Parliament
A new constitutional settlement for the UK would be the most fitting Magna Carta celebration
On the day of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, Andrew Blick argues that, in the realm of constitutional matters, we need to look forward as much as backward. Similar PostsAn independent Scotland may find it impossible to pursue a more liberal immigration policyUnfinished devolution has created constitutional imbalances in the UKTo appreciate the […]
Federalism could be the only means of resolving some of the UK constitution’s fundamental difficultiies
The Queen’s Speech saw the incoming majority Conservative government propose a number of laws with constitutional implications, including the Scotland Bill, the repeal of the Human Rights Act, and the introduction of some variant of “English Votes for English Laws”. Andrew Blick argues that given this range of issues, federalism may be the only holistic […]
The UK electoral system now decisively favours the Conservatives
The previous Coalition government attempted to redraw the boundaries of the UK’s Parliamentary constituencies in order to remove a perceived bias against them, and towards the Labour Party. Though contentious, it was reckoned that the system made it harder to win a majority for the Conservatives than it did for Labour. Tim Smith argues that […]
“A significant loss to UK democracy”: Experts respond to the abolition of the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
The incoming majority Conservative government has opted to abolish the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, which unlike the other commons committees does not exist on a statutory basis. Democratic Audit UK asked experts and practitioners to respond to the news, who are united in considering it a foolhardy decision which will do little to […]
The abolition of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee is a loss to Parliament and British democracy
The incoming majority Conservative Government have made one of their first decisions the abolition of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, currently Chaired by the Labour MP Graham Allen. Andrew Blick, who worked closely with the committee argues that the decision is a poor one, and that its work – both high profile and more […]
The demise of the Parliament’s Political and Constitutional Reform Comittee: executive power is again predominant
Just how strong is the Conservatives mandate? With only 24.7% of eligible voters opting to support them, perhaps not as strong as their majority might suggest. One of their first moves has been to abolish the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, a key organ of democracy in the struggle to improve British […]
The new government’s constitutional reform agenda – and its challenges
Following the surprise election of a Conservative government with a small majority, Meg Russell and Robert Hazell offer an overview of the constitutional reforms which are likely to be prioritised and the associated difficulties that may arise. Similar PostsHow democratic is the House of Commons? How effectively does it control the UK government and represent citizens?How […]
Is a British Senate any closer now? Or will the House of Lords still go on and on?
Labour enters the 2015 election pledged to make creating a British Senate a key part of a new Constitutional Convention. The SNP surge in Scotland gives much greater urgency to the idea, since a new upper House could be one of the most important components for re-binding together a fully federal UK. Richard Reid and […]
Allowing MPs to job share would bring benefit constituents, democracy, and the MPs themselves
Job-sharing has been a reality for some years now, with it being seen as a useful method to allow flexibility – particularly for disabled people, women, and other under-represented groups. However the prospect of it being introduced for Westminster elections seems remote. Emma Rome argues that the powers that be should reconsider, and that there […]
The emergence of a genuine system of multiparty politics in the United Kingdom is a positive development for British democracy
In 1955 more than 90% of voters opted to back either Labour or the Conservatives. In 2015, this figure could drop to its lowest ever, even lower than 2010 when only 65% backed the established parties. Many factors lie behind this trend, but it represents a positive development, argues Vittorio Trevitt. An intriguing development that […]
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