In this blog I examine the formal mechanisms governing relations between the Senedd and the Welsh Government. I begin with a brief overview that explains how the Welsh institutions have developed since 1999. Then I consider developments in the most … [Read more...] about Inter-institutional partnership: the Senedd and the Welsh Government
The House of Lords Appointment Commission (HOLAC) hasn’t often featured in the news in its 23-year history. To be sure, there have been on-going controversies over appointments to the Lords, but recently there have been a series of controversies in … [Read more...] about House of Lords Appointment Commission (HOLAC) – Chronicle of a Death Foretold?
The Deposit Return Scheme The Scottish Government’s quest to introduce the beleaguered Deposit Return Scheme (“DRS”) appears to be like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Originally, Scotland was due to launch the UK’s first DRS for drinks … [Read more...] about The Deposit Return Scheme and the UK Internal Market
Journalists often ask, as they asked at the time, whether the Johnson government was corrupt. My response at the time was that 'there was more corruption and corruption risk in and around this government than any British government since … [Read more...] about Revisited: Is Britain ‘Politically Corrupt’?
This blog describes how constitutional provisions in five countries limit the use of delegated legislation. Delegated legislation in the UK is usually described as legislation that is created as a result of Parliament giving away rule-making powers … [Read more...] about Constitutional Provisions Limiting Delegated Legislation
On 13 June 2023 the highly anticipated Covid-19 public inquiry was opened. The inquiry is chaired by Baroness Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge and current cross-party Peer. It has been established to assess ‘the UK’s response to and impact of … [Read more...] about Covid-19 and the Inquiries Act 2005
Last week the Constitution Society went on the road to Edinburgh to host two events connected with what is increasingly termed the “territorial constitution”. Some months in the planning, the Society is indebted to our partners who helped make both … [Read more...] about In Review: Two Constitution Society Events in Edinburgh
The Constitution Society is delighted to announce that Matthew Heathcote has been awarded a Society Research Fellowship for 2023. Among a number of strong applications, Matthew’s project on federalism in the UK and Germany stood out as having the … [Read more...] about The future of Britain’s cities and lessons from Germany’s federal system
The Constitution Society is delighted to announce that Priyansh Shah of the LSE has been award the 2023 Undergraduate Essay Prize. Supported by Hart Publishing, Priyansh will receive £500 as a cash prize and £200 in book vouchers from Hart. The … [Read more...] about Announcement: Undergraduate Essay Prize Winner
The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Act 2023 (TANZ Act) is the only piece of primary legislation implementing the UK’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia and New Zealand. It consists solely of a delegation of power to implement … [Read more...] about The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Act: a slippery slope for scrutiny
Human rights lawyers across the UK rejoiced recently as Dominic Raab’s Bill of Rights Bill appeared to be consigned to the dustbin of history. At the same time, recent analysis from Alice Donald and Joelle Grogan revealed the UK’s … [Read more...] about Death by a Thousand Cuts: The Human Rights Act
What to say about the UK's whipping system, apart from the fact that one of Boris Johnson's former aides has just made it the subject of what the Guardian describes as a 'Jilly Cooper-esque satire'? My research for the Constitution … [Read more...] about Cracking the whip: the UK’s party control system
