Select committee: Constitution Committee

Rule of Law

Closed Opened 11 Mar 2025 Closed 9 Jul 2026

Constitution Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)

This inquiry is seeking to understand the rule of law as a constitutional principle and practical matter, and what the state of the rule of law is in the UK. The Committee will consider the different understandings of the rule of law, both at home and internationally, and explore how the principle works in practice across Parliament, the judiciary and the executive. The inquiry will also consider the role of education, the media and civic society in creating and maintaining a culture that values the rule of law. Read the Shorthand story: The rule of law is under threat in the UK

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 11 March 2025.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 13th Report - The rule of law: holding the line against tyranny and anarchy on 20 November 2025.

The government's response

Letter from David Lammy MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice to Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the Constitution Committee, responding to the Committee's report on The Rule of Law

Published 23 February 2026. The deadline was 20 February 2026.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Lord Chancellor welcomes the Committee's report and its emphasis on judicial independence as a 'shared responsibility', and says that across Government 'we will continue to consider' its recommendations, without responding to them individually.

He highlights the Committee's conclusion that maintaining judicial independence is a 'shared responsibility' of the judiciary, Government and Parliament, noting that the Lady Chief Justice made the same point to the Justice Committee.
He states that independent courts are of 'absolute and fundamental importance' and describes them as 'a vital protection against overreach by the executive'.
He is 'keen to build constitutional capital' on judicial independence through a 'bipartisan alliance', and 'expect[s]' to write to the Committee Chair and the Chair of the Justice Committee as he thinks through next steps. No date is given.
He points to the inclusion of law and rights education in the new statutory citizenship curriculum at key stages 1 and 2, and to Attorney General's Office public legal education work, including a Youth Ambassadors Programme.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Government Response to the Committee's report on The Rule of Law

Published 23 February 2026.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's report and expresses agreement with its conclusions in several areas, including judicial independence, legislative standards and the accessibility of legislation, while setting out existing and planned work in other areas.

On judicial independence, the government "respectfully agrees with the Committee's conclusions" on politicians and the media criticising judges, and says the Lord Chancellor, his predecessor and the Attorney General "will continue" to speak out in defence of the judiciary.
On legislation, the government agrees with the Committee's characterisation of rule of law compliant legislation. On the Law Commission's consolidation work it says that "wherever possible we will look to take it forward", subject to balancing other constraints, including parliamentary capacity.
On judicial review, the government says it recognises its "vital role" but that the process must "continue to be fit for purpose". It cites changes for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and says it is working with the judiciary to consider further procedural change.
On civil justice, the government says it "recognises the pressure on the advice sector", cites legal aid fee uplifts, and says the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS are "carefully considering" the Civil Justice Council's enforcement recommendations.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

13th Report - The rule of law: holding the line against tyranny and anarchy20 November 2025

All reports

Evidence

13 oral evidence sessionsLatest 10 September 2025
27 witnesses

All evidence

Recent activity

Letter from David Lammy MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice to Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the Constitution Committee, responding to the Committee's report on The Rule of Law23 February 2026, Report published
Government Response to the Committee's report on The Rule of Law23 February 2026, Report published
13th Report - The rule of law: holding the line against tyranny and anarchy20 November 2025, Report published

Meetings and visits

Reports

1 report

13th Report - The rule of law: holding the line against tyranny and anarchy

HC No.: Not recorded
Published: 20 Nov 2025
Items: 0
Government response: Government response published 23 February 2026 (deadline 20 February 2026). Read the government's response: Letter from David Lammy MP, Deputy Prime Min… ↗ Read the government's response: Government Response to the Committee's repor… ↗

