The Constitution Unit’s annual conference takes place next week, bringing together a wide range of speakers to discuss ‘Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office’. Starting with a keynote address by Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds, the conference will assess Labour’s performance so far, and its options for the future, across a range of constitutional policy areas. Ahead of the conference, Lisa James analyses the progress so far against the commitments in Labour’s manifesto. 

The Labour government came to power last July, promising change in various areas of constitutional policy. Almost one year into a possible five-year term, the Constitution Unit’s annual conference (18–19 June) will examine the progress that has been made and ask what we might expect in the years ahead. 

This blogpost sets the scene, rounding up Labour’s progress so far against its manifesto pledges. 

Parliament 

The manifesto’s key commitment relating to the House of Commons was the creation of a new Modernisation Committee – named after the predecessor which introduced various Commons reforms under the last Labour government. The new committee was established in standing orders in July 2024, with a brief to ‘consider reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards, and working practices; and to make recommendations thereon’. It consulted on its agenda in late 2024 and published a memorandum on its likely next steps, which named accessibility, ‘effective’ use of Commons time, and ‘creating more certainty about the timing and nature of Commons business’ as its overarching priorities.  

Also promised were new restrictions on outside employment for MPs. A rule change in July 2024 removed an existing loophole that allowed MPs to provide paid advice on the workings of parliament, or on ‘public policy and current affairs’; it did not address other areas of potential controversy such as paid media presenting roles. More change is likely to follow; the Standards Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into MPs’ outside interests and employment, at the Modernisation Committee’s request.  

In relation to the House of Lords, the manifesto pledged a number of changes, in an implicit two-stage process. Reforms for this parliament included the removal of the remaining hereditary peers, tighter participation requirements, a mandatory retirement age, and reforms to the appointments process. Also promised was some form of public consultation on options for an alternative second chamber, to lay the ground for more comprehensive second-stage reform in a future parliament. A bill to remove the hereditary peers is going through parliament, and is currently awaiting its report stage in the House of Lords. The bill does not address any of Labour’s other pledges – which now appear to depend upon a second stage of reforms in this parliament (though the government has made a small nod toward its pledge on tightening up appointments, by requiring publication of citations for new political appointees to the Lords). 

Rule of law and public inquiries 

The key manifesto pledge relating to the rule of law was a promise to keep the UK in the European Convention on Human Rights. Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood and Attorney General Richard Hermer both reiterated the government’s commitment to international law and human rights in their swearing-in speeches. Hermer has gone on to make several speeches on the importance of upholding the rule of law, sometimes provoking backlash. 

Also promised in the manifesto was a Hillsborough Law, introducing a duty of candour for public servants and public bodies. The legislation was promised in time for the 36^th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster on 15 April – but the date came and went without a bill appearing. Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell told MPs that the bill would be published when ready, but little is known about its likely timetable. 

Ministerial standards 

The centrepiece of Labour’s manifesto offering on standards was the creation of a new Ethics and Integrity Commission. Details about the proposed new body were left vague, and still today little is known. The body’s role remains undefined, as does its relationship to the various existing standards regulators, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life.  

The manifesto also promised to strengthen the oversight of post-government employment, and to provide for stronger enforcement. This is likely to entail giving new powers to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments – but, perhaps as a consequence of the continuing uncertainty about the role of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, no such new powers have yet been announced. The new Ministerial Code did, however, fulfil one pledge: to give the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards the power to open their own investigations. 

The government has also fulfilled two manifesto pledges prompted by past standards scandals. The Budget Responsibility Act was one of the first pieces of legislation introduced after the election, receiving its first reading in July 2024, and gaining royal assent in September. The legislation requires the government to seek an Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast in advance of any ‘fiscally significant’ announcement – in a clear reference to then Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s decision not to request an OBR forecast before the disastrous 2022 ‘mini-budget’. Though it fulfils the manifesto pledge, experts pointed out that the Act represents a relatively modest change to the OBR’s role, and might be seen as ‘largely performative’. A pledge to appoint a Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner was fulfilled in December, with the appointment of Tom Hayhoe, who is due to deliver a report to parliament at the end of his one-year term. 

Elections 

The manifesto pledged some significant changes to elections policy – notably, the introduction of votes at 16 for all elections. Also promised were improvements to voter registration, the introduction of stronger rules around donations to political parties, and an update to the voter ID rules to allow additional forms of ID to be used.  

A small move was made on the last of these pledges in October 2024, when regulations were introduced making the Armed Forces Veterans Card an accepted form of ID. Ministers have said they will set out plans in relation to Labour’s other electoral policy proposals before the summer. 

Devolution in England 

Devolution within England is perhaps the area where the most substantial constitutional policy announcements have been made. The manifesto pledged to introduce a new requirement for local authorities to ‘come together’ to take on greater responsibilities, as well as deeper devolution settlements for existing combined authorities, and revisions to governance arrangements. 

