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    Blog

    EU flag missing a star, symbolising Brexit
    blog / 22.01.21

    Brexit and Beyond: Delegated Legislation

    The end of the transition period is likely to expose even more fully the scope of the policy-making that the government can carry out via Statutory Instruments, as it uses its new powers to develop post-Brexit law. However, there are few signs yet of a wish to reform delegated legislation scrutiny, on the part of government or the necessary coalition of MPs.

    Brexit and Beyond: Delegated Legislation
    EU and UK flags in front of Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster
    blog / 29.12.20

    Parliament’s role in scrutinising the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is a farce

    Parliament’s role around the end of the Brexit transition and conclusion of the EU future relationship treaty is a constitutional failure to properly scrutinise the executive and the law. As the UK moves to do things differently after 1 January, MPs must do more to ensure they can better discharge their responsibilities regarding the making of UK treaties.

    Parliament’s role in scrutinising the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is a farce
    'First virtual PMQs and Ministerial statement on Coronavirus', © UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor.
    blog / 04.12.20

    Why the exclusion of pregnant MPs from the House of Commons during Covid-19 matters – for them and for others

    The debate about remote participation in House of Commons proceedings raises critical questions about what constitutes a ‘good parliamentarian’, what ‘fair’ participation looks like, and who gets to decide. As things stand, the exclusion from much parliamentary business of pregnant women, among others, undermines equality of political representation.

    Why the exclusion of pregnant MPs from the House of Commons during Covid-19 matters – for them and for others
    blog / 04.12.20

    Reviewing Restoration and Renewal and planning for a post-pandemic Parliament

    The Coronavirus pandemic has added to the questions surrounding the nature of the Parliament that should emerge from the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal programme. But, with concerns over the programme’s governance and public engagement rising, the report arising from the current review of the programme will not now be published this year.

    Reviewing Restoration and Renewal and planning for a post-pandemic Parliament
    Covent Garden Market, Westminster election, 1 Jully 1808 (designed and etched by Thomas Rowlandson), This print records temporary wooden stands erected outside St.Paul's Church in Covent Garden Market to allow politicians running for Parliament in the Westminster election to address voters. On this occasion a large crowd has gathered, carrying banners and spilling out into the square, with some figures perched on a roof at right to listen to a speaker. (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
    blog / 13.11.20

    Controverted elections: how disputed results used to be part and parcel of English political and parliamentary life

    Disputed parliamentary election results – often taking months to resolve – were a frequent feature of English political culture before the reforms of the 19th century. But how could defeated candidates protest the result of an election, and how were such disputes resolved?

    Controverted elections: how disputed results used to be part and parcel of English political and parliamentary life
    Royal Courts of Justice
    blog / 12.11.20

    Did you get the memo? Post-legislative scrutiny and the case of judicial review

    The government has established an independent review of judicial review – but post-legislative scrutiny has not yet been conducted on the previous reform of the system, in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. This is typical of the low priority given to post-legislative scrutiny by both government and Parliament.

    Did you get the memo? Post-legislative scrutiny and the case of judicial review
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    Publications

    Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer in a socially distanced House of Commons chamber, 23 September 2020. ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
    publications / briefings / 2020

    Expediting of the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill through Parliament: five issues

    The EU (Future Relationship) Bill is to be considered by both Houses in just one sitting day. How unusual is such an expedited timetable and how much time will parliamentarians really have to look at the Bill? How will MPs participate in proceedings given Covid-19 restrictions? And how will proceedings, particularly the amendment process, work on the day?

    Expediting of the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill through Parliament: five issues
    Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP during the Urgent Question on COVID-19, 7 July 2020 © UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
    publications / briefings / 2020

    Building on the ‘Brady amendment’: how can Parliament scrutinise Coronavirus regulations more effectively?

    A large body of Coronavirus-related Statutory Instruments have been subject to limited parliamentary scrutiny. Amid growing concern that Parliament is being sidelined by ministers, this briefing explores the procedural obstacles to effective scrutiny of the Covid-19 regulations, and how these might be addressed

    Building on the ‘Brady amendment’: how can Parliament scrutinise Coronavirus regulations more effectively?
    Houses of Parliament at Dusk, Westminster
    publications / briefings / 2020

    What to look out for in Parliament in Autumn 2020

    Politics in Autumn 2020 will continue to be dominated by Coronavirus and the negotiations with the EU, as the end of the post-Brexit transition period approaches on 31 December. But what will this mean for parliamentary business in the coming months, and what scope will there be to tackle other issues? We pick 15 things to look out for.

