islington
.
POLITICS (2) — Future of the UK Constitution
 A new Bite Size
Discussion Group will use the recordings from a two
day conference on The Future
of the UK Constitution that was organised by The
Constitution Unit at UCL in June 2023. The
idea, for those new to this type of learning, is
that you watch by yourself the video relevant to the
next meeting and then discuss it in the group at
that meeting. |
| When The date of the first in-person meeting is 2.30pm on 15 September. Then online at 2.30pm on 20 October, 17 November, 15 December, 19 January, 16 February, 15 March, 19 April 2024. |
| Where In-person session at a public venue
in Islington; then the discussion meetings will be
on Zoom.
|
Schedule of Meetings
15 September 2023 is the initial in
person getting-to-know-each-other session.
20 October 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Parliament.
The last few years have seen frequent controversy about parliament’s role, and the government’s openness to parliamentary accountability. Concerns have focused on parliament's ability to scrutinise primary legislation, delegated legislation, and international treaties, and on the role of the House of Lords. What are the proper scrutiny roles of MPs and peers? Do they have the opportunities and resources to fulfil these? If not, what reforms might be needed?
Speakers
Thangam Debbonaire MP — Labour MP for Bristol West and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Professor the Lord (Philip) Norton of Louth — Conservative peer, and Professor of Government at the University of Hull
Dr Brigid Fowler — Senior Researcher, Hansard Society
Alexander Horne — barrister, and Visiting Professor at Durham University
Chair: Dr Tom Fleming — Constitution Unit, UCL
17 November 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Devolution and the Union.
Uncertainties over the UK’s future territorial politics are great. The SNP is in turmoil, and the UK government’s block on Holyrood’s gender legislation is being challenged in the courts. Labour’s Brown Commission has recommended major changes, and further proposals are being developed in Wales. Renewed devolution within England is on the cards. Is fundamental reform of the UK’s territorial arrangements needed? If so, what might this mean in practice?
Speakers
Dr Anwen Elias — Reader in Politics at Aberystwyth University, and member of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
Kezia Dugdale — Director of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow, and former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Professor Michael Kenny — Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick — Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
15 December 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Courts and the Rule of Law.
Relations between the political branches and the courts have been strained in recent years. Pushback against the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights has spilled over into determined attempts to ‘clip the wings’ of the UK’s own courts, with renewed interest in ‘ouster clauses' and attempts to repeal the Human Rights Act, against a steady drumbeat of complaint that courts have become too powerful in our constitutional arrangements. How can the damage be repaired? What should be the priorities of a future government interested in restoring the UK’s battered reputation as a rule of law-regarding nation?
Speakers
Laura Farris MP — Conservative MP for Newbury and former practising barrister at Matrix
Emily Thornberry MP — Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and Shadow Attorney General
Fiona Rutherford — Chief Executive, Justice
Chair: Murray Hunt — Director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law
19 January 2024 to discuss the recording of the panel on Elections and Electoral Reform.
Adopting a more proportional electoral system is opposed by the Conservative Party, and by the Labour leader, but attracts growing support elsewhere. Would such reform be desirable or practical, and what might be its consequences? What might politicians wish to consider regarding other aspects of our elections, such as the minimum voting age, voter ID rules, or the reform proposals of the Law Commissions? How might any such changes be delivered?
Speakers
Cat Smith MP — Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood and former shadow minister for the Cabinet Office
Lord (Robert) Hayward — Conservative peer
John Pullinger — Chair of the Electoral Commission
Professor Sarah Birch — Professor of Political Science at King’s College London
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick — Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
16 February 2024 to discuss the recording of the panel on Constitutional Standards.
The issue of ensuring high standards of behaviour in public life remains high-profile following the Johnson and Truss premierships. Rishi Sunak pledged to lead a government of ‘integrity, professionalism, and accountability’ when he first became Prime Minister, while Labour has proposed an extensive overhaul to the UK’s system of standards regulation. What are the key problems in the current system, and what reforms could most successfully address them?
