UK Constitutional Reform: What Has Worked and What Hasn't?

When: Thursday, March 25, 2021 - Friday, March 26, 2021, 1:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Where: Online Conference

Hosted by School of Politics & IR, Queen Mary University of London

Convener: Dr Richard Johnson, Lecturer, School of Politics & IR, QMUL

The past two decades have seen some of the most far-reaching changes to the UK constitution since universal suffrage. Many virtues have been ascribed to these reforms. To the extent that criticism exists, it has often been to argue that further reform is necessary.

This online conference, which is free and open to the public, adopts a different approach. It aims to provide a critical evaluation of recent constitutional reforms.

Bringing together leading constitutional experts and politicians from the United Kingdom and around the world, the conference will examine the following questions:

• Did the reforms deliver what their proponents claimed they would? 
• Have the reforms generally improved governance, or added further complication? 
• Have the reforms helped to unite the kingdom or driven further division? 
• Have reforms enhanced or obscured accountability?

The programme will consist of 8 panels spread over two half days, complemented by a keynote address from a senior figure in the UK government. Audience Q&A will be possible throughout.