Labour's Constitutional Reform Plans 2024

Since coming to power in 2024, the Labour Party has pledged what it calls a renewal of the British constitution, with reforms aimed at modernising parliament, strengthening democracy, and decentralising power. This marks the most ambitious constitutional programme since the late 1990s, when Labour introduced devolution, the Human Rights Act, and the Freedom of Information Act. Their proposals include the House of Lords Hereditary Peers Bill, the creation of a Modernisation Committee in Parliament, the Elections and Democracy Bill, and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. These changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary, building on earlier reforms from the 1997 Labour government, and are relatively modest compared to those, as Labour’s main focus this term is on growing the economy.

The House of Lords Hereditary Peers Bill seeks to remove the remaining 92 hereditary peers fulfilling a manifesto pledge of 2024 however, this is still seen as an intermediate step towards further Lords' reform at some point in the future. Future proposed changes including a mandatory retirement age of 80 setting a minimum participation requirement tightening rules for removing members over misconduct and eventually replacing the Lords with a more regionally representative second chamber

As of 2025 reform of the House of Lords has been handed to a cross party lord's committee leading to suggestions that House of Lords reform is being 'kicked into the long grass' So progress towards Lord's reform has so far been slow.

In 2024, the new Labour government established the House of Commons modernisation committee, which had existed under the previous Labour governments. It has 14 members in his chaired by the leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell and now by Sir Alan Campbell. Members are appointed by party whips and include both government and opposition front benches, reflecting the committee's close links to the executive. The dominance of front bench MPs has led to suggestions that their conclusions will lack credibility. Physical Improvements: Recent rapid improvements include creating accessible toilets near the Chamber, installing large-font signage for the visually impaired, and adding safety markings to escalators.

• Procedural Adjustments: The committee has recommended establishing an External Accessibility Advisory Group to provide ongoing feedback from disability organizations.

• Flexible Working: It is exploring ways to allow disabled MPs to participate more fully, such as providing space near the Chamber for those who find voting in person challenging. 

Improving Parliamentary Effectiveness 

The committee is examining how to better utilize parliamentary time to enhance scrutiny and representation. 

• Time Management: It is considering reforms to Private Members' Bills (PMBs) to make the process more transparent and ensuring backbenchers and smaller parties have fair opportunities to raise issues.

• Business Certainty: Proposals include finding practical ways to give MPs more certainty about the timing of parliamentary business. 

Standards and Culture

• MPs' Second Jobs: The committee is reviewing restrictions on outside engagements, such as paid media appearances and consultancy roles, to prevent conflicts of interest.

• ICGS Implementation: It is supporting the implementation of recommendations from the independent review of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) to improve workplace culture. 

• As of early 2026, the committee continues to act as a "clearing house" for reforms. It is currently working alongside the Committee on Standards to examine MPs' outside interests and the Procedure Committee regarding proxy voting.

The Elections and Democracy Bill

In 2025, the UK government announced the Elections and Democracy Bill, outlined in a policy paper published in July. If passed, it could bring several major reforms. First, it aims to lower the voting age, giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections, aligning Westminster with devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.

 It also proposes an automated voter registration system, ensuring eligible citizens are automatically added to the register, addressing the issue of an estimated 8 million missing from the electoral roll. The bill would expand acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards showing the elector’s name and digital ID via the gov.uk wallet, aiming to maintain security while encouraging participation. It plans to raise the Electoral Commission’s maximum fine from £20,000 to £500,000, tighten donation rules with checks on large donors and foreign funding, and improve transparency in political finance. 

Another provision would extend disqualification orders to anyone intimidating electoral workers, not just candidates or officials, following increased reports of abuse. 

Dual registration would also be allowed, letting parties in informal agreements register in more than one place, which is currently not possible. As of October 2025, the bill remains at the pre-introduction stage, with a draft expected later in the parliamentary session.

• Introduction: The government published its comprehensive strategy for the bill on July 17, 2025.

• Second Reading: The bill passed its Second Reading in late 2025.

• Committee Stage (Current Status Jan 2026): The bill is currently being scrutinized by a Public Bill Committee. According to current parliamentary programming, these proceedings are scheduled to conclude by March 5, 2026.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2025 is a landmark piece of legislation currently progressing through Parliament, with Royal Assent expected in Spring 2026. It aims to fundamentally shift power from central government to local regions through a standardized devolution model. 

As of January 2026, the bill has passed the House of Commons and is currently at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. 

1. Strategic Authorities and Devolution Framework

The bill establishes a new legal category called Strategic Authorities (SAs) to replace or incorporate existing combined authorities. It introduces a standardised "Devolution Framework" with three levels of power: It aims to create a standardised framework for devolution across England. Right now, different areas have varying powers based on the individual deals they’ve struck with the government, leading to an unequal system where regions like Greater Manchester or the West Midlands have far more control than others. The legislation would scrap this deal-by-deal approach, ensuring all areas have access to a similar set of devolved powers.

• Foundation: For areas without an elected mayor; includes basic devolved functions.

• Mayoral: For areas with directly elected mayors; includes expanded powers over transport and planning.

• Established Mayoral: For mature mayoral authorities that meet strict governance criteria; these have the broadest powers and a legal "right to request" further powers from central government. 

2. Expanded Mayoral Powers

Mayors of Strategic Authorities will receive significant new "areas of competence": 

• Transport: The ability to introduce bus franchising, manage local transport networks, and set traffic reduction targets.

• Planning & Housing: Powers similar to the Mayor of London, including the ability to designate Mayoral Development Areas and establish development corporations without secondary legislation.

• Adult Skills: Devolution of the Adult Skills Fund to align local education and training with regional economic needs.

• Public Safety: By default, mayors will assume the roles of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and Fire and Rescue Authorities where boundaries align. 

3. Community Empowerment and Local Reform

The "Community Empowerment" aspect of the bill provides new tools for local residents and businesses: 

• Community Right to Buy: A new right of first refusal for community groups to purchase assets of community value (e.g., pubs, libraries), with a 12-month moratorium on sales to allow for fundraising.

• Sporting Assets: Automatic designation and special protection for local sports grounds.

• Neighbourhood Governance: A new duty for local authorities to establish effective governance structures at the neighborhood level to amplify local voices.

• Commercial Lease Reform: A ban on upwards-only rent reviews in new and renewal commercial leases to protect high street businesses. 

4. Governance and Accountability

• Supplementary Vote System: Reverts the voting system for mayors and PCCs from "First Past the Post" back to the Supplementary Vote system.

• Local Audit Office (LAO): Establishes a new body to coordinate and oversee the local audit system to address backlogs and standardize financial reporting.

• Standardized Voting: Most strategic authority decisions will now be made by a simple majority vote.

• Council Reform: Requires councils currently using a committee system to transition to a Leader and Cabinet model and prevents the creation of any new council-based mayoralties. 

Criticism:

• Opposition members have characterised the bill as a "Whitehall dictate" rather than consensual devolution. They argue it gives the Secretary of State powers to mandate local government reorganisation and expand Strategic Authorities without local consent. Concerns have been raised regarding the "sweeping powers" given to mayors without meaningful scrutiny provisions or mandatory council representation in decision-making. The government’s decision to delay local elections in areas pursuing reorganisation from 2025 to 2026 has been criticised for extending terms beyond their democratic mandate.