Speakers
Lord (David) Anderson of Ipswich — Crossbench peer, and former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation
Dr Hannah White — Director of the Institute for Government
Jeremy Wright MP — Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Attorney General and former member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA — Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
15 March 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Implementing Constitutional Change.
This final keynote session considered the practicalities of delivering constitutional change in the round, whether under the current government, or a new Conservative, Labour, or coalition administration after the next general election. What kinds of changes might be ‘quick wins’, and which might instead take longer to deliver? How is the balance to be reached between public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny and achieving desired changes? Two senior figures with huge experience at the heart of British government reflected on these challenges.
Speakers
Lord (Charlie) Falconer of Thoroton — Labour peer, and former Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor
David Lidington — former Conservative MP for Aylesbury, and former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Chancellor, and Leader of the House of Commons
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA — Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL.
Predecessor Bite Size Groups
Democracy in the UK after Brexit
The focus of the Group moved on to Democracy, using the key events of the project called Democracy in the UK after Brexit by University College London's Constitution Unit:
21 April 2023 Attitudes to Democracy in the UK Today
19 May 2023 What Kind of Democracy Do People Want
16 June 2023 Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK
21 July 2023 Integrity and Accountability in Politics: What Do the Public Want?
The State of the UK Constitution
The UK narrowly escaped a constitutional crisis in July 2022, which was only averted by the resignation of Boris Johnson. This became the focus of a Bite Size Group that had previously been following a course on ‘The Moral Foundations of Politics’. The new Bite Size Group, now called “The State of the UK Constitution Group”, decided to use the recordings from a two day conference on this theme organised by The Constitution Unit at UCL in June 2022:
16 September 2022 was the initial in-person getting to know each other session.
21 October 2022 discussed the recording of the panel on Constitutional Standards
18 November 2022 discussed the recording of the panel on Northern Ireland: how can power-sharing be revived?
16 December 2022 discussed the recording of the panel on The Future of the Union and Devolution
20 January 2023 discussed the recording of the panel on The Role of the Courts
17 February 2023 discussed the recording of the panel on Parliament: the decline of scrutiny?
17 March 2023 discussed the recording of the Keynote Speech by Rory Stewart
20 October 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Parliament.
The last few years have seen frequent controversy about parliament’s role, and the government’s openness to parliamentary accountability. Concerns have focused on parliament's ability to scrutinise primary legislation, delegated legislation, and international treaties, and on the role of the House of Lords. What are the proper scrutiny roles of MPs and peers? Do they have the opportunities and resources to fulfil these? If not, what reforms might be needed?
Speakers
Thangam Debbonaire MP — Labour MP for Bristol West and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Professor the Lord (Philip) Norton of Louth — Conservative peer, and Professor of Government at the University of Hull
Dr Brigid Fowler — Senior Researcher, Hansard Society
Alexander Horne — barrister, and Visiting Professor at Durham University
Chair: Dr Tom Fleming — Constitution Unit, UCL
17 November 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Devolution and the Union.
Uncertainties over the UK’s future territorial politics are great. The SNP is in turmoil, and the UK government’s block on Holyrood’s gender legislation is being challenged in the courts. Labour’s Brown Commission has recommended major changes, and further proposals are being developed in Wales. Renewed devolution within England is on the cards. Is fundamental reform of the UK’s territorial arrangements needed? If so, what might this mean in practice?
Speakers
Dr Anwen Elias — Reader in Politics at Aberystwyth University, and member of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
Kezia Dugdale — Director of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow, and former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Professor Michael Kenny — Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick — Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
15 December 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Courts and the Rule of Law.
Relations between the political branches and the courts have been strained in recent years. Pushback against the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights has spilled over into determined attempts to ‘clip the wings’ of the UK’s own courts, with renewed interest in ‘ouster clauses' and attempts to repeal the Human Rights Act, against a steady drumbeat of complaint that courts have become too powerful in our constitutional arrangements. How can the damage be repaired? What should be the priorities of a future government interested in restoring the UK’s battered reputation as a rule of law-regarding nation?
