UK’s constitutional safeguards – new inquiry launched

The House of Lords Constitution Committee has today launched an inquiry into the UK's constitutional safeguards.  

The inquiry will seek to understand the extent to which the UK's constitutional democracy is under threat. Within this context, it will seek to identify the constitutional safeguards that exist within the UK system, and understand the most significant strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities in how they operate. It will also seek to identify ways in which the UK's network of safeguards can be made more effective.  

Questions the committee is seeking evidence on include:    

• Is the UK's constitutional democracy under threat? If so, why? 

• How could potential threats to the constitution be mitigated? 

• What safeguards exist to protect the UK constitution? 

• How effective are the UK's constitutional safeguards? Where do the vulnerabilities lie? 

• Who are the key guardians of the integrity of the UK's constitution? What formal or informal powers do they have? Who guards the guardians? 

• How do the UK's constitutional safeguards compare to those in other jurisdictions? What are the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the UK's system? 

• How has the landscape of constitutional safeguards changed over time? Which safeguards have become both more or less significant, and why? 

The Committee invites interested organisations and individuals to submit written evidence to the inquiry by 9am on Monday 28 September 2026.  

The full call for evidence is available on the committee's website.  

Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the Constitution Committee said:    

"Our constitutional democracy is something of which we are rightly proud in this country. Whilst it has been tested at various points throughout its history, and it continues to evolve, it has survived and continues to form the basis of our political life. At this present moment, however, there is a sense from many across the political spectrum that our constitutional democracy is facing a particularly acute threat, in which the safeguards that have served us so well in the past may no longer continue to do so. 

"In light of these concerns, the Constitution Committee is launching an inquiry to examine the threats to, and vulnerabilities of, our constitution. We will begin by scrutinising the effectiveness of the UK's constitutional safeguards.  

We want to understand what the network of constitutional safeguards looks like, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. In so doing, we will identify where the UK's constitutional arrangements are at their most vulnerable, and where action may need to be taken to shore up our constitutional democracy for the future.   

We encourage anyone with knowledge or expertise in this area to come forward and share their views, knowing that they are a valuable contribution to this inquiry.