What is parliamentary scrutiny? Our latest explainer explores how parliamentary scrutiny improves and legitimises government legislation, policy and delivery, the types of scrutiny, the impact of scrutiny, and threats to scrutiny. Read our brand new explainer 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

What is democratic backsliding? Our latest explainer explores key features of democratic backsliding, how it comes about, preventing it, and backsliding in the UK, including the important role that MPs play safeguarding our democracy. Read our brand new explainer 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

It is not completely clear who is going to be PM in three weeks, but what is certain is that we will be holding this amazing event on the constitution and the next few of years. And, if you cannot wait, our conference of amazing speakers across six panels is taking place next week, so do sign up 👇

Have you signed up to attend our free, online conference at the end of this month yet? Since we first announced our line-up, we are very pleased that @anneliesedoddsmp.bsky.social, Doug Chalmers and @markpackuk.bsky.social have also agreed to speak! Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Commentary: I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake

You might notice that our blog looks a little different: we have migrated to a new website! But do not worry: everything is still there, all our old links should redirect, and existing email subscribers will continue to be notified about new posts. Explore it 👉 blogs.ucl.ac.uk/constitution....

This, on the death of Henry Nowak, is an outstanding piece of journalism by @stephenkb.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/aa94...

The irony is that if Lab/Tory/LD senior MPs just set out what they thought were the right things to do it would look much better. But they're all terrified of the electorate.

Satuday's @theguardian.com cartoon #transrights #EHRC #LGBTQ

Meg delivered a brilliant lecture about the UK constitution's past, present and yet to come. She made so many important points, but I hope the below is a good summary. A recording is available on YouTube and in our podcast feed — it really is worth a listen (and not just for her kind shout-outs!)

'I think back to that Russell speech. And I remember: Despair accomplishes nothing. Cynicism is the death of radicalism. Optimism is a political act.' This is a lovely write up of Meg Russell's valedictory lecture by @iandunt.bsky.social — thank you. The recording will be up next week! Read it 👇

Two years ago, on the day that we announced our conference, Rishi Sunak called a general election. So the precedent exists for Keir Starmer to go as early as today! But hopefully this will result in no disruption to our conference, where we have so many interesting panels planned. Sign up!

Today is a big day at the Constitution Unit as @alanrenwick.bsky.social takes over as Director and Tom Fleming becomes Deputy Director. Congratulations and good luck! Read our announcement from last month 👇

Join the Constitution Unit! We are welcoming British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme applications for September 2027 entry. If you are interested, contact your proposed mentor by 25 May. Applicants must have had their PhD viva between 1 April 2024 and 1 April 2027. Find out more 👇

13 May is a big day for us (a Wednesday, so that Meg can do PMQs before going to the Palace). Meg is a brilliant leader who I learn so much from, really looks out for her team and is always one step ahead! And Alan will be a fantastic Director — I am really looking forward to what he has planned!

The latest edition of our triannual constitutional review is now available! Monitor 92 calls for 'bold action to renew the health of democracy' and explores the constitutional comings and goings of the last four months. Read it 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo.... Or browse our thread 👇

see? here's the thing. A lot of people are like, the earth is fucked, it's beyond salvation, it's hit the tipping point, but time and time again we see that if we just fucking fixed the problem, it rebounds so incredibly fast. Imagine what could be done if people actually cared

What a waste. It is right to remove the hereditary peers, but this government could have been much more ambitious with its Lords reform plans. For instance, the public greatly supports overhauling the appointments process, as we at @conunitucl.bsky.social explored 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Sound your changes to the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 alert! 🚨

*Representation of the People Bill update* Steve Reed has just announced: 'We will repeal in full the power for government to impose a strategy and policy statement on the Electoral Commission'. A very welcome change. I set out last week why it was needed. constitution-unit.com/2026/02/26/t...

NEW BLOG: The Representation of the People Bill: contours of the debates to come Ahead of the bill's second reading on Monday, @alanrenwick.bsky.social covers 'astonishing weaknesses', an idea that is 'indefensible in a democracy' and another 'breach of such a basic democratic principle'.

'If the government is possibly having second thoughts, I would encourage them to do so because, to my mind, it is a waste of legislative time.' Robert Hazell appeared on BBC News last night to discuss the difficulties of removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Watch 👇

Robert Hazell is in @uk.theconversation.com talking about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He says that the vagueness of the offence, multiple police forces being involved and difficulties facing the CPS and courts make it unlikely that his case will be brought to a swift conclusion. Read it 👇

NEW BLOG: Mandelson’s peerage: how to strip peers of their titles Robert Hazell argues if the govt intends to is looking at legislation then the government should consider carefully how wide its scope is, what criteria should trigger the removal process, and whether it should be retrospective.

