The Agenda and Timetable for a UK Constitutional Convention

Professor Robert Hazell Constitution Unit

School of Public PolicyUniversity 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

• 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?