence - Committees - UK Parliament 09:30 - The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

It is a busy morning on Committee Corridor.

@alanrenwick.bsky.social is giving oral evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee with Toby James and @profsob.bsky.social

The subject is Modernising Elections — a topic which has profound implications for democracy.

Watch 👇

End of an era at the Constitution Unit. Meg has been an outstanding director. She’s massively expanded our understanding of parliament - & I was privileged to begin my career working for her.

But the Unit is also in safe hands with Alan and Tom taking over the helm. Wishing everyone the best!

The @conunitucl.bsky.social does important work and Meg has been a distinguished Director. Best wishes to her and to @alanrenwick.bsky.social in his new role

This really is the end of a fantastic era for @conunitucl.bsky.social - Meg Russell has led the Unit from strength to strength - brilliantly straddling the academic/practitioner landscapes - big shoes to fill (but glad to hear she will be continuing to contribute her expertise)!

Gutted Meg is leaving this role. She's forgotten more about parliament than most people will ever know and spent decades pushing for rational democratic reform. If the country made any sense, they'd have a statue of her in the estate.

13 May is a big day for us (a Wednesday, so that Meg can do PMQs before going to the Palace).

Meg is a brilliant leader who I learn so much from, really looks out for her team and is always one step ahead!

And Alan will be a fantastic Director — I am really looking forward to what he has planned!

Meg Russell and Alan Renwick outside 10 Downing Street.

We are also looking forward to our next annual conference, which will be free to attend and take place online on 24 and 25 June.

We already have some brilliant speakers lined up and will publish a full programme in the following weeks.

In the meantime, save the dates in your diaries!

Dr Tom Fleming (incoming Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit): 'I am delighted to be taking on this new role at the Constitution Unit. The Unit’s reputation as an outstanding source of timely, rigorous, independent research is the fruit of many people’s hard work over more than thirty years. I look forward to building on and continuing that work in collaboration with Alan and our other excellent colleagues. I particularly look forward to continuing and developing the Unit’s research on parliament – a topic that will remain central to our work in the coming years.'

Tom Fleming will take over as our Deputy Director on 13 May.

He is an expert in parliamentary politics and a key member of our leadership team since 2021.

And we are very pleased to say that we have appointed a new lecturer, further information about which will be announced next year.

Professor Alan Renwick (incoming Director of the Constitution Unit): 'It is a huge honour to be taking over from Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit. Meg is both a scholar of great renown within academia and an expert with an unrivalled reputation for insight and good sense among policy-makers. She will be a remarkably hard act to follow. I am grateful for all she has done, and look forward to continuing the work of the Constitution Unit that she has led so well. It will be a pleasure to work with superb colleagues within the Unit and across our wider networks. Our mission to inform debates about constitutional change and healthy democracy is more important today than ever. We will shortly announce a fantastic programme of speakers for our annual conference in June, and I look forward to setting out further plans for the Unit’s future in the coming months.'

@alanrenwick.bsky.social has been our Deputy Director since 2015. He will take over as Director on 13 May.

He is a leading expert in electoral systems, referendums and deliberative processes like citizens' assemblies.

Amongst other things, he is the co-host of the UCL Uncovering Politics podcast.

Professor Meg Russell FBA (outgoing Director of the Constitution Unit): 'It has been a privilege to lead the UCL Constitution Unit for these last 10 ½ years, and to work with an amazing range of talented and committed people. This was an often challenging period, which saw significant upheaval in our politics, including the questioning of various constitutional fundamentals. I am very proud of what the Unit has achieved, to shed crucial light on constitutional questions, foster well-informed public debate, and encourage policymakers to adhere to high standards of democracy. I am really grateful to all of those inside the Unit, and with whom we have collaborated, who have made such important contributions to that. Those people include Alan and Tom, and I now wish them every success as a new leadership team.'

Meg Russell has been our Director since 2015, having originally joined the Unit in 1998.

She is recognised as a leading authority on parliaments, particularly the House of Lords.

From September, she will drop to a 50% contract and continue to teach, write and contribute to policy debates.

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.

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 👇

The Constitution Unit. The future of BBC governance. 30 April 2026, 12:30pm–1:30pm. Prof Dame Diane Coyle (Bennett Professor of Pubic Policy at the University of Cambridge and former Vice Chair of the BBC Trust). Prof Georgina Born (Professor of Anthropology and Music at UCL). Sameer Padania (Fellow at Demos). Chair: Prof Alan Renwick (Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit).

On 30 April, join @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social, Georgina Born and @sdp.bsky.social to discuss the future of BBC governance.

They will cover how it can respond to polarisation and distrust while ensuring independence, accountability and public involvement.

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

Government Defeats in the House of Lords This page links to summaries and voting records for each parliamentary session since 2005–06.

The government has been defeated 187 times this session.

Find out more 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

The amendment insists on inserting a clause requiring the Secretary of State to review, within one month of passing of the Act, whether any Iranian government-related organisations should be proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, and to publish the outcome with reasons.

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

The government was defeated 186 to 144 votes on amendment U1 to the Crime and Policing Bill during Lords consideration of Commons amendments.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

The amendment insists on requiring courts considering youth diversion orders to be provided with evidence of alternative interventions considered, reasons for their unsuitability, and any consultations undertaken with relevant individuals or agencies.

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

The government was defeated 192 to 142 votes on amendment S1 to the Crime and Policing Bill during Lords consideration of Commons amendments.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

The amendment insists on extending police powers to include the seizure of vehicles used in connection with the unauthorised deposit, treatment or disposal of waste (original amendment passed w/o division).

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

The government was defeated 225 to 144 votes on amendment D1 to the Crime and Policing Bill during Lords consideration of Commons amendments.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

The amendment insists on preventing authorised persons or companies from being incentivised to issue fixed penalty notices for financial benefit, but in lieu requiring guidance on how to prevent such incentivisation rather than a direct prohibition.

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

🧵 The government was defeated in the House of Lords 4 times yesterday, 17 April 2026.

The government was defeated 216 to 141 votes on amendment A1 to the Crime and Policing Bill during Lords consideration of Commons amendments.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

Government Defeats in the House of Lords This page links to summaries and voting records for each parliamentary session since 2005–06.

The government has been defeated 183 times this session.

Find out more 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

The amendment insists on requiring the Lord Chancellor to publish an impact assessment on access to justice, private prosecutors, and the charitable sector before making any regulations setting rates payable to private prosecutors from central funds.