Dr David Torrance spoke to us about his major new project for the House of Commons Library: Mapping the UK Constitution.
6:00pm-7:15pm on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, at the Palace of Westminster followed by refreshments at a nearby venue
This is a meeting for Hansard Society members and their friends. Not already a member of the Hansard Society? Join us now!
We are delighted to welcome Dr David Torrance, the constitutional expert, author and researcher for the House of Commons Library. David will talk about his fascinating new project, mapping the UK Constitution.
Our meeting is hosted by the Chair of our Board of Trustees, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, alongside our Director, Dr Ruth Fox.
After the talk and Q&A with David, there will be an opportunity for socialising and refreshments at a nearby accessible bar.
The United Kingdom Constitution – A Mapping Exercise is a uniquely detailed Research Briefing written by David Torrance and published by the House of Commons Library.
First published on 26 November 2024, the work is “intended as a navigational aid to what can often appear an endless and impenetrable mass of constitutional information”. In nearly 300 pages, David captures the great range of formal and informal rules, conventions and procedures that determine how our country is run.
Dr David Torrance has worked for the House of Commons Library since 2018. He brings a wealth of expertise, with two decades of experience as a journalist and broadcaster focusing on Scottish politics. He’s authored several notable works, including biographies of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, as well as his latest book, The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain’s First Labour Government.
In this fourth instalment of our special mini-podcast series, we take you inside the Public Bill Committee as it scrutinises the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - a landmark proposal seeking to legalise assisted dying. The Committee is in full swing, debating amendments, and tensions are running high. We sit down with Sarah Olney MP, a key player in the discussions, to unpack the latest developments.
In this episode we dissect the fallout from Labour’s WhatsApp purge following the Andrew Gwynne affair and what it means for political communication at Westminster. We also explore the latest news from the House of Commons Modernisation Committee, discussing its focus on improving accessibility to Parliament, legislative scrutiny, and the debate over MPs holding second jobs.
The assisted dying bill (Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill) is now at the Committee stage, where a Public Bill Committee reviews the bill clause by clause. This briefing outlines the Committee’s role, how MPs propose changes to the bill and where these are published, how the Chair selects and groups amendments, and how these are debated and voted on.
The assisted dying bill is about to undergo detailed scrutiny by the Public Bill Committee - a group of 23 MPs tasked with reviewing the Bill’s text and proposing amendments to refine and improve it. But what exactly happens during this amendment process? Former House of Commons Clerk, Paul Evans CBE, breaks it down. Plus, we hear from Dr Ben Spencer MP, a former consultant psychiatrist turned parliamentarian, who has proposed dozens of amendments to the Bill.
Stay informed with updates and analysis on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as it moves through Parliament. Learn about the debates, procedures, decisions, and key milestones shaping the assisted dying legislation.
