What is Legislative Consent?

Also known as the Sewel Convention. What is it, and what does it mean? It is an important convention in the UK constitution governing the relationships between the UK parliament and the devolved institutions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Sewel Convention was intended to foster co-operative relationships between the UK parliament and the devolved institutions but as the EU Withdrawal Bill begins to wind its way through parliament, ‘Legislative Consent’ looks likely to become a point of tension.

This Briefing will examine the origins of ‘Legislative Consent’ and the history of its use. (A second briefing will look more in depth at ‘Legislative Consent’ and Brexit).

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

UCL: The Constitution Unit, 07.09.17: Blog: The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: legal implications for devolution (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-european-union-withdrawal-bill-legal-implications-for-devolution/

Institute for Government: Explainers: Brexit and the Sewel (legislative consent) Convention (January 2018 and periodically updated) https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/brexit-sewel-legislative-consent-convention

Blog: Devolution Matters: Legislative consent and the Sewel convention https://devolutionmatters.wordpress.com/the-sewel-convention/

UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Library: Briefing Paper, No.8275 (29.05.18, and periodically updated as appropriate): Legislative Consent and the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill (2017-19): the Joint Ministerial Committee, proposed amendments, and the 'Continuity Bills' http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8275/CBP-8275.pdf

UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Library: Briefing Paper, No.8274 (29.03.18): Brexit: Devolution and legislative consent http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8274/CBP-8274.pdf

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