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Latest Articles in 'UK'
- From the people who brought you electoral reform - 11/07/2012The government’s plans for reforming the House of Lords are in disarray. A substantial majority – 462 to 124 – in the House of Commons voted for reform but the...
- The House of Lords is a mess - 01/05/2012The House of Lords is a mess. It brings together in one place party political nominees (often former MPs), acknowledged experts on particular issues, descendants of drinking buddies of long-deceased...
- The uncertain boundary between politics and law - 24/11/2011Here is an interesting examination of the interaction between politics and law in the British political system, delivered by leading barrister (and future judge) Jonathan Sumption QC. Delivered as the...
Latest Blog Entries
- Trade war over gambling - 30/01/2013International trade disputes often shine a light on odd behaviour, and the dispute between the United States and the tiny Caribbean island country Antigua and Barbuda is no exception. Originally...
- The wrong conclusion on welfare reform - 24/01/2013In his speech on Europe yesterday, David Cameron observed that Europe, with seven per cent of the world’s population and 25 per cent of world GDP, accounts for 50 per...
- The Speech - 23/01/2013So we have finally heard The Speech. David Cameron spoke this morning to outline what Conservative party policy on Europe would be after the next election. (Read the speech here.)...
House of Lords Archive
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From the people who brought you electoral reform
Posted on 11/07/2012 | 1 CommentThe government’s plans for reforming the House of Lords are in disarray. A substantial majority – 462 to 124 – in the House of Commons voted for reform but the motion to set out the timetable for the debate was withdrawn in the face of... -
The end of the coalition
Posted on 14/05/2012 | 3 CommentsThe results of the voting that took place on 3 May surely spell the beginning of the end for Britain’s coalition government. (Read about the election results here.) I am not referring to the victory for Labour and defeat for the coalition parties (with an... -
The House of Lords is a mess
Posted on 01/05/2012 | 2 CommentsThe House of Lords is a mess. It brings together in one place party political nominees (often former MPs), acknowledged experts on particular issues, descendants of drinking buddies of long-deceased monarchs, and a smattering of Anglican bishops, to sit in judgement on legislation. We are... -
Federal Union review of 2011
Posted on 09/01/2012 | No CommentsLast year was dominated by the crisis in the eurozone. It dominated the debate about the future of European integration, obviously, but has also turned out to be a major influence both in the UK and around the world. Taking Europe first, it is absurd... -
Should we tinker with the House of Lords or leave well alone?
Posted on 20/08/2011 | 4 CommentsLetter published in the Times, 20 August 2011 Sir, Professor Bogdanor’s warnings of possible gridlock between two elected Houses in Parliament are well made but one might question the assumption that an elected chamber must be directly elected. A second chamber could be indirectly elected,... -
Constitutional Reform – End of the Road? (14 July 2011)
Posted on 15/06/2011 | No CommentsConstitutional Reform – End of the Road? 14 July 2011, 4.30pm – 6.30pm, followed by a reception Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB Robert Hazell, Director of The Constitution Unit, will talk about the whole of the new government’s constitutional reform programme... -
Moving to an elected House of Lords
Posted on 26/08/2009 | No CommentsBy Satish Desai Report on an event sponsored by Unlock Democracy Held at 11.30 am on 26 August 2009 at The Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU The event was chaired by Jonathan Freedland of The Guardian, and Polly Toynbee, Peter Facey and Meg... -
Gordon Brown’s constitution
Posted on 10/06/2009 | No CommentsIt may be safely said that Gordon Brown must have a strong constitution if he can withstand all that has been thrown at him and still remain prime minister. But can it be said that his latest proposals will strengthen the British constitution? His statement... -
US-style senators
Posted on 28/05/2009 | 3 CommentsTimothy Garton Ash, thinking about possible changes to the British constitution, writes of the House of Lords that “We can’t have US-style senators because we don’t have US-style states.” (Item 5 in his list here.) US senators are indeed powerful figures in the American political... -
A report on the House of Lords reveals too much centralisation in England
Posted on 02/09/2008 | No CommentsAn elegant investigation by the New Local Government Network has revealed that members of the appointed House of Lords are not evenly spread across the country. A disproportionate number live in London and the south east of England. (Read the report here.) London provides nearly...
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