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Lords Constitution Committee launches inquiry into the UK’s constitutional safeguards
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has launched a new inquiry into the UK’s constitutional safeguards, inviting individuals and organisations to submit evidence on the resilience of the country’s constitutional framework.
The Committee published its call for evidence on 22 July 2026, marking the formal start of an inquiry that will examine how effectively the UK’s constitutional safeguards operate and whether they remain fit for purpose. The inquiry will explore the extent to which the UK’s constitutional democracy may face threats, while identifying the strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities within the existing system.
As part of the inquiry, the Committee intends to assess the safeguards that protect the UK’s constitutional arrangements and examine whether they continue to provide effective checks within the constitutional system. It will also consider how those safeguards could be strengthened to improve their effectiveness.
The Committee said the inquiry is expected to identify areas requiring further examination, with its findings helping to shape future work by the Constitution Committee.
Interested organisations and members of the public have been invited to provide written evidence. The deadline for submissions is 9am on Monday 28 September 2026.
The Committee has asked respondents to address a range of constitutional questions. Among them is whether the UK’s constitutional democracy is under threat and, if so, why. It is also seeking views on how any potential threats could be mitigated.
Other questions focus on the safeguards currently in place to protect the constitution, how effective those safeguards are in practice, and where any vulnerabilities may exist. The inquiry will also examine who acts as the principal guardians of the UK’s constitutional integrity, the formal and informal powers they possess, and what mechanisms exist to oversee those guardians.
The Committee is further inviting evidence comparing the UK’s constitutional safeguards with those operating in other jurisdictions. It wants to understand the comparative strengths and weaknesses of different constitutional systems and how the UK’s arrangements measure against international examples.
Another area of interest is how the UK’s constitutional safeguards have evolved over time. The inquiry will explore which safeguards have become more significant, which have become less important, and the reasons behind those changes.
The Constitution Committee has made clear that contributors do not need to answer every question contained within the call for evidence. Instead, it welcomes submissions covering any aspect of the inquiry’s scope that respondents consider relevant.
The inquiry forms part of the Committee’s ongoing scrutiny of constitutional issues affecting the United Kingdom. Evidence gathered during the consultation will inform the Committee’s assessment of the effectiveness of existing constitutional protections and may identify areas for future parliamentary scrutiny.
The House of Lords Constitution Committee is encouraging academics, legal professionals, public bodies, civil society organisations and other interested individuals to contribute their views before the September deadline. The evidence received will support the Committee’s examination of the UK’s constitutional safeguards and help inform its future work on constitutional governance.