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PODCAST

The Constitution Unit

The Constitution Unit

The Constitution Unit conducts timely, rigorous, independent research into constitutional change and the reform of political institutions. Our research has significant real-world impact, informing policy-makers engaged in such changes - both in the United Kingdom and around the world. On this channel, you will find the audio recordings of the Constitution Unit"s past events.

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All Episodes

01:14:44

Prospects for the House of Commons Modernisation...

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/09/16

The House of Commons has established a new Modernisation Committee with a remit ‘to consider reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards, and working practices’. This reflects a Labour manifesto commitment, and echoes the Modernisation Committee appointed in 1997 under the last Labour government.As the committee gets up and running this autumn, it faces a number of important questions. How should it approach its work, what issues might it address, and what lessons can it learn from past

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01:12:50

Constitution Unit Conference 2024: House of Lords reform

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/07/02

The composition and role of the House of Lords are subject to frequent question. Since the last major change by a Labour government in 1999, proposals for further reform have ranged from wholesale change – e.g. creating an elected second chamber of the nations and regions – to smaller alterations to change the appointments system or to limit the chamber’s size. To what extent should a new government prioritise House of Lords reform, and what specifically should be the priorities? If the

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01:12:43

Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Rule of law

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/07/01

The role of courts and judges has been controversial in recent years, with criticism of both domestic judges and the European Court of Human Rights. Several government bills have raised difficult questions about the respective roles of government, parliament, and the courts. Has the rule of law been undermined by recent trends in policymaking or political discourse? If so, what should be done to bolster and protect it in the future? LinksWebsite: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unitMailing list:

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01:14:15

Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Devolution within...

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/06/28

The last two decades have seen major changes in the structure of sub-national government within England, with the gradual devolution of powers to a range of new mayors and combined authorities. How should this patchwork of devolution be built upon? Should structures be more consistent across the country? Should further powers be devolved, and – if so – to whom? What steps are required to ensure that this devolved power faces appropriate scrutiny and accountability? Speakers:Professor Tony Travers –

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01:12:45

Constitution Unit Conference 2024: Standards in...

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/06/27

The 2019–24 parliament has been dogged by complaints of low standards of conduct by our politicians. Rishi Sunak has committed to upholding the ideals of ‘integrity, professionalism, and accountability’, while Labour has promised to overhaul how standards are regulated in government and parliament. What are the priorities in this area for a new government to address? Does this require cultural changes, institutional reforms, or both? Which changes or reforms might be most effective? Speakers:Dominic

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00:54:18

Opinion Polls

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/06/14

The podcast originally appeared on 'Uncovering Politics' from UCL's Department of Political Science. In the run up to the UK General Election we have a special episode on opinion polls. Opinion polling is a staple of modern elections, captivating political enthusiasts with fluctuating numbers but also sparking controversy. Polls are sometimes criticized for inaccuracies, notably in the Brexit referendum and the 2016 US presidential election. Polling methods, including sampling and voter prediction,

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01:15:21

Priorities for new MPs' induction in the next parliament

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/06/05

Whatever the result of the upcoming general election, a large number of new MPs will enter the House of Commons. A well-designed induction programme will be crucial for helping them to find their feet and become effective parliamentarians. So what do new MPs need to know about their roles in parliament and beyond? How might this differ from in the past, and how might such induction best be delivered? We discussed these questions with experts from the Hansard Society and Institute for Government, the

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01:12:58

Changes and challenges in regulating elections

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/04/30

Recent years have seen many changes to election regulations in the UK. These changes affect key aspects of how elections are fought and administered, including party spending, voter identification, the voting rights of citizens living abroad, and the electoral system used to elect mayors and police and crime commissioners.So what has changed, what effects might these changes have, and what challenges do they present for parties, candidates, and electoral administrators? An expert panel discussed

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01:13:43

Should military action require parliamentary approval?

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/04/11

The UK’s recent air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen have renewed discussion about parliament’s role in approving military action. The government is not constitutionally required to consult parliament on military deployments, and can choose whether and when to seek MPs’ approval. So what is parliament’s current role? Should this be changed, as some opposition parties have suggested? If so, what are some of the possibilities and challenges?In this webinar, an expert panel discuss parliament’s current

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00:32:56

Do protests affect what politicians say?