Oral evidence sessions

13 sessions

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Date	Session and witnesses	Source
10 Sep 2025	Oral Evidence The Rt Hon. the Lord Hermer KC · Attorney General's Office	View ↗
3 Sep 2025	Oral Evidence Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP · UK Government	View ↗
16 Jul 2025	Oral Evidence Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos · Judiciary of England and Wales	View ↗
2 Jul 2025	Oral Evidence Anne Applebaum · The Atlantic, Mark Lewis · World Justice Project, Mick Antoniw MS · Welsh Government	View ↗
25 Jun 2025	Oral evidence Chris Nelson · Gloucestershire Constabulary, Serena Kennedy · Merseyside Police	View ↗
18 Jun 2025	Oral Evidence James Wolffe KC, John Larkin KC	View ↗
11 Jun 2025	Oral Evidence Ashley Hodges · Young Citizens, Daniel Scrase · BPP University Social Impact Team	View ↗
21 May 2025	Oral Evidence Frances Gibb · The Times, Joshua Rozenberg · Legal commentator	View ↗
14 May 2025	Oral Evidence Kate Pasfield · Legal Aid Practitioners Group, Mr Nimrod Ben-Cnaan · Law Centres Network, Sarah Matthews · Citizens Advice Bureau	View ↗
7 May 2025	Oral Evidence Shameem Ahmad · Public Law Project, Stephanie Needleman · JUSTICE	View ↗
23 Apr 2025	Oral Evidence Dr. Ronan Cormacain · (self-employed), Dr Ruth Fox · Hansard Society, Sir Stephen Laws KC · Policy Exchange	View ↗
2 Apr 2025	Oral Evidence Lord Sumption · The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE	View ↗
26 Mar 2025	Oral Evidence Dr Jan van Zyl Smit · Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, Professor Adam Tomkins · University of Glasgow, Professor Jeff King · University College London (UCL)	View ↗

Who gave evidence

27 witnesses

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Witness	Organisation	Sessions
Anne Applebaum · Journalist, Writer and Historian	The Atlantic	1
Ashley Hodges · Chief Executive	Young Citizens	1
Chris Nelson · Police and Crime Commissioner	Gloucestershire Constabulary	1
Daniel Scrase · Trainee Solicitor	BPP University Social Impact Team	1
Dr Ruth Fox · Director	Hansard Society	1
Dr Jan van Zyl Smit · Director	Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law	1
Dr. Ronan Cormacain	(self-employed)	1
Frances Gibb · Former Legal Editor	The Times	1
James Wolffe KC	Not recorded	1
John Larkin KC	Not recorded	1
Joshua Rozenberg · Independent	Legal commentator	1
Kate Pasfield · Director of Legal Aid	Legal Aid Practitioners Group	1
Lord Sumption	The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom	1
Mark Lewis · Chief of Public Sector Partnerships	World Justice Project	1
Mick Antoniw MS · Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution	Welsh Government	1
Mr Nimrod Ben-Cnaan · Head of Policy and Profile	Law Centres Network	1
Professor Adam Tomkins · John Millar Professor of Public Law	University of Glasgow	1
Professor Jeff King · Professor of Law	University College London (UCL)	1
Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP · Lord Chancellor and Minister for Justice	UK Government	1
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos · Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice	Judiciary of England and Wales	1
Sarah Matthews · Senior Strategic Lead	Citizens Advice Bureau	1
Serena Kennedy · Chief Constable	Merseyside Police	1
Shameem Ahmad · CEO	Public Law Project	1
Sir Stephen Laws KC · Senior Fellow	Policy Exchange	1
Stephanie Needleman · Legal Director	JUSTICE	1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE	Not recorded	1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Hermer KC · Attorney General for England and Wales	Attorney General's Office	1

Meetings & visits

5 items

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Date	Type	Detail
15 Oct 2025	Formal meeting (private meeting)	Formal Meeting (Private Meeting) · Room 1, Palace of Westminster
23 Jul 2025	Formal meeting (private meeting)	Formal Meeting (Private Meeting) · Room 3, Palace of Westminster
15 Jul 2025	Formal meeting (private meeting)	Formal Meeting (Private Meeting) · Room 1-06, Millbank House
9 Jul 2025	Formal meeting (private meeting)	Private Meeting · Room 1-02, Millbank House
30 Apr 2025	Formal meeting (private meeting)	Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 4, Palace of Westminster