Event

Labour’s constitutional agenda in office: Constitution Unit Conference 2025 (Day 2)

This event hosted by UK think tank the Constitution Unit brings together senior speakers to discuss Labour’s constitutional agenda in office.

This summer will mark a year since Labour’s landslide victory at the 2024 general election. The party’s manifesto contained a number of pledges for reforming the UK’s constitution and political institutions. So how have those pledges fared since Labour took office? Which promises have been delivered? What unexpected changes have been introduced? And what further reforms will – or should – be on the government’s agenda? 

This online conference will take stock of constitutional developments in the last year, and look ahead, with a range of senior speakers including parliamentarians, academics, and commentators. 

11am – 12:15pm: The rule of law 

The Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General have both placed great emphasis on this new government upholding the rule of law. What does this mean in practice? Has the government delivered on this aspiration, and what more is needed to do so? What challenges has it faced? 

Speakers

Andy Slaughter MP – Labour MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, and chair of the House of Commons Justice Committee  

Victoria Prentis KC – former Attorney General and Conservative MP 

Dr Joelle Grogan – legal academic and presenter of The Law Show on BBC Radio 4 

Professor Veronika Fikfak – Professor of Human Rights and International Law, UCL (Chair)

1pm – 2:15pm: Reforming the House of Commons 

The newly established Modernisation Committee has set out broad objectives of reforming standards, working practices, and procedure in the House of Commons. The Commons Procedure Committee has also announced a large number of inquiries. What are the priority areas for Commons reform? What should any reforms aim to achieve, and how can they balance competing priorities, for example of strengthening scrutiny and easing MPs’ working lives? How can reforms successfully attract broad support and allow the Commons to work more effectively? 

Speakers

Cat Smith MP – Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, and chair of the House of Commons Procedure Committee  

Wendy Chamberlain MP – Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, and member of the House of Commons Modernisation Committee 

Dr Hannah White – Director of the Institute for Government 

Dr Tom Fleming – Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics, UCL (Chair)

3pm – 4:15pm: Reflections on Labour’s constitutional agenda 

This closing session will bring together a cross-party senior panel to offer reflections on the Labour government’s constitutional agenda, and possible alternative priorities. 

Speakers

Sarah Olney MP – Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office 

Baroness (Dianne) Hayter of Kentish Town – Labour peer, and former Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords 

Professor Meg Russell FBA – Director of the Constitution Unit (Chair)