Priorities for the new UK Government: Accountability in British Politics

A new government has been in power in Westminster since July. In our Policy & Practice miniseries, Priorities for the new UK Government, we explore key issues on which the Government is—or ought to be—focusing its attention.

Tonight we explore an issue that lies at the heart of the relationship between the government and its citizens: accountability. Trust in politics and politicians is at an all-time low. Scandals and corruption in British politics appear to be rife. Are there sufficient processes and institutions in place to hold politicians and governments to account? Should they be strengthened, and if so, how? In this event, we will hear from three speakers with a wealth of experience across three of the most important pillars of accountability in British politics: Parliamentary select committees; Ombudsmen; and the media.

Sir Rob Behrens was the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman between 2017 and 2024. Prior to this, he held roles including Complaints Commissioner at the Bar Standards Board, Secretary to the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (Office of the Independent Adjudicator) in England and Wales.

Greg Clark is the Executive Chair of Warwick University’s Warwick Innovation District and a former politician. During his time as an MP, he held various ministerial portfolios, most notably having been the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Theresa May’s premiership. After returning to the backbenches, he served as the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee between 2020 and 2024.

Kitty Donaldson is the Chief Political Commentator at the i newspaper. Prior to this, she covered politics and the House of Commons for Bloomberg nearly two decades, first as a Political Correspondent, then as UK Political Editor.

Chair: Prof. Robert Hazell is Professor of Government and the Constitution in the UCL Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy.

This event will be recorded and the video will be uploaded to our YouTube channel.

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The Constitution Unit conducts timely, rigorous, independent research into constitutional change and the reform of political institutions. Our research has significant real-world impact, informing policy-makers engaged in such changes – both in the United Kingdom and around the world.

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