    What to look out for in Parliament in Autumn 2020
    Rehearsal for the return of the House of Commons and hybrid proceedings 20 April 2020 Credit: ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
    publications / 2020

    Parliaments and Coronavirus (collection)

    The Coronavirus pandemic has presented parliaments with significant technical, procedural and political challenges, at Westminster and around the world. This page brings together our Covid-19 content, covering the UK Parliament’s adaptation to the crisis, UK Coronavirus-related Statutory Instruments, and the responses of other legislatures around the world.

    Parliaments and Coronavirus (collection)
    Pound coins
    publications / guides / 2020

    Financial Scrutiny: the Estimates Cycle

    In order to incur expenditure the government needs to obtain approval from Parliament for its departmental spending plans. The annual Estimates process is the means by which the House of Commons controls the government’s plans for the spending of money raised through taxation.

    Financial Scrutiny: the Estimates Cycle
    'First virtual PMQs and Ministerial statement on Coronavirus', © UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor.
    publications / submissions / 2020

    Procedure under Coronavirus restrictions: written evidence to the House of Commons Procedure Committee

    Submitting evidence before the House was to take further decisions on its Coronavirus arrangements, we decried the Leader of the House’s decision to end hybrid proceedings and remote voting as "over-hasty, poorly thought-through, unwise and unnecessary". Our recommendations covered House business, risk management, delegated legislation and select committees.

    Procedure under Coronavirus restrictions: written evidence to the House of Commons Procedure Committee
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    Events

    First sitting of the House of Commons after the State Opening of Parliament
    events

    House of Commons Speaker hustings 2019

    On 15 October 2019, all nine original candidates to be the new Speaker of the House of Commons participated in a hustings event in Westminster, hosted jointly by the Hansard Society and The House magazine, and chaired by the BBC’s Carolyn Quinn.

    House of Commons Speaker hustings 2019
    Britain Votes 2017 cover image
    events / 20.03.18

    Launch of ‘Britain Votes 2017’

    On 20 March, Professor Sir John Curtice and a panel of leading commentators outlined their findings at the launch of the first major study of the 2017 general election, ‘Britain Votes 2017’.

    Launch of ‘Britain Votes 2017’
    A crowd of people in Ethiopia with their hands up
    events / 29.11.17

    Deepening democracy: reconciling parliaments and people through public engagement

    Join us for the launch of our new Global Research Network on Parliaments and People, with a keynote speech on ‘Deepening Democracy’ by Baroness Amos.

    Deepening democracy: reconciling parliaments and people through public engagement
    The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon. John Bercow MP, giving his 2017 speech, 'Opening up the Usual Channels: next steps for reform of the House of Commons'
    events / 11.10.17

    Opening up the Usual Channels: next steps for reform of the House of Commons

    In a speech to the Hansard Society on 11 October, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP proposed three key reforms for the House: the establishment of the House Business Committee approved in 2010; reform of Private Members’ Bills; and the creation of a mechanism for Members to request a recall of the House.

    Opening up the Usual Channels: next steps for reform of the House of Commons
    EU flag missing a star, symbolising Brexit
    events / 12.09.17

    The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Principles, Powers and Parliaments

    On 12 September, the day after the EU (Withdrawal) Bill received its second reading in the House of Commons, this major one-day public event brought together leading parliamentarians and legal and constitutional specialists from across the UK to discuss the critical issues raised by the Bill and its prospects in the UK’s parliaments and assemblies.

    The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Principles, Powers and Parliaments
    People on Westminster Bridge
    events / 26.04.17

    Launch of the Audit of Political Engagement 14: the 2017 report

    Join the authors of the 2017 Audit of Political Engagement as they present their findings alongside a panel of leading commentators, and explore how one of the most consequential acts of democratic decision-making ever seen in this country has shaped levels of political engagement across the UK.

    Launch of the Audit of Political Engagement 14: the 2017 report
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