The Agenda and Timetable for a UK
Constitutional Convention
Professor Robert Hazell
Constitution Unit
School of Public Policy
University College London
Royal Irish Academy
27 March 2015
Possible Topics for the Agenda 1
English Question
• Devolution within England, city regions etc.
• Strengthening local government.
• Elected Mayors.
• English votes on English laws.
• An English Parliament
Possible Topics for the Agenda 2
Statement of UK values
• What binds the Union together?
• Supported by Nick Clegg, Carwyn Jones
• Also a project of Gordon Brown
• Previous attempts resulted in bland, universal
statements of democratic values
Possible Topics for the Agenda 3
The Franchise
• Votes at 16
• Expatriate voters
• Commonwealth citizens and EU citizens and Irish
citizens
• Voter registration
Possible Topics for the Agenda 4
Further devolution
• In Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland.
• Devo more, or devo max?
• Financing devolution, future of the Barnett
formula.
• Implications for Westminster and Whitehall: eg
reducing number of Scottish MPs?
Possible topics for the Agenda 5
Lords reform
• Appointed, indirectly or directly elected.
• Chamber of the nations and regions?
Electoral reform
• PR for local government.
• Choosing a new voting system for Westminster
Possible topics for the Agenda 6
British Bill of Rights
• Previously the policy of all three main parties.
• ECHR plus or minus? Plus or minus what?
• Should it include a statement of responsibilities as
well as rights?
Possible terms of Reference
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Devolution within England
English votes for English laws
A federal second chamber
Defining the key purposes of the Union
Who sets the terms of reference, govt or Parlt?
Can the convention alter its terms of reference?
Timetable for establishing the Convention 1
• New government is formed mid to late May
• Decisions made on lead Minister, and lead
department: Cabinet Office, or Min of Justice?
• June
Paper to Home Affairs Committee on
agenda, timetable, leadership, composition of
Convention, working methods, budget
• June
Project team established in CO or MoJ
Timetable for establishing Convention 2
• May
Negotiations with other political parties
about agenda and timetable.
• June
Negotiations with the devolved
governments. And English local government?
• June
Chairman appointed, and director of the
Constitutional Convention, and academic director.
Timetable for establishing Convention 3
• July
Parliamentary statement about the
Convention: its size, composition, scope, initial
tasks, timetable, location, methods of working,
public engagement, links to Parliament
• Mention those items which will not be referred:
Scotland and Wales? But should the convention
still include members from Scotland, Wales, NI?
Timetable for establishing Convention 4
• July
Survey company appointed to start
random selection of members of the public
• July
Selection of politicians to serve: from
how many parties? In what proportion? Will
parties select their own? Will it include politicians
from devolved governments and local govt?
• Aug-Sept Recruitment of members of public
Timetable for establishing Convention 5
• Oct
First meeting of the Convention.
• Agreement of work programme and timetable.
• High profile launch, with addresses from PM and
other party leaders
• Summer 2016
Convention’s first report?
• Summer 2017
Convention’s final report?
Questions for Discussion 1
• What should be the terms of reference?
• What subjects cannot be referred to the
Convention, because moving on a faster track?
• Should some issues be referred instead to an
expert commission (eg devolution finance)?
• What should be the Convention’s first task?
Questions for Discussion 2
• How long will it take to establish the Convention?
• How will the timetable sit alongside further
devolution, and the rest of the political calendar?
• Should the convention meet in regional groups,
including in Scotland, Wales, N Ireland?
• If so, who chairs these groups: should there be a
Chairman’s panel?