The Constitution of the United Kingdom: A Contextual Analysis

The political drama that ultimately led Andy Burnham to Downing Street demonstrates how well the constitution works. Politicians may come and go, but the Crown – the figurehead of authority – never ends. The monarch chooses the prime minister, who then selects ministers. Very few people actually vote for the country’s leader, hence the Makerfield by-election drama. The constitution is not broken though, as democratic institutions are in place.

This book – one in a series of works on different political systems – covers constitutional law very well. Any such study includes the position and independence of the civil service and judiciary. 

The book examines the challenges brought by Brexit and Covid, the role of media and government, and what it describes as the recent marginalisation of parliament by presidential-style government. Surely the European parliament and law were more of a challenge to the supremacy of parliament? 

The debate over what should be in the constitution covers a legal right to clean water, food and social care. There are arguments for basic standards to be set in law, but should they be in a constitution?

What makes our system unique is that there is no single document that sets out how the nation is governed – and there is no great enthusiasm for one. 

David Pickup is a partner at Pickup & Scott Solicitors, Aylesbury