Speakers
Laura Farris MP — Conservative MP for Newbury and former practising barrister at Matrix
Emily Thornberry MP — Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and Shadow Attorney General
Fiona Rutherford — Chief Executive, Justice
Chair: Murray Hunt — Director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law
19 January 2024 to discuss the recording of the panel on Elections and Electoral Reform.
Adopting a more proportional electoral system is opposed by the Conservative Party, and by the Labour leader, but attracts growing support elsewhere. Would such reform be desirable or practical, and what might be its consequences? What might politicians wish to consider regarding other aspects of our elections, such as the minimum voting age, voter ID rules, or the reform proposals of the Law Commissions? How might any such changes be delivered?
Speakers
Cat Smith MP — Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood and former shadow minister for the Cabinet Office
Lord (Robert) Hayward — Conservative peer
John Pullinger — Chair of the Electoral Commission
Professor Sarah Birch — Professor of Political Science at King’s College London
Chair: Professor Alan Renwick — Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
16 February 2024 to discuss the recording of the panel on Constitutional Standards.
The issue of ensuring high standards of behaviour in public life remains high-profile following the Johnson and Truss premierships. Rishi Sunak pledged to lead a government of ‘integrity, professionalism, and accountability’ when he first became Prime Minister, while Labour has proposed an extensive overhaul to the UK’s system of standards regulation. What are the key problems in the current system, and what reforms could most successfully address them?
Speakers
Lord (David) Anderson of Ipswich — Crossbench peer, and former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation
Dr Hannah White — Director of the Institute for Government
Jeremy Wright MP — Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Attorney General and former member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA — Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
15 March 2023 to discuss the recording of the panel on Implementing Constitutional Change.
This final keynote session considered the practicalities of delivering constitutional change in the round, whether under the current government, or a new Conservative, Labour, or coalition administration after the next general election. What kinds of changes might be ‘quick wins’, and which might instead take longer to deliver? How is the balance to be reached between public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny and achieving desired changes? Two senior figures with huge experience at the heart of British government reflected on these challenges.
Speakers
Lord (Charlie) Falconer of Thoroton — Labour peer, and former Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor
David Lidington — former Conservative MP for Aylesbury, and former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Chancellor, and Leader of the House of Commons
Chair: Professor Meg Russell FBA — Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL.
Predecessor Bite Size Groups
Democracy in the UK after Brexit
The focus of the Group moved on to Democracy, using the key events of the project called Democracy in the UK after Brexit by University College London's Constitution Unit:
21 April 2023 Attitudes to Democracy in the UK Today
19 May 2023 What Kind of Democracy Do People Want
16 June 2023 Citizens’ Assembly on Democracy in the UK
21 July 2023 Integrity and Accountability in Politics: What Do the Public Want?
The State of the UK Constitution
The UK narrowly escaped a constitutional crisis in July 2022, which was only averted by the resignation of Boris Johnson. This became the focus of a Bite Size Group that had previously been following a course on ‘The Moral Foundations of Politics’. The new Bite Size Group, now called “The State of the UK Constitution Group”, decided to use the recordings from a two day conference on this theme organised by The Constitution Unit at UCL in June 2022:
16 September 2022 was the initial in-person getting to know each other session.
21 October 2022 discussed the recording of the panel on Constitutional Standards
18 November 2022 discussed the recording of the panel on Northern Ireland: how can power-sharing be revived?
16 December 2022 discussed the recording of the panel on The Future of the Union and Devolution
20 January 2023 discussed the recording of the panel on The Role of the Courts
17 February 2023 discussed the recording of the panel on Parliament: the decline of scrutiny?
17 March 2023 discussed the recording of the Keynote Speech by Rory Stewart