The King’s speech in July 2024 pledged an English Devolution Bill, to take forward these proposals during this parliamentary session. The background briefing for the speech promised that the bill would include greater devolution of powers relating to ‘strategic planning, local transport networks, skills, and employment support’ – as well as duties to produce Local Growth Plans (another manifesto commitment). Also mentioned in the King’s speech was a Better Buses Bill, which delivers on a further manifesto promise of transport devolution. 

The government provided more detail on its planned approach in an English Devolution White Paper, published in December. This also laid out the government’s process for encouraging local authorities to combine, and gave some further detail on the pledged governance reforms – among other things, empowering mayors to appoint ‘commissioners’ to support the delivery of defined portfolios. In February 2025, councils in two-tier areas (i.e. those with both county and district councils), and some small neighbouring unitary councils, were asked to develop draft plans for combining to form unitary local government structures. Jim McMahon, the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, told the House of Commons that a decision would be taken on which proposals to implement, with legislation following at a later date.  

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 

It is too early to tell how far the government has been able to deliver on its key manifesto pledge to ‘reset’ the relationship between Whitehall and the devolved nations. However, some more concrete pledges can be measured. The new Council of the Nations and Regions – which brings together the UK government with the heads of devolved government, and English mayors, was established last year. It has so far met twice, in October and May. 

Various other pledges have yet to be delivered. These include the publication of a new Memorandum of Understanding on the operation of the Sewel Convention, and extending ‘free speech protections’ to the devolved legislatures (which currently enjoy a more limited form of parliamentary privilege than operates at Westminster). The manifesto also pledged to ‘restore decision-making over the allocation of structural funds’ to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – a commitment reiterated in March 2025, with the implication that decision-making will be devolved in spring 2026 when the Shared Prosperity Fund (successor to EU structural funds) is replaced by a new funding framework. The manifesto also committed the government to explore the devolution of probation, youth justice and employment support funding to Wales; no announcements have yet been made about this. 

The manifesto made several pledges relating specifically to Northern Ireland. These included commitments to support political stability, and to implement the Windsor Framework in good faith – promising that there would be no more UK attempts to unilaterally override the UK–EU agreement on the post-Brexit settlement for Northern Ireland. The manifesto also pledged to repeal and replace the controversial Northern Ireland Legacy Act. This was reiterated in the King’s speech: the explanatory notes suggested repeal or amendment of some key provisions in this session, with further legislation to come later. In December 2024, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn announced that he had laid a ‘remedial order’ to repeal some aspects of the Act, with further legislation to follow after consultation. Another commitment was to ‘take forward discussions’ on a fiscal framework for Northern Ireland; in November 2024, the government indicated that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Northern Ireland’s Minister of Finance had agreed to begin talks. 

Europe 

The Labour manifesto pledged to keep Britain outside the EU, and ruled out rejoining the single market or customs union, or introducing freedom of movement. However, it did articulate ambitions for a closer relationship, suggesting priorities of a stronger trade and investment relationship, a new veterinary agreement to reduce border checks, easier visa arrangements for touring artists, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications. A deal with the EU was unveiled in May 2025, extending or deepening the UK’s relationship with the EU in various areas. These include an agreement to negotiate the removal of most border checks on animal and plant shipments – in line with the manifesto pledge – as well as the extension of current fishing arrangements, a formal defence and security pact, and a youth mobility scheme (with the details yet to be established). 

Conclusion 

It is unsurprising that, after just a year in office, the government has not yet fulfilled all of its constitutional policy pledges. But a survey of progress so far shows that the extent of change has been fairly limited. Perhaps the greatest progress has been made with reforms to governance within England. By contrast, progress so far on pledges relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has so far been only very preliminary. 

There has also been relatively little achieved in relation to the UK’s central institutions. The government has acted on its core proposals relating to parliament, with the establishment of the Modernisation Committee and progress of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill. But it remains to be seen whether the promised broader programme of Lords reform will materialise in this parliament, or how ambitious the Modernisation Committee will be. The Hillsborough Law, and further details on Labour’s plans for election policy, are awaited, with elections policy at least likely to be announced before the summer. Little has so far been done on ministerial standards. 

Progress has been made during the new government’s first year in office. But there remains plenty left to do in the remaining years of this parliament. 

The Constitution Unit’s 2025 conference, on ‘Labour’s Constitutional Agenda in Office’, takes place on 18 & 19 June. Sign up via our website.

About the author

Lisa James is a Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit. She will be chairing the Standards in Public Life panel at our annual conference, at 1pm on 18 June. The panel will include contributions from former Conservative Attorney General Jeremy Wright, Labour MP Phil Brickell, and Professor Gillian Peele, a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.