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conunitucl.bsky.social
The UK's leading research centre on constitutional change, covering parliament, government, democracy, elections and more. Sign up to hear about our blog posts, events and publications 👉 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/get-involved/mailing-list.
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BLOG: Why the French parliament’s Prime Minister’s Questions experiment failed Concluding a 2-part blog series, @calixtebloquet.bsky.social & @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explain how the French experiment with PMQs fared and why it failed.

submitted 1 hour ago • 0 comments

ON THE BLOG: Why the French parliament tried to introduce PMQs @calixtebloquet.bsky.social and @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explain why French politicians decided to experiment with a French version of PMQs. This is the first of a 2-part series on PMQs in France.

submitted 2 hours ago • 0 comments

It was an attempt to deeply change the way the French Parliament handles its oversight mission... and it never made it past the trial phase. Today, @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social and I show how and why trying to introduce Westminster-style PMQs into a different system ended up being an awkward fit.

submitted 20 hours ago • 1 comment

NEW: Just 6% of Gen Z say they actually want a dictator – not over half, as has been recently claimed. Our study finds only a very small minority of 13-27-yr-olds really feel this way, when their views and interpretations are tested with different questioning approaches 🧵⬇️

submitted 1 day ago • 22 comments

NEW BLOG: Why the French parliament’s Prime Minister’s Questions experiment failed Concluding their 2-part blog series, @calixtebloquet.bsky.social & @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explain how the French experiment with PMQs fared and why it failed.

submitted 21 hours ago • 0 comments

Earlier this week, we hosted Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss how to improve parliamentary scrutiny. Catch up with what was said 👇

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

NEW BLOG: Why the French parliament’s Prime Minister’s Questions experiment failed In the final half of their 2-part blog series, @calixtebloquet.bsky.social & @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explain how the French experiment with PMQs fared and why it failed.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

New blog by @marksandford.bsky.social explores govt's white paper on English devolution discussing strengthening collaborative governance between central govt & mayors, & challenging Westminster centralism through joint initiatives for regional growth. www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/english...

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

Last year, the French National Assembly decided to innovate and introduce Prime Minister's Questions. It lasted for five weeks, and was then quickly backtracked. What happened there? Today, @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social and I look at why this change was introduced - and tomorrow, why it was repealed.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Worth reading: an important part of the deliberative architecture. Especially important re. democratic accountability.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Really interesting piece by @calixtebloquet.bsky.social & @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social on France’s brief experiment with UK-style prime minister’s questions. Today they look at the background - tomorrow they turn to how it operated.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Earlier this week, we hosted Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss how to improve parliamentary scrutiny. Catch up with what was said 👇

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

ON THE BLOG: Why the French parliament tried to introduce PMQs @calixtebloquet.bsky.social and @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social explain why French politicians decided to experiment with a French version of PMQs. This is the first of a 2-part series on PMQs in France.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

In May and June 2024, the French parliament briefly trialled PMQs. In this first part of a series, @calixtebloquet.bsky.social and I look at why the experiment was introduced, and how the French model compares to how PMs are questioned in other parliaments.

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

NEW BLOG: Why the French parliament tried to introduce PMQs Calixte Bloquet & Ruxandra Serban explain why French politicians decided to experiment with a French version of PMQs. This is the first of a 2-part series on PMQs in France.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Big issues to consider here, and a fantastic set of panellists. Do sign up!

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

BLOG on Voter ID: Ralph Scott and Edward Fieldhouse examine recent data on voter ID ownership and how the new rules affected turnout. They argue the list of permissible ID should be expanded and that more needs to be done to educate electors about the rules.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Are the UK's party funding regulations fit for purpose? Next month, join Jackie Killeen @electoralcommission.org.uk, @markpackuk.bsky.social, Jess Garland @electoralreform.bsky.social and Justin Fisher to discuss the rules around political party donations at our free, online event. Sign up 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Are the UK's party funding regulations fit for purpose? Next month, join Jackie Killeen @electoralcommission.org.uk, @markpackuk.bsky.social, Jess Garland @electoralreform.bsky.social and Justin Fisher to discuss the rules around political party donations at our free, online event. Sign up 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Earlier today, we hosted Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss how to improve parliamentary scrutiny. Catch up with what was said 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Today's event is now underway! Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social are discussing the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to watch along 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

In one hour, join Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to attend 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

In case you missed it, our Director was in @thetimes.com yesterday responding to recent negative briefings about the Attorney General 👇

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

In three hours, join Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to attend 👇