NEW BLOG: The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: is this a crisis for the monarchy? The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has provoked many questions, such as what constitutes misconduct of office, and how long might a prosecution take? Robert Hazell answers some of those questions below.

Ministers want to get back to the 'better standards in politics' theme - good. A bill is has just been promised to allow removal of peerages. But a government bill would also ideally end unregulated appointments to the Lords. As Meg Russell argued months ago.⤵️ constitution-unit.com/2025/07/01/1...

There is much talk today about removing a person from the House of Lords, following new revelations about Lord (Peter) Mandelson. He could resign or, if he choses not to, be expelled. But neither would remove his peerage — this would involve a more time consuming process for parliament. A thread 👇

“Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?”

The New Year Honours List 2026 has been published! How does the system work behind the scenes? Could it be improved? We hosted Sue Owen, @peterr48.bsky.social and Dominic Grieve to discuss just this. Listen to a recording 👉 the-constitution-unit.simplecast.com/episodes/dem.... Or watch 👇

I Believe in Father Christmas is my favourite Christmas song. The message to me is that you have to make your own Christmas (like by wearing a Christmas jumper for the first 24 days of December!) The magic is not automatic (as it might feel in childhood), but has to be made by being jolly and kind.

This is my third Christmas at the Constitution Unit and I have finally found a reason to sneak 'Merry Christmas' into a social media post! Please complete our short survey — every response is being carefully read. And, if you have a PhD, consider applying to join the Unit!

It is good to see @theguardian.com support Meg Russell on limiting prime ministerial appointments to the House of Lords. Read her blog post from July 👉 constitution-unit.com/2025/07/01/1.... Read today's editorial 👉 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre....

The Modernisation Committee has published its accessibility report. Read Meg Russell and @rowaninlondon.bsky.social's evidence 👉 committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide.... Read Tom Fleming's evidence 👉 committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide.... Read it 👉 publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm....

If you are a paid member of the @acitizenshipt.bsky.social, you can access @rowaninlondon.bsky.social's new article! It is about how the Constitution Unit's work, although primarily aimed at policy-makers, can also be used in the classroom. Read it 👉 www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/resource/tea....

To quote Destiny's Child, 'tell me what you think about me'! (Well not me specifically, but we want to hear your views on the good ship Constitution Unit!)

Fascinating reflections on the government’s strategy ahead of the forthcoming Elections Bill. This is a golden opportunity to tackle dark money, increase transparency & prevent foreign interference. Looking forward to meeting MCHLG ministers later this week to discuss. @conunitucl.bsky.social

A thread from Meg Russell on (more) House of Lords appointments. If these 33 appointments are made, that will be around 115 new life peers in 18 months. Keir Starmer is already one of the most proliferate PMs! Appointments are also often announced when politicians and journalists are looking away.

NEW BLOG: Do the government’s electoral reforms go far enough? @rowaninlondon.bsky.social summarises the contributions made by the expert panel assembled for the Unit's recent event on the government's plans for electoral reform.

Job opportunities at the Constitution Unit are rare and vacancies for a permanent role where the successful candidate will join our senior team are even rarer! We can offer great chat, frequent cake and, of course, the opportunity to lead high-quality research that will have a real-world impact!

The latest edition of our triannual constitutional review is now available! Monitor 91 warns that 'changes feel timid and reluctant in the face of serious threats' and explains what is happening across the constitutional spectrum. Read it 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo.... Or browse our thread 👇

The Speaker's Conference on the security of MPs, candidates and elections published its second report yesterday. Our Deputy Director, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, is repeatedly cited, including about political literacy. Read it 👉 publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm....

Watch our event live on YouTube!

Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:

Come for the 18 briefings in webpage form, stay for the 18 briefings in PDF form! These are fantastic resources covering topics ranging from democratic backsliding to parliamentary scrutiny to free and fair elections.

Say hello to literally the only protesters outside Tory conference this year

Our excellent (and topical) lunchtime discussion about parliamentary treaty scrutiny. Constitution Unit superfans may notice that we did some slightly different things today, like shortening the length to an hour and streaming live on YouTube. It should also be out as a podcast episode very soon.

How should the UK's parliaments scrutinise international agreements with countries like Mauritius, the US and India? Next Wednesday, Lord (Peter) Goldsmith, @arabellalaw.bsky.social, @clareadamsonmsp.bsky.social will discuss this at our free, online event. Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

My column in tomorrow's paper:

Thoughts from me on the UK government's elections policy paper. In short: many good things, but several points don't go far enough, and there is one big mistake.

Noticeably Pat McFadden has not been replaced as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations yet. The role did lay dormant before, between July and September 2024, when Union and devolution policy was transferred from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to the Cabinet Office.