Huw Davies: As ‘One Nation’ Conservatives, we must resist the folly of federalism
17
Feb
Its proponents are making the same arguments as the advocates of devolution in the 1990s. And we know what happened there.
Category Archives: Constitution and democracy
Edward Faulks: The Supreme Court’s prorogation judgement unbalanced our constitution. MPs should make a correction.
7
Feb
For many lawyers and commentators, its ruling was an assertion of judicial power that cannot be justified by constitutional law or principle.
Edward Faulks: The Supreme Court’s prorogation judgement unbalanced our constitution. MPs should make a correction.
7
Feb
For many lawyers and commentators, its ruling was an assertion of judicial power that cannot be justified by constitutional law or principle.
Suella Braverman: People we elect must take back control from people we don’t. Who include the judges.
27
Jan
The political has been captured by the legal. Decisions of an executive, legislative and democratic nature have been assumed by our courts.
Henry Hill: Johnson to spearhead pro-Union strategy with more visits to Scotland
23
Jan
Also: Spotlight on the literal handful of MPs providing Stormont’s entire opposition; and Scottish Tories offer a budget deal to the SNP.
Roger Scruton: The ten principles that should form the foundation of a modern Conservative policy.
14
Jan
We republish a personal Tory manifesto first published by this site almost exactly five years ago.
Henry Hill: Carlaw sets out his stall as the Scottish Tory leadership contest begins
9
Jan
Also: Struggle to succeed Corbyn puts spotlight on Labour divisions over Scotland; and Jack has even more reasons than he gives to refuse Sturgeon’s referendum demands.
Reform of the Supreme Court will fail without reform in Parliament
4
Jan
New Labour’s project of divesting power from the Commons cannot be reversed unless MPs are prepared to take up those responsibilities again.
David Shiels: A bad election for Ulster unionism, but not an auger of a border poll
16
Dec
The DUP and UUP are struggling adapt to the Province’s changing political circumstances, and the Alliance are the main beneficiaries.
Dean Godson: What Johnson should do now in this Government’s first hundred days
16
Dec
In his foreword to our new Policy Exchange paper, John Howard urges the Prime Minister to “seize the moment”.
Rachel Wolf: I co-wrote this Conservative manifesto. And so can say that its focus was on neither the rich nor the poor.
16
Dec
To view Britain in such a way is to see a useless picture of the nation. Most people are Just About Managing. And they are our new voters.
Who is going to be the next Welsh Secretary?
9
Dec
The two most likely candidates are both Welsh-speaking Brexiteers – but hail from different parts of the principality and differ on devolution.
What you may have missed about the Conservative Manifesto 5) Johnson has neither forgiven nor forgotten the Supreme Court
6
Dec
He will remember Lady Hale and her swipe at him over “girly swots”. More pertinently, he will have in mind the court’s constitutionally illterate decision over prorogation.
Howard Flight: Seldom have the stakes been higher than in this historic election
2
Dec
On the outcome hangs the preservation of the nation state and the genuinely democratic government.
Could Farage’s ‘Reform Party’ carve him a new role in post-Brexit British politics?
25
Nov
His ‘Contract with the People’ makes an effort to stake out some new territory for the People’s Army, but he faces an uphill climb.
Nat Wei: The key to seeing off Corbynism is the mass ownership of assets
11
Nov
Our survival as a party and arguably that of our nation itself, depends on people having a stake in this country.
Richard Ekins: Judicial power and the election. Can the next Parliament reverse the rise of political litigation?
5
Nov
Ths is the first of a three-part mini-series on the judges, public policy and the election.
WATCH: Her Majesty announces Johnson’s programme – immigration, crime, and more
14
Oct
“My Government’s priority has always been to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on the 31st of October.”
Julian Brazier: Let’s resist a written constitution – and restore the Law Lords
11
Oct
Our arrangements have served us well for centuries. But the current situation reveals that it is in need of a tidy-up to restore its effectiveness and standing.
Howard Flight: The damage that EU membership has done to our constitution is clear to see
7
Oct
Leaving is just the start: the next government will need to embark on a serious programme of reform.
Neil O’Brien: Fifty shades of conservatism
7
Oct
It’s a bit like the roof of Parliament’s Westminster Hall: which is held up by a lot of huge, ancient beams all resting on each other.
Henry Hill: Johnson’s compromise risks laying another time-bomb under the Union
3
Oct
Like May before him, the Prime Minister risks inflicting deep structural damaged on the United Kingdom in order to escape tactical difficulties.
Andrew Gimson’s Conference sketch: No riot in Manchester, Rees-Mogg and Gauke applauded
1
Oct
The eerie atmosphere at this conference is the calm in a party which wants to come back together.
The myth of judicial infallibility looks increasingly both absurd and dangerous
25
Sep
Common law demands we pretend even the most surprising decision has always been the case – but this is fuelling demands for retroactive justice.
Stephen Laws: Why the Supreme Court ruling is a recipe for constitutional conflict
24
Sep
The Speaker has manipulated of the rules for a political objective, but the Government has been denied the opportunity to respond proportionately in kind.
WATCH: Would you prorogue again? “Let’s wait and see…the lie of the land”, Raab tells Marr
22
Sep
“Of course we’ll respect whatever the legal ruling from the Supreme Court is…there are different permutations to what the court may or may not decide.”
Henry Hill: Belief that DUP are softening their position raise hopes of Brexit deal
19
Sep
Also: Poll suggests SNP have a mountain to climb on independence; Cameron admits he asked Queen to intervene in 2014; and more.
Interview with Laing, candidate for Speaker: It’s “extraordinary” that whoever holds the office “is totally unaccountable”.
19
Sep
“Dignity, kindness, authority rather than bossiness, and I do believe that those things could be brought to the Chair by a woman.”
Richard Ritchie: It is futile to ask where political giants of old would have stood in today’s chaos
18
Sep
From the Treaty of Rome to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, our constitution has been so eroded that the likes of Powell, Benn, Crossman, and Foot would struggle to recognise it.
Brexit once again puts a spotlight on the role of the courts in our politics
13
Sep
Remainer lawfare and Brexiteer backlash are exposing the judiciary to public and press scrutiny in unprecedented and possibly dangerous ways.