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22 Dec, 4 tweets, 2 min read
Statement from Unit Director Professor Meg Russell on the 16 new appointments to the House of Lords announced today.

"It is hard not to see the Prime Minister’s latest round of peerage appointments as anything less than outrageous"

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It's 3 days before (what's left of) Christmas, so there will be no full analysis now.

But to see the effects of today's peerage announcements just add 16 (7 Con, 5 Lab, 4 Crossbench) to the details below. The rest of the analysis still stands.

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constitution-unit.com/2020/07/31/bor…
The added problem with today's appointments beyond general unfettered patronage is the flouting of HOLAC's propriety recommendations.

That is openly admitted on the Downing Street website, here: gov.uk/government/new…

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Short biographical note for anyone citing:

Prof Meg Russell is author of the definitive academic text on the Lords (below), among others. She has been adviser to the House of Lords Appointments Commission, the Lord Speaker's Committee, and @CommonsPACAC

ucl.ac.uk/constitution-u…

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More from @ConUnit_UCL

Constitution Unit Profile picture
20 Dec
A growing chorus of Conservative MPs is demanding a recall of parliament to discuss yesterday's lockdown announcements.

They are right. Such major decisions need parliamentary scrutiny. Indeed government has promised as much.

But there are two problems.
politicshome.com/news/article/m…
The first big problem is that only ministers can recall parliament, so can block MPs' request.

This is plainly absurd, given government is accountable to parliament.

There have long been calls for reform, as Meg Russell & @DanielGover discussed here:

constitution-unit.com/2019/07/23/pre…
The second problem is that with parliament in tier 4, travel and gatherings are ill-advised.

In theory MPs could participate & vote virtually. But this has been consistently blocked by... the government.

Despite warnings, there are no contingency plans.

Read 13 tweets
Constitution Unit Profile picture
26 Nov
1/
NEW REPORT

Following 14 months of research, deliberation, interviews and consultation, the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland launches its interim report.

Report: bit.ly/3nWfRiC

Here is the report distilled into a summary thread 👇
2/
What’s the report about?🤔

It explores how any future referendum on Northern Ireland’s constitutional status would best be designed and conducted.

The Group is neutral on whether a unification referendum should be held & on what the outcome should be.
3/

What is the Working Group?

The Group comprises researchers at universities in Belfast, Dublin, London, & USA, chaired by Unit Deputy Director @alanjrenwick

It is independent of both governments and all political parties.

Alan explains more in this 📹
Read 15 tweets
Constitution Unit Profile picture
25 Nov
1/
📢NEW EVENT SERIES 📢

To launch the Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland’s interim report the Group is convening a series of webinars.

The webinars are an opportunity for discussion of the report’s purposes, analysis, and conclusions

Details👇
2/

The Unit is hosting one of the webinars

3 December @ 1pm

Chair of the group @alanjrenwick will be joined on the panel with Working Group member Alan Whysall, former senior civil servant Clare Salters & @martinkettle

Chair: Meg Russell

Book: bit.ly/2HDNyGa
3/
The Unit is co-hosting a webinar with partners @TriCONDublin @tcddublin and @ucddublin for audiences in the Republic of Ireland on 1 December.

Sign up here: bit.ly/3fAc0EE
Read 4 tweets
Constitution Unit Profile picture
24 Nov
This looks bad. Government using its control of the Commons agenda to manipulate debate on whether MPs can participate virtually in proceedings during the pandemic.

Which is surely, if anything is, a matter that MPs themselves should be able properly and fairly to decide.
A reminder that the government has form on this.

This open letter to Jacob Rees-Mogg was sent in June by a group of democracy experts including @RuthFox01 @McEwen_Nicola @Smith1966G @estrangeirada @TimJHughes and @anthonyzach

constitution-unit.com/2020/06/08/end…
Oddly, this fails to mention Conservative @CommonsProcCom chair Karen Bradley, & the Conservative co-sponsor of @RhonddaBryant's amendment, & that they all supported that amendment in order to open up virtual participation to a larger number of excluded MPs but JRM blocked it.
Read 4 tweets
Constitution Unit Profile picture
24 Nov
🚨EVENT: 'Reforming the House of Lords'🚨

Unit Director Meg Russell is joined on the panel by @Tanni_GT and @LordNortonLouth for what looks like will be a fascinating discussion on the House of Lords and reform @MileEndInst

Today at 12🕛

Sign up: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…
Meg explains that debates on Lords reform have long been a feature of British politics. Going back as far as 1911 there have been incremental reforms to the chamber.

One of the more recent changes occurred in 2014 which allowed peers to retire. Image
Meg reminds us that debates concerning reform of the function and role of the second chamber is not unique to the UK.

Neither is the view that the second chamber is undemocratic, nor the failure to agree on reform.

So, what makes reform tricky?
Read 9 tweets
Constitution Unit Profile picture
20 Nov
1/ Big publication coming next week👀

The Working Group on Unification Referendums on the Island of Ireland launches its interim report on 26 Nov.

This will contain a wealth of considered analysis.

But first, here’s what you need to know about the report and the Group 👇
2/
What’s the report about?

It explores how any future referendum on Northern Ireland’s constitutional status would best be designed and conducted. The Group is neutral on whether a unification referendum should be held & on what the outcome should be
vimeo.com/444466668
3/

What is the Working Group?

The Group comprises researchers at universities in Belfast, Dublin, London, & USA, chaired by Unit Deputy Director @alanjrenwick. It is independent of both governments and all political parties.
vimeo.com/439174225
Read 6 tweets

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