Monitor 92, published today, provides an analysis of constitutional events over the last four months. In this post, which replicates the issue’s lead article, Alan Renwick and Meg Russell argue that the government continues to make small strides in areas such as constitutional standards and electoral reform, where instead bold action to renew the health of democracy is badly needed.
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Following the Unit’s January seminar, Can the House of Commons handle multi-party politics?, panellist Louise Thompson explains the procedural and logistical obstacles facing small parties in the House of Commons. She calls for parliamentary institutions to adapt their processes, and concludes that formalising some current informal arrangements and looking at ways to increase equalities of opportunity across all opposition parties would be sensible next steps.
Continue readingDemocratic backsliding remains a threat to democracy across the globe, with elected political leaders in many countries using their political mandate to dilute constitutional protections and weaken democratic institutions. Joep van Lit and Carolien van Ham explain the seven key modes of ‘autocratisation’ and their creation of a ‘shopping list’ of autocratic behaviours that offers a practical resource to recognise early warning signs of democratic recession.
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Monitor 91, published today, provides an analysis of constitutional events over the last four months, a period in which the government has announced numerous electoral reforms, created a new standards body, introduced a bill to increase public accountability, and continued progress on legislation to enhance devolution in England. However, in this post, which replicates the lead article from today’s new issue of Monitor, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick argue that many of the reforms fail to go far enough. They say that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant in the face of serious threats.
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Over a year after taking office, Keir Starmer’s government has announced its long-awaited Ethics and Integrity Commission, as well as other changes to how civil servants and ministers are regulated. Peter Riddell believes that the package of reforms is a positive one, but that the lack of a statutory footing inhibits enforcement. He also argues that these changes should represent a milestone, not a finish line, and that further action should be taken before the end of the current parliament.
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