Constitutional Reform Over Time

Question 1

Which Reforms were enacted under New Labour (1997-2010)?

Answer 1

Constitutional Reform Act 2005 - Separating Government from Courts (leading to creation of Supreme Court in 2009).

Human Rights Act 1998 - Made UK courts subject to ECHR

Freedom Of Information Act 2000 - Allowed for request of information kept secret by government.

House Of Lords Act 1999 - Reducing number of members of HOL by half.

Wright Reforms 2009 - Gave power to backbenchers through committees.

Question 2

Which Reforms were enacted under the Tory-Lib Dem coalition (2010-15)?

Answer 2

Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011 - Set out 5 year election rule with power to call election not with executive or sovereign.

House of Lords Reform Acts 2014 and 2015 - Allows members to resign/retire and could remove members violating code of conduct.

Recall of MPs Act 2015 - Allowed for petitions to hold by-elections for constituencies to change MPs, requiring 10% of constituents.

Question 3

Which reforms were enacted under the Conservative Government (2015-24)?

Answer 3

2022 Elections Act - Removal of supplementary vote for elected mayors and police commissioners and enforcing compulsory photo ID for voting.

Leaving EU (Jan 2020) - UK no longer member of the EU.

Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 - Gave power to call elections back to PM, anulling the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011.