The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – commonly known as the assisted dying bill – is now very unlikely to pass in this session. Its supporters have accused opponents of filibustering – a charge which they strongly deny. Lisa James looks at how delay tactics work in the House of Lords, where they have been used in the past, and what peers could do to stop individuals using procedure to block bills rather than allowing them to stand or fall on their merits.
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Politics in Northern Ireland has long been dominated by two alternative constitutional visions: remaining part of the United Kingdom, or unifying with Ireland. In this post – part of the Unit’s new and updated briefing series on key constitutional topics – Lisa James, Conor J. Kelly and Alan Renwick discuss Northern Ireland’s distinctive politics and political structures, and explain the UK government’s role in supporting long-term stability.
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The UK’s territorial constitution seeks to accommodate various nations, regions and identities in a single state, and to devolve power closer to those being governed. But it also operates within the country’s system of parliamentary sovereignty, which can lead to practical tensions. Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick explain the Union’s underpinning principles, and the key debates about its workings and future. This post is part of our series of new and updated briefings on key constitutional topics.
Continue readingThis week, the Constitution Unit publishes a series of new and updated briefings on key constitutional topics. In this post – covering one of the series’ new topics – Alan Renwick and Lisa James describe the principles and mechanisms that underpin free and fair elections, and discuss the opportunities for strengthening these in the UK.
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House of Commons procedure combines formal rules with conventions and precedents, providing the framework for conducting business and making decisions. Hannah Kelly, Lisa James and Meg Russell explain why it matters, how it evolves, and what future changes have been proposed.
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