Recent months have brought transition both in government and here at the Constitution Unit. The Prime Minister changed in July, and the Unit has had a new Director since May. Having spent the summer taking stock of the constitutional landscape, our Director, Alan Renwick explores what we know so far about the government’s agenda, what we can expect in the months ahead, and what readers of this blog can look out for from the Constitution Unit.

A new project by UCL's Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism, Constitution Unit and Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy seeks to inform the curriculum's content and the teaching of it.

In response to the current droughts and heatwave, the Government has introduced statutory guidelines in relation to the supply of disposable BBQs.

This online conference will take stock of recent constitutional developments, and look ahead, with a range of senior speakers including parliamentarians, academics, and commentators.

Hello. I am a horse. I work very hard at my job of being a horse. When humans say move the heavy thing, I move the heavy thing. When humans sit on top of me and pull on my head, I carry them where the...

Kemi Badenoch says his killing needs to be seen as a ‘Stephen Lawrence moment’ but the failures in both cases differ

It's been a week of chaos, but there is now a pathway to change. And with change, there's hope.

In May, Alan Renwick will succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit. Tom Fleming will become Deputy Director. A new lecturer is also set to join the Unit next year.

The Constitution Unit is welcoming applicants to the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme for September 2027 entry, with an internal deadline of 25 May 2026.

It comes as the government tries to pass a bill to end hereditary peerages ahead of a spring deadline.

The government’s long-awaited proposals for electoral reforms, published last month, will receive their first scrutiny in the House of Commons next Monday. Ahead of that debate, Alan Renwick analys…

The government’s long-awaited proposals for electoral reforms, published last month, will receive their first scrutiny in the House of Commons next Monday. Ahead of that debate, Alan Renwick analyses which of the bill’s proposals – and omissions – are likely to spark most contention. He suggests that pressure to strengthen the bill will be intense on multiple fronts.

The Constitution Unit's founder, Professor Robert Hazell, appeared on BBC News on 24 February to discuss the difficulties of changing the line of succession. He said: 'if the government is possibly…

The offence Mountbatten-Windsor is being investigated for – misconduct in public office – is famously vague and complex.

The government has publicly committed to removing Lord (Peter) Mandelson’s peerage following additional revelations about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Robert Hazell considers potential mechanisms for achieving this, and argues that if it is to be done by legislation, then the government should consider carefully how wide its scope should be, what criteria should trigger the removal process, and whether its provisions should be retrospective.

It was reported yesterday that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly known as Prince Andrew) had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest has provoked much comment and many questions, such as will he get special treatment, what constitutes misconduct of office, and how long might a prosecution take? Robert Hazell answers some of those questions below.  

The UK awards hundreds of honours each year to mark notable achievements and contributions to society. These awards – such as knighthoods, damehoods, and OBEs – can be a source of pride and a cause…

On 24 October, the Constitution Unit hosted an event asking whether the government’s electoral reforms go far enough. A common theme that emerged was that the government should go further than its …

On 24 October, the Constitution Unit hosted an event asking whether the government’s electoral reforms go far enough. A common theme that emerged was that the government should go further than its current plans. Rowan Hall summarises the contributions, which are available in full on YouTube and as a podcast.