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/03/13

Protest is a fundamental part of democracy. From thousands attending pro-Palestine marches in London, to farmers driving their tractors into Paris, Berlin, and Cardiff, to Just Stop Oil spraying UCL’s famous portico orange – protests are rarely out of the spotlight.But what do protests actually achieve? Do they affect political debate and policy outcomes?A new study sheds light on that, focusing on the impact of climate protests here in the UK on what MPs talk about – both in parliament itself and

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01:14:23

UK Governance Project: proposals for reform

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/03/05

On 1 February a cross-party expert commission, the UK Governance Project, chaired by former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve, published its report. It makes various proposals for improving governance standards in the UK, aimed at restoring high standards of integrity in public office, enhancing the role of parliament, improving working between ministers and the civil service, and protecting democracy. What are the commission’s proposals? How could they be implemented? Could they improve

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01:16:18

The Independent Commission on the Constitutional...

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/03/01

The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales launched its final report in January 2024. Its recommendations – which assessed options for ‘entrenched devolution’, full federalism, and Welsh independence – have implications for the whole UK. How would such arrangements be viewed outside Wales? How would they function in practice? Would they affect constitutional debates in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland?This webinar discusses these UK-wide implications with an expert

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00:37:22

How Parliaments Question Prime Ministers

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/01/25

How parliaments hold ministers (particularly prime ministers) to account is a fundamental part of parliamentary democracy. And one of those mechanisms of accountability involves asking questions. We take a good hard look at how – and how effectively – parliaments question prime ministers.We are joined by Dr Ruxandra Serban, Associate Lecturer in Democratic and Authoritarian Politics here in the UCL Department of Political Science. Her research focuses directly on parliamentary questioning

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00:40:31

The Future of Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland

The Constitution Unit ·

2024/01/19

Peace in Northern Ireland is widely recognised as one of the leading achievements of politics in recent decades. The Good Friday, or Belfast Agreement, reached in 1998 by the British and Irish governments and most of the main Northern Ireland political parties brought an end to thirty years of violent conflict in which over three and a half thousand people were killed.It did so in part by establishing a system of power-sharing government. A new Northern Ireland Assembly would be elected by

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01:14:53

The Future of Democracy in the UK: Public Attitudes...

The Constitution Unit ·

2023/12/08

Over the past two years, a Constitution Unit team has been examining public attitudes to democracy in the UK. The project’s final report draws together the findings – from two large-scale surveys and a citizens’ assembly – and reflects on implications for policy-makers. It examines what kind of democracy people in the UK want and consider what changes in policy or behaviour may be needed in response.Marking the report’s launch, this seminar gathered several leading figures from Westminster, together

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01:15:39

Mark D’Arcy - Reflections on over 20 years of...

The Constitution Unit ·

2023/10/25

Mark D’Arcy recently retired after spending 21 years covering events at Westminster for the BBC. During that time he built up an unparalleled knowledge of the institution, its procedures and dynamics, with insider access to innumerable key players and a ringside seat at important political moments large and small. This conversation discussed his key reflections on parliament and parliamentary journalism, and how they have changed in the last two decades.Features:Mark D'arcy in conversation with

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01:13:15

Ian Dunt’s How Westminster Works … and Why It Doesn’t

The Constitution Unit ·

2023/09/18

The recent book by journalist and author Ian Dunt provides a detailed and critical account of many aspects of the UK’s political system, including political parties and elections, parliament and the legislative process, the work of ministers and civil servants in Whitehall, and the role of the media. The book analyses various perceived problems, and proposes a range of possible solutions. In this seminar Ian presents some of his key arguments, and responds to comments and questions from a panel of

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01:13:56

Conference 2023: Panel 4 Elections and Electoral Reform

The Constitution Unit ·

2023/08/08

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?SpeakersCat Smith MP – Labour MP for Lancaster and

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01:12:30

Conference 2023: Panel 6 Implementing Constitutional...

The Constitution Unit ·

2023/07/22

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

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01:15:57

Conference 2023: Panel 5 Constitutional Standards

The Constitution Unit ·

2023/07/21

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?SpeakersLord (David) Anderson of Ipswich –

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