The Constitution Unit

Constitution Unit Conference 2026: How can public confidence in UK democracy be restored?

Episode Summary

What can be done to restore public confidence in the health of British democracy? To what extent does it depend on politicians delivering tangible improvements in citizens’ everyday lives? And to what extent does it require wider institutional and cultural changes in our political institutions? With respect to the latter, how could such changes be delivered?

Episode Notes

The British public’s faith in the political system is in serious need of repair. This is particularly urgent given international fears about a wider turn away from democracy in many countries including the United States. Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised to ‘deepen’, ‘strengthen’ and ‘protect’ democracy in the UK. But what can be done to restore public confidence in the health of British democracy? To what extent does it depend on politicians delivering tangible improvements in citizens’ everyday lives? And to what extent does it require wider institutional and cultural changes in our political institutions? With respect to the latter, how could such changes be delivered? 

Speakers:

• Polly Curtis – Chief Executive of Demos
• Anneliese Dodds MP – Labour MP for Oxford East and former Minister for Women and Equalities and for International Development
• Professor Marc Stears – Director of the UCL Policy Lab
• Sue Tibballs – Chief Executive of Involve

Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Director of the Constitution Unit