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.

Government Defeat in the House of Lords

🧵 The government was defeated in the House of Lords once yesterday, 15 April 2026.

The government was defeated 270 to 200 votes on amendment D1 to the Victims and Courts Bill during Lords consideration of Commons amendments.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

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....

Join us on Tuesday 5 May at @ballioloxford.bsky.social for the annual Bingham Lecture in Constitutional Studies, delivered this year by @alanrenwick.bsky.social from @conunitucl.bsky.social and @uclspp.bsky.social

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 182 times this session.

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

The amendment inserts a clause requiring planning and licensing authorities to apply the ‘agent of change’ principle, ensuring new developments do not unreasonably restrict existing businesses and community facilities.

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

The government was defeated 162 to 55 votes on amendment 248 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill at report stage.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

The amendment inserts a clause requiring the Secretary of State to develop a strategy for parish governance in England, issuing guidance on identifying areas suitable for community governance reviews and encouraging the establishment of parish and town councils.

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

The government was defeated 257 to 180 votes on amendment 214 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill at report stage.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

The amendment leaves out a clause requiring local authorities to adopt a leader and cabinet structure.

Government Defeats in the House of Lords

🧵 The government was defeated in the House of Lords 3 times yesterday, 13 April 2026.

The government was defeated 247 to 187 votes on amendment 197 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill at report stage.

👉 votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

New article! 🚨

'Removing the Basis of the Historic Conflict? The Downing Street Declaration and the Contested Role of European Integration in the Northern Ireland Peace Process'

Open access here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Alan Renwick lecturing in 2023.

On 5 May, our Deputy Director, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, will be giving the annual Bingham Lecture in Constitutional Studies.

He will discuss the 'Westminster vision' and 'Whitehall vision' of the UK constitution.

Find out more about this in-person event 👉 www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/events/2026/....

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....

England The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was at report stage in the House of Lords at the time of writing, and it has not as yet been subject to significant changes. As indicated in the previous issue of Monitor, the bill seeks to standardise and clarify the powers available to each type of ‘strategic authority’. It also proposes to require all local authorities without elected mayors to use the leader and cabinet system, in which the councillors elect a leader (usually the head of the largest party) and that person then appoints a cabinet in which individual councillors are given specific policy responsibilities. In March, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said that she is developing ‘a roadmap for future fiscal devolution’ in England. This would devolve some tax revenues to regional mayors. The government’s process of restructuring local government in two-tier areas to a unitary pattern has continued. All two-tier areas in England have now submitted proposals to reorganise into single unitary authorities. The process is furthest advanced in Surrey: the county and district councils there are to be replaced by two new unitary authorities, which will hold their first elections in May. In four further areas – Hampshire, Norfolk & Suffolk, Essex...

Have you heard that strategic authority mayors may be getting new financial powers?

Are you up to date with the restructuring of local authorities and creation of new strategic authorities in England?

Read more in Monitor 92 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Government changes following Mandelson scandal Revelations about the alleged behaviour of Lord (Peter) Mandelson have led to a number of changes at the centre of government and raised fresh questions about the process of making senior public appointments. The late January release of a fresh tranche of documents relating to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein prompted fresh questions about Mandelson’s relationship with him. The documents seemed to show that Mandelson had taken money from Epstein, and had sent him market-sensitive information in 2009, when Mandelson was Business Secretary in Gordon Brown’s government. In the immediate aftermath of the release, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and as a member of the House of Lords; he was later arrested and bailed on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the same offence that led to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earlier the same month (see below). The government has promised to strip Mandelson of his peerage, although the detail of how it will do so remains unstated. Shortly after the document release, Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned. He took ‘full responsibility’ for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson as US Ambassador...

How has the scandal around (the still) Lord (Peter) Mandelson led to changes and challenges at the centre of government?

How could the scandal lead to a strengthened system of standards in public life?

Read more in Monitor 92 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

People’s Panel for Digital ID The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, has announced the first nationwide citizens’ assembly to have been commissioned by the UK government. Called the ‘People’s Panel for Digital ID’, it will form part of a consultation into plans for introducing a digital ID system. Those plans were set out in a green paper published in March. The government said it ‘intends to introduce a national digital ID’ that will satisfy three ‘core principles’: that the system is ‘useful’, ‘inclusive’, and ‘trusted’. It added that the purpose of the consultation was to seek feedback on ‘how to build a system that is useful for everyone’. The consultation began on 10 March with an eight-week ‘open engagement’ process. This comprises an online survey and support for ‘local conversations and events across the UK’, including ‘roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them’. The People’s Panel will be convened in May, after the initial consultation has ended, and will itself conclude by 21 June. It will be made up of ‘a broadly representative group of 100–120...

The UK’s government has announced its first ever citizens' assembly.

The People's Panel for Digital ID will take place in May and June and be made up of 100 to 120 people from across the UK.

Read more in Monitor 92 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Flexible voting pilots at local elections May’s local elections will see a number of pilots of different forms of ‘flexible voting’. These are intended to test whether giving people a greater range of options for how they cast their ballots increases participation and satisfaction with the voting process without raising costs unduly. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government sent a prospectus for the scheme to councils in August setting out four arrangements that could be piloted: allowing voters to cast their ballot at any polling station in their local authority area; creating central polling hubs in places such as shopping centres or railway stations; running mobile polling stations that might go, for example, to care homes, universities, or community centres; and early in-person voting at selected venues before polling day. After consideration of applications from councils to take part, ministers announced in March that four pilots would go forward in May. These cover two of the four possible arrangements that had been mooted: Cambridge, North Hertfordshire, and Tunbridge Wells will pilot early voting at selected voting hubs; Milton Keynes will pilot on-the-day voting hubs. For...

Did you know that the government is trialling 'flexible voting' in some parts of the country in May’s local elections?

These will give people more options about where they can vote and test early in-person voting.

Read more in Monitor 92 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Representation of the People Bill The government published its long-awaited Representation of the People Bill – previously expected to be called the Elections Bill – in February. This seeks to overhaul many aspects of the conduct of elections. If passed, it would lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for all elections in the UK where that change has not already been made. It would open the way to automated voter registration, allow additional forms of voter ID, and tackle problems in postal voting. On campaigning, it would strengthen rules against foreign donations, extend requirements for ‘imprints’ specifying the origin of digital campaign materials, and enhance the powers of the Electoral Commission. It would take steps to tackle harassment and intimidation of candidates, campaigners, and election staff. These proposals closely mirrored those set out by ministers in a policy paper last summer (see Monitor 91), which were discussed in a Unit seminar in the autumn. The bill received its second reading in the House of Commons on 2 March. On the whole, the proposals were characterised on the Labour benches and by many MPs from opposition parties as steps in the right direction. But multiple provisions were described across the chamber as...

One important change to the Representation of the People Bill has been announced already.

What further changes did MPs press for to tackle political finance, harassment and intimidation, and the voting system?

Read more in Monitor 92 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....