Written evidence submitted on behalf of the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN) to the Modernisation Committee of the UK House of Commons has been published online.
This cross-party committee of MPs was set up to consider reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards and working practices.
The committee gathered views from the wider parliamentary community and external stakeholders, resulting in hundreds of individuals submitting their views to the committee. Ideas were invited under its three strategic aims of driving up standards, improving culture and working practices, and reforming procedures to make the House of Commons more effective.
The committee heard from more than 700 people and the written evidence submissions received from organisations – including from IPEN – have now been published online. A summary of the views submitted can be read in the Committee’s memorandum on its next steps.
IPEN members’ contribution
We invited our members to contribute views to shape IPEN’s submission of written evidence to the Committee, through a call in our November 2024 newsletter.
The submission was collated on behalf of members by IPEN’s Chair and Deputy Chairs: Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira (University of Leeds), Dr Elise Uberoi (UK House of Commons Library) and Dr Sarah Moulds (University of South Australia).
IPEN’s evidence focused on public engagement and drew on our members’ extensive knowledge and experience of what makes public engagement work. The key points were that:
- the Committee should make public engagement one of its priorities to drive improvement in the strategic coordination and delivery of relevant activities across the House; and
- better public engagement can help to build people’s trust in their representatives, and can contribute to better scrutiny. This can in turn improve legislative standards and avoid costly unintended consequences that can flow from enacting legislation that has not been carefully considered from a range of different perspectives.
Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira said:
“The submission of evidence by the International Parliament Engagement Network to the UK House of Commons Modernisation Committee demonstrates the important role that IPEN now performs.
“IPEN is a critical network with a significant voice in highlighting the importance of public engagement for parliaments today. At a time of low trust in politics, parliaments need to take public engagement seriously.
“With over 500 members from over 80 countries, IPEN has played a transformational role in sharing knowledge and practice in this area and in underscoring the importance of public engagement for parliaments across the world.
“We look forward to see how the Modernisation Committee takes on board the topic of public engagement in their proposals for reforms to House of Commons procedures, standards and working practices”.
Read IPEN’s written evidence submitted to the Modernisation Committee of the UK House of Commons.
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UK Parliament, London. Photo by Cristina Leston-Bandeira.
Article published: 28 March 2025