Skip to main content

13 October 2022

Report highlights 'profound concern' at damage done to UK constitution

The strength of democracy in the UK is under serious threat unless urgent action is taken to repair damage done to the constitution, according to a King’s academic.

parliament at night
The Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Professor Andrew Blick said a seventh-month period from the start of this year was marked by the worsening of existing frailties in the constitution which, if left unchecked, could threaten the strength and quality of democracy in the UK.

A new report, edited by Professor Blick for the United Kingdom Constitution Monitoring Group (UKCMG), has called on the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, to take urgent action to repair the damage done.

Instances of damage done to the constitution highlighted in the report include:

  • Dissemination of misleading information by the UK government to parliament and the public
  • The undermining of human rights and the rule of law
  • Evidence of irregularities related to the disbursal of public money
  • Failure to adhere to the law and standards of conduct by ministers and officials

The seven months from January to the end of July of this year saw the exposure and worsening of existing frailties in our constitution. These frailties now offer a serious threat to the strength and shape of UK democracy unless urgent action is taken

Professor Andrew Blick

Professor Blick, head of the Department of Political Economy at King’s, said: “The latest report of the UKCMG has identified several areas of profound concern which have jeopardised the constitutional stability of the United Kingdom. The seven months from January to the end of July of this year saw the exposure and worsening of existing frailties in our constitution. These frailties now offer a serious threat to the strength and shape of UK democracy unless urgent action is taken.”

The UKCMG is composed of leading constitutional experts including former permanent secretaries of the civil service, professors of public law and a former lord chief justice of England and Wales.

In a report covering the first seven months of 2022, the UKCMG highlighted almost 90 instances where constitutional norms had been degraded or eroded. While some of the issues identified pre-dated the administration of Boris Johnson, the report found that Mr Johnson’s government had frequently exploited and worsened them.

You can read more about the report here.

In this story

Professor Andrew Blick

Head of the Department of Political Economy and Professor of Politics and Contemporary History