UCL Constitution Unit

Andy Burnham has announced the creation of a national commission on electoral reform, and said that he wants Labour’s next manifesto to include a commitment to changing the system. We can expect much debate over the coming months about whether reform is wise and, if so, what the best alternative would be.So what are the options, and how should they be evaluated? What are the issues that matter when choosing an electoral system, and what evidence do we have on them? This event will include leading proponents of First Past the Post and of Proportional Representation. It won’t just be a normal back-and-forth debate. As the Constitution Unit launches a new project examining what we know about the effects of different electoral systems, we will seek to dig into what the key points of agreement and disagreement are, and where we need more evidence to get clear answers.Speakers:Sir Robert Buckland – Former Conservative MP for Swindon South; Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, 2019–21Jess Garland – Director of Research and Policy, Electoral Reform SocietyChair: Professor Alan Renwick – Director of the Constitution Unit Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Recent years have seen widespread concern about the erosion of democratic norms and institutions around the world. This webinar will explore the latest evidence about the health of democracy in 2026. Have global levels of democracy declined? If so, how widespread or severe is that decline? How satisfied are citizens with the way democracy works? Do disillusioned citizens want less democracy or just a different kind of democracy? And have any countries succeeded in stemming or reversing democratic ‘backsliding’? We’ll discuss these questions with three leading experts.SpeakersProfessor Claudia Landwehr – Professor of Political Theory and Public Policy at Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDr Seema Shah – Head of Democracy Assessment at International IDEAProfessor Jan Teorell – Professor of Political Science at Stockholm University and co-leader of the ‘Varieties of Democracy’ projectChair: Professor Alan Renwick – Director of the Constitution Unit Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Andy Burnham’s campaign to return to Westminster has pushed reform of the UK’s constitution up the political agenda. This expert panel steps back from the fast-moving political fallout of the Makerfield by-election to ask what comes next for constitutional reform. What do we know so far about Burnham’s agenda in this area? What does past experience tell us about the practical challenges for delivering such an agenda? And – ahead of a forthcoming Constitution Unit report – what broader constitutional issues deserve renewed attention from any new or continuing Prime Minister?  Speakers: Frances Foley – Our Common Home, formerly Deputy Director of Compass Dr Catherine Haddon – Senior Fellow, Institute for Government Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, UCL Constitution Unit  Chair: Dr Tom Fleming – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Six prime ministers, a Brexit referendum, and an (unlawful) prorogation of parliament — it has been an extraordinary decade to lead the UCL Constitution Unit. Meg Russell steps back from that role and joins host Emily McTernan to reflect on a career spanning nearly three decades, from advising Robin Cook as Leader of the House of Commons to shaping parliamentary reform from the outside. Along the way, they discuss what this turbulent period reveals about the fragility of British democracy, the erosion of constitutional norms, and who is ultimately responsible for protecting our political system. Mentioned in this episode: Meg Russell's valedictory lecture Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Parliament is currently considering the Representation of the People Bill. As well as lowering the voting age for UK elections to 16, this legislation contains a host of changes in other areas, including voter registration, voter ID, political finance, and the role of the Electoral Commission. Will these changes be sufficient to deliver fair, safe, and secure elections? If not, what more needs to be done? And does safeguarding our elections require changes of culture and behaviour, as well as new legislation?  Speakers: Phoebe Arnold – Policy Lead at Full Fact John Pullinger – Chair of the Electoral Commission Philip Rycroft – former senior civil servant, and author of the 2026 review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Director of the Constitution Unit Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Improving standards in public life was a key plank of Labour’s promise to be different from its predecessors in government. In opposition, the party promised better behaviour and stronger systems of regulation. In office, it has introduced a number of changes, such as the creation of the promised Ethics and Integrity Commission. However, the government has faced multiple standards-related scandals, particularly in the fallout from Lord Mandelson’s appointment – and subsequent dismissal – as Ambassador to the United States. So has the government taken sufficient steps to strengthen standards in public life? How have recent events affected its plans? And what more remains to be done?  Speakers: Baroness (Ruth) Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent – Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Baroness-in-Waiting (Government Whip), and Labour peer Doug Chalmers – Chair of the Ethics and Integrity Commission Dr Susan Hawley – Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption Lord (Mark) Pack – Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Cabinet Office Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit  Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

The last year has seen much discussion of how policymakers should approach changing the law in unusually difficult policy areas. In particular, failed attempts to legalise ‘assisted dying’ at Westminster and Holyrood have highlighted the challenges of legislating in areas that involve ethical debates as well as more practical questions of policy design. Meanwhile, the UK government has announced a ‘Peoples’ Panel’ on Digital ID, which adds to questions of whether innovative processes could help. This panel discusses how the policymaking process can best be designed to handle particularly controversial issues. Might it require reforms to how legislation is prepared, drafted, and debated? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using backbench bills, and of more direct public involvement?  Speakers: Lord (Charlie) Falconer of Thoroton – Labour peer, former minister, and Lords sponsor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Dr Ruth Fox – Director of the Hansard Society Professor Jane Suiter – Director of Dublin City University’s Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society Chair: Dr Tom Fleming – Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Uncertainty over Keir Starmer’s future has revived interest in the question – familiar from previous Conservative governments – of how political parties should select and remove their leaders. This raises various important issues, including the process by which MPs can remove incumbent leaders, the respective roles of MPs and party members in choosing a replacement, and – in an era of greater devolution – whether politicians beyond Westminster should be able to throw their hat into the ring. This panel will therefore ask: are UK political parties’ leadership selection rules fit for purpose? Speakers: Lord (Graham) Brady of Altrincham – Conservative peer and former Chair of the Conservative Party’s 1922 Committee Sienna Rodgers – Deputy Editor of The House magazine and former editor of LabourList Dr Robert Saunders – Reader in Modern British History at Queen Mary University of London Chair: Professor Meg Russell – Director of the Constitution Unit to May 2026 Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

The British public’s faith in the political system is in serious need of repair. This is particularly urgent given international fears about a wider turn away from democracy in many countries including the United States. Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised to ‘deepen’, ‘strengthen’ and ‘protect’ democracy in the UK. But what can be done to restore public confidence in the health of British democracy? To what extent does it depend on politicians delivering tangible improvements in citizens’ everyday lives? And to what extent does it require wider institutional and cultural changes in our political institutions? With respect to the latter, how could such changes be delivered?  Speakers: Polly Curtis – Chief Executive of Demos Anneliese Dodds MP – Labour MP for Oxford East and former Minister for Women and Equalities and for International Development Professor Marc Stears – Director of the UCL Policy Lab Sue Tibballs – Chief Executive of Involve Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Director of the Constitution Unit  Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

This opening panel is held 10 years to the day since the 2016 ‘Brexit’ referendum result was announced. As was predicted at the time, neither the referendum nor the UK’s eventual departure from the EU in 2020 definitively settled the UK–EU relationship, which has continued to evolve. Recent discussions have focused particularly on the Labour government’s efforts to achieve closer cooperation with the EU, and its plans for more ongoing alignment with EU rules. Particular challenges also remain in Northern Ireland. So, ten years after the referendum, what is the current state of UK–EU relations? What has changed since Labour took office? And what further changes might be coming?   Speakers: Professor Katy Hayward – Professor of Political Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast Professor Anand Menon – Director of the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London Lord (Jock) Stirrup – Crossbench peer and chair of the House of Lords European Affairs Committee Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit  Links:Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/constitution-unitMailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ucl/constitution-unitBlog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit