As an election observer, I am used to observing elections in the UK and outside it with the election observation organisation, Democracy Volunteers. Following our observations, we make recommendations to election authorities about how to improve … [Read more...] about Elections change is largest in almost a century
On 5 September, the Conservative Party will announce its new leader, and Britain’s next Prime Minister. After five rounds of voting, Conservative MPs have narrowed the choice down to two candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. But the final decision … [Read more...] about Party members choosing Prime Ministers – a constitutional concern?
On 22 June 2022 Dominic Raab published the Conservative Party’s long discussed Bill of Rights Bill which seeks to appeal and amend the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA). Such a move goes beyond the 2019 manifesto commitment to ‘update’ … [Read more...] about Why the proposed ‘Modern’ Bill of Rights is contradictory constitutionalism
With Nicola Sturgeon having recently addressed the Scottish Parliament about her plans for a second independence referendum, and the Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, established by the Welsh Government, currently … [Read more...] about It is now necessary for the UK to move towards a UK-wide Constitutional Convention
Last Monday on BBC One, Panorama broadcast allegations that a Special Air Service (SAS) squadron operating in Afghanistan repeatedly killed detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances from November 2010 to April 2011.[1] The grave … [Read more...] about Conflict and the constitution
On June 28th, Nicola Sturgeon set out her “route map” for securing Scotland’s independence, setting a date for a second independence referendum to be held on 19 October 2023. Her “Plan A” remains a consensual referendum, following the precedent … [Read more...] about Securing Scotland’s independence: moving beyond process?
Conservative politicians are currently busy distancing themselves from Boris Johnson. But he is more than just an unfortunate one-off episode in political history, as a consideration of his constitutional legacy demonstrates. Johnson brought his own … [Read more...] about The constitutional consequences of Mr. Johnson
The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons last Monday. The Bill seeks to ease the delays on goods being brought from Great Britain into Northern Ireland by ensuring only those destined for the … [Read more...] about On the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Media reports claim that Boris Johnson attempted to use his influence to land his then girlfriend, now wife, top jobs.[1] Is this corrupt? Assessing whether something is 'corrupt' is notoriously hard, usually due to obfuscation, a lack of … [Read more...] about ‘Carriegate’: should we conclude the Prime Minister is corrupt?
The Constitution Society is delighted to announce it has appointed a new Communications Manager and Researcher and three new Research Fellows. Dexter Govan joins the core team as the Society’s new Communications Manager and Researcher from … [Read more...] about New appointments at the Constitution Society
When an updated version of the Ministerial Code was published last month, most of the headlines focused on the idea that the under-pressure Prime Minister had watered down the Code in order to save his own skin. As constitutional observers were quick … [Read more...] about Upholding standards in public life: the presidential and ‘pragmatic populist’ challenges
The UK government policy of deporting refugees to Rwanda has created tension between it and prominent individuals from outside the party-political arena. Most recently, it was reported that the Prince of Wales (not a complete stranger to controversy) … [Read more...] about The Conservative constitutional turn
