Although the pandemic has heightened the importance of delegated legislation in everyday policymaking, government reliance on delegated legislation has been on the rise for around a century. In 1921, Cecil Carr described the relationship between … [Read more...] about In the highest degree, delegated and discretionary
Five years ago today, the UK voted to leave the European Union. This was a significant political upset; Brexit had been officially opposed by the major parties in parliament, the Prime Minister, and a clear majority of scientific and economic … [Read more...] about Something is rotten in the state of Britain: beliefs about the fairness of elections in freefall
In the wake of last month’s elections, questions began to be asked about the prospect of an opposition electoral alliance. The Labour Party lost a number of councils and the Hartlepool by-election, suggesting it faces immense challenges in seeking to … [Read more...] about Electoral pacts and the constitution: could a pact be successful?
Glyndwr Cennydd Jones discusses the new book Whose Wales? by Gwynoro Jones and Alun Gibbard, which is available to read here. Debates regarding Home Rule, self-governance, or even independence for Wales, have inspired and enraged for well over a … [Read more...] about Whose Wales? The battle for Welsh devolution and nationhood, 1880 to 2020
Since Scotland’s votes were counted a month ago, there has been much debate about whether the results constituted a ‘mandate’ for an independence referendum. Some debated the significance, or lack of it, of the absence of a single party majority for … [Read more...] about The UK government and a second Scottish independence referendum: an unsustainable paradox?
For better public policy, Parliament should assert itself and take control of its own business (see How Parliament would take control). But what kind of Parliament? An influential idea in political thinking is that governments need to be strong in … [Read more...] about The English delusion
In evidence at the joint session of the Commons Select Committees on Science and Technology and of Health and Social Care, Dominic Cummings promised to provide confidential documents for the Committees in respect of the government’s handling of … [Read more...] about Official Secrets Act and Parliamentary Privilege
Asked if the prime minister, Boris Johnson, is a fit and proper person to get us through the COVID-19 pandemic, the former chief advisor to the prime minister, Dominic Cummings, replied: ‘No’. This damning verdict was given as part of evidence to the … [Read more...] about Cummings on stage: what does it tell us about select committees?
Despite the deeply concerning details, the questions raised by the Greensill saga and the renovation of the Downing Street Flat are nothing new; concerns about the integrity of politicians and public officials flare up with depressing regularity. … [Read more...] about The faces of political integrity
The Queen’s Speech on 11 May included the government’s long-awaited Online Safety Bill – a draft of which was published the following day. This is a major piece of legislation with significant implications for the regulation of digital technology … [Read more...] about Online harms to democracy: the government’s change of approach
In the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary election on 6 May, the possibility of another Scottish independence referendum has been at the centre of the political and constitutional debate. The SNP published an 11-point plan that states that, if it … [Read more...] about Are we heading towards an illegal wildcat Scottish independence referendum?
After a protracted inquiry, begun originally in 2016 by its predecessor committee, the Commons Select Committee of Privileges has produced its report, entitled ‘Select committees and contempts: clarifying and strengthening powers to call for persons, … [Read more...] about Report of the Committee of Privileges: Select committees and contempts
