Reform UK MP Danny Kruger and overseas academics to give evidence on UK’s constitutional safeguards

Tomorrow, the House of Lords Constitution Committee will be speaking with two panels of witnesses as part of its inquiry into the UK's constitutional safeguards. 

The first session will be with constitutional experts from Australia and Canada who will provide a comparative analysis of constitutional safeguards in their respective countries. The second session will be with Danny Kruger MP, who serves as head of Reform UK's preparations for government. 

Giving evidence at 10:10am will be:

• Professor Anne Twomey, Professor Emerita at University of Sydney (appearing remotely) 

• Professor Vanessa MacDonnell, University Research Chair in Democratic Constitutionalism at University of Ottawa (appearing remotely) 

Themes the session will cover include: 

• Similarities and differences between the constitutions of the UK, Canada and Australia; 

• Examples of constitutional crises or controversies in Canada or Australia that have revealed vulnerabilities in their respective constitutions;  

• Whether there are any common vulnerabilities in the constitutions of Westminster-style democracies; 

• Advantages and disadvantages of codified constitutions, and the extent to which they nevertheless rely on unwritten norms and conventions; 

• The biggest threats to constitutional democracy in Canada and Australia; 

• Changes that can be made to the UK's constitutional arrangements. 

Giving evidence at 11:05am will be: 

• Danny Kruger MP 

Themes the session will cover include: 

• Constitutional safeguards and UK governance; 

• Reform UK's proposals to abolish the Cabinet Office and role of Cabinet Secretary, and reform the centre of government; 

• The role of the Government, the civil service, the courts and Parliament within the UK's constitutional system; 

• Reflections on the UK constitution, including arguments that the effective operation of the constitution depends on people in positions of power exercising self-restraint and choosing to abide by established conventions. 

The sessions will take place on Wednesday 28 October and can be followed live on Parliament TV.