ConstitutionUK

Speaker(s): David Blunkett MP, Richard Gordon QC, Carol Harlow, Dr Lea Ypi Chair: Professor Conor Gearty Recorded on 8 October 2013 in Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building. The UK has no constitution written down in one document. Instead it has laws, conventions, practices, activities scattered all over the place that constitutional lawyers gather together and describe as the UK constitution. In a unique project, LSE's Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and Department of Law are coming together with the LSE Public Policy Group and LSE Democratic Audit to pioneer the crowdsourcing of a new UK constitution to ask members of the public to participate in, advise on and eventually to draft a new UK constitution. Join an expert panel to have your say on what should be included and to create this important new document. David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, having represented Sheffield Brightside from

In the first of a weekly series, Professor Conor Gearty talks to Tony Travers - Advisor to the House of Commons, Communities and Local Government Select Committee and Board Member of the Local Government Network – about the issues surrounding local government. What it should be empowered to control? Where are the pitfalls? How prone are local officials to corruption? All these issues form part of the Constitution UK project – an open internet forum to share ideas, debate topics and help shape new ways of thinking. Join the debate by visiting and sharing your ideas. Don’t forget to follow the conversation online too by following @ConstitutionUK using #constitutionUK or liking Constitution UK on Facebook.

Professor Conor Gearty, of the London School of Economics and Political Science, explains how Constitution UK is helping to shape the UK’s first written constitution. With English regions feeling neglected, the Scottish Independence saga, unrest over the disproportionate power of London and the confusion surrounding Europe, it’s clear that there is something seriously wrong with the current political situation.

Professor Conor Gearty, of the London School of Economics and Political Science talks to Dr Andrew Blick, Lecturer in Politics at King’s College London to find out what exactly is a constitution. What is the difference between a written constitution and an unwritten one? Professor Gearty and Dr Blick also discuss the history of the Magna Carta and it’s significance. Where do you fit in? Join the debate by visiting and share your ideas as we crowdsource a written UK constitution.

Speakers: Professor Conor Gearty, Director, Institute of Public Affairs Sara Hagemann, Assistant Professor, LSE European Institute What are the differences between the European Commission and the European Parliament? What goes on in these closed door meetings at Europe? How does Brussels affect your life? How easy is it to get UK sovereignty back? What exactly do we mean by ‘sovereignty’? All these issues form part of the Constitution UK project – an open internet forum to share ideas, debate topics and help shape new ways of thinking. Join the debate by visiting and sharing your ideas. Don’t forget to follow the conversation online too by following @ConstitutionUK using #constitutionUK or liking Constitution UK on Facebook.

Professor Conor Gearty hosts Constitution UK's event in Nottingham where we asked Nottingham residents should Europe be at the heart of our UK constitution? Listen to the public discussion on the European Union and the European Convention of Human Rights. Do you agree with some of the comments made? Perhaps you have better ideas. Either way please have your say and visit Part 2 is now available: •Europe:inorout?TheDebate(Part2)

Professor Conor Gearty hosts Constitution UK's event in Nottingham where we asked Nottingham residents should Europe be at the heart of our UK constitution? Listen to pt 2 of the public discussion on the European Convention of Human Rights. Do you agree with some of the comments made? Perhaps you have better ideas. Either way please have your say and visit Speakers: Professor Conor Gearty, Director, Institute of Public Affairs Antonia Zenkevitch, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Nottingham East Katharina Boettge, Green Party PPC Nottingham North David Hollas, UKIP PPC Nottingham South Mike Abiodun Olatokun, Community Officer, Nottingham University For part 1 please visit: •Europe:inorout?TheDebate(Part1)

Professor Conor Gearty, Director, Institute of Public Affairs and Dr Shakuntala Banaji, Lecturer, Department of Media and Communications discuss different types of citizenship, what it means to be a citizen?, why are young people so disengaged and how can we entice them to become active citizens? Who defines what it means to be a good citizen?

On Wednesday 22nd April Constitution UK held its constitutional convention where Community champions, other members of the online community and facilitators joined together to distil the ideas on the Constitution UK website and turn them into clauses. After hours of debate they were joined by experts Sophia Cannon, Barrister; Paul Evans, Clerk of the journals, Parliament; Professor Tony Travers, Director of LSE London; Professor Emeritus Carol Harlow, Professor of Law; Dr Andrew Blick, Lecturer in Politics and Contemporary History and Robert Craig, LSE Law department. At the end of the discussion the groups reported back to each other the clauses they had agreed upon. These decisions were brought together and formed the people’s constitution.