In Focus
In 2020, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the House of Lords made several changes to the way it conducted its business. This included the use of virtual proceedings and sittings which featured both physical and remote participation. This briefing looks at the impact of those changes on member participation over the course of 2020.
In Focus
It has been over 60 years since women gained the right to join the House of Lords. Today, just under a third of members are women. Why is the number of women not equal to that of men?
In Focus
Following the election in 2019, the highest number of female MPs were elected to Parliament. This In Focus looks at the current levels of women in politics in the UK, including in the devolved administrations and local government. It then outlines some potential barriers to increased female participation and details some developments that have been made in this area in the last couple of years.
Research Briefing
The bill would create a discretionary power to enable ministers and certain Opposition office holders to take six months paid maternity leave subject to certain conditions. This briefing considers: the background to the bill; what it would do; what happened during its passage through the House of Commons; and the wider reaction to the bill.
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on the latest research on British political and constitutional issues with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month take a look at the EU's role in shaping devolution in the UK, and proposals for reform of the Supreme Court.
In Focus
February is Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and other sexual and gender identities (LGBT+) History Month. This article provides a timeline of legislation passed in Westminster over the last two decades affecting the rights of LGBT+ people.
In Focus
Judicial review involves a judge reviewing the lawfulness of a decision that has been made by a public body. Following the Government's announcement of an independent review that will consider if judicial review reform is needed, this article looks at what judicial review is, and recent debates about whether the process is working.
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on articles about British politics and the constitution you may have missed from October and November 2020. This month we take a look at civil service relocation, and the importance of parliamentary research services.
In Focus
Members of the House of Commons may now vote by proxy in certain circumstances. In contrast, the practice has been prohibited in the House of Lords for over 150 years. What is the background to the rule against proxy voting in the second chamber?
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on articles about British politics and the constitution you may have missed from September and October 2020. This month we take a look at the role of modern monarchies, and how UK political parties operate abroad.
In Focus
The draft Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 would make changes to regulations governing the flying of flags on government buildings in Northern Ireland. They would remove one building from the list of sites where the Union flag must be flown and add two others. They would also add the birthdays of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and of the Duchess of Cornwall, to the dates on which the Union flag must be flown.
In Focus
On 2 March 2020, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Gove, confirmed that his department would investigate alleged breaches of the ministerial code by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel. As at 29 October 2020, the results of that investigation are unclear. The issue of when a report may be published will be the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 2 November 2020.
In Focus
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has introduced requirements to wear face coverings in specified locations. These have been updated several times, to broaden the scope of the rules and to increase the financial penalties for non-compliance. This article looks at the requirements imposed by three instruments that came into force on 23 and 24 September 2020 and are being debated in the House of Lords on 12 October 2020.
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on articles about British politics and the constitution you may have missed. This month we take a look at Welsh independence, and whether the British state is more centralised than ever before.
In Focus
The Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed on 25 March 2020 and gave the Government various new powers to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. The act stipulates that the House of Commons must have the opportunity to decline to renew certain of these powers every six months. A parallel debate on the temporary provisions in the act is to take place in the House of Lords on 28 September 2020.
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