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

UNIT BLOG: How voter ID requirements affected British elections Ralph Scott and Edward Fieldhouse examine recent data to show how voter ID rules affected turnout, and what groups of people are likely to be without a correct form of ID.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

At 1pm today, join Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to attend 👇

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Great piece by @kimlanelaw.bsky.social, outlining with admirable clarity and precision what is going on in the US, constitutionally speaking, and how it fits (or not) within the ambit of the Constitution.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

📰 Unit Director Meg Russell and Bingham Centre Director defend the Attorney General's role in today's @thetimes.com letters "With the new Trump administration’s actions in the background, it seems critical to value, not undermine, our own constitutional safeguards" www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

Tomorrow, join Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to attend 👇

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

In case you missed it, we announced that we would be moving away from Twitter/X earlier this week 👇

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

How have voter ID requirements affected British elections? In this blog, Ralph Scott and Edward Fieldhouse examine recent data to show what voter groups are without an accepted form of voter ID and how the new rules affected turnout.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

📰 Unit Director Meg Russell and Bingham Centre Director defend the Attorney General's role in today's @thetimes.com letters "With the new Trump administration’s actions in the background, it seems critical to value, not undermine, our own constitutional safeguards" www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

ON THE BLOG: Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny? Ahead of a related Constitution Unit event next week, Meg Russell summarises her recent article in Public Law which crunches the numbers on parliamentary scrutiny over time.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

In case you missed it, we announced that we would be moving away from Twitter/X earlier this week 👇

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

This is incredible public service, many thanks to all the authors of the research. 'Overall, the total proportion of all those eligible to vote in the May 2023 elections reporting that they did not attempt to vote because they lacked identification or were turned away for that reason was 2.4%.' /1

submitted 7 days ago • 2 comments

Estimates, with good data, that "almost two million potential voters" lack the new voter ID and in 2024 "over half a million people... were unable to vote due to the new legislation." The demographic patterns are depressingly predictable, too.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Key findings from a new blog for @conunitucl.bsky.social using British Election Study data to estimate the impact of voter ID requirements. ~1.3% of electors at the 2024 election did not vote because they lacked qualifying ID - over half a million people. constitution-unit.com/2025/02/21/h...

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

NEW BLOG: @ralphscott.bsky.social & Edward Fieldhouse examine recent data to show what voter groups are without an accepted form of voter ID. They argue the list of permissible forms of ID should be expanded and more needs to be done to educate voters.

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Here's me and Ed Fieldhouse for @conunitucl.bsky.social, summarising our recent paper on voter ID in Britain: with more detail on who is lacking ID and the impact on turnout.

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

On Monday, join Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to attend 👇

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

NEW BLOG: How have voter ID requirements affected elections? @ralphscott.bsky.social & Edward Fieldhouse examine recent data to show what voter groups are without an accepted form of voter ID and how the new rules affected turnout at recent elections.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

ON THE BLOG: Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny? Ahead of a related Constitution Unit event next week, Meg Russell summarises her recent article in Public Law which crunches the numbers on parliamentary scrutiny over time.

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

Dominic Grieve is in @thetimes.com discussing the Attorney General and the rule of law. He says that attacking Lord Hermer for his advice 'won’t itself change the law or the risk of government falling foul of it if it disregards the advice.' Read his letter 👉 www.thetimes.com/comment/lett....

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

Next Monday, join Meg Russell, David Natzler and @danielgover.bsky.social to discuss the problems and potential solutions with the legislative process. This free, online event will include a Q&A and you can submit a question by replying to this post. Sign up to attend 👇

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

ON THE BLOG: Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny? Ahead of a related Constitution Unit event next week, Meg Russell summarises her recent article in Public Law which crunches the numbers on parliamentary scrutiny over time.

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

From today, we will no longer be posting regularly on Twitter/X. Instead, we will focus our social media activities here, on Bluesky, where we have been active since last year. Please encourage colleagues and friends to follow us here!

submitted 8 days ago • 13 comments

ON THE BLOG: Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny? Ahead of a related Constitution Unit event next week, Meg Russell summarises her recent article in Public Law which crunches the numbers on parliamentary scrutiny over time.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Our founder and former Director, Robert Hazell, is in @thetimes.com today addressing the US Vice President's speech last week. He calls the critique of democracy and speech 'breathtaking in its hypocrisy'. Read his letter 👉 www.thetimes.com/comment/lett....

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Important new analysis of trends in parliamentary scrutiny from Constitution Unit Director Prof. Meg Russell. 👇

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment