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Robert Hazell

Professor of British Politics and Government & Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL
Robert's research interests cover the whole of the constitutional reform agenda. He has written widely on devolution in Scotland, Wales and the English regions; freedom of information; parliamentary reform and Lords reform; a British bill of rights; referendums; electoral reform; the Crown and royal prerogative; constitutional watchdogs; and the process of constitutional reform. He is a great believer in collaborative research and likes to build research teams around projects, and to write multi-authored books rather than monographs.

He was director of the 1999-2005 Leverhulme funded research programme into the Dynamics of Devolution, which had 12 projects and 25 partners. He continued with some of the same partners to direct an ESRC and government funded project monitoring the latest developments in devolution (2006-2008). His last collaborative venture with 20 partners was forecasting the shape of the constitution in 2020, published as Constitutional Futures Revisited. Following the introduction of freedom of information in 2005, he studied the impact of Freedom of Information on Whitehall (ESRC 2007-2009), and on local government (ESRC 2009-2011), and on Parliament (Leverhulme 2009-2011).

In anticipation of the 2010 election, Robert led a project in 2009 on Multi-Party Government, and then a study of the new coalition government (2011), and of Special Advisers (2012). From 2011 to 2014 he led a big collaborative research project into the Politics of Judicial Independence. His latest research projects involve work on the Monarchy (the Accession and Coronation oaths, and a comparative study of European monarchies); on Pre-Appointment Scrutiny hearings by departmental Select Committees; and the role of Non-Executive Directors on Whitehall boards.

Coronavirus: how Europe's monarchs stepped up as their nations faced the crisis

Apr 13, 2020 15:26 pm UTC| Politics

The British Queens address to the nation on Sunday, April 5 evoked huge interest, respect and widespread appreciation. Nearly 24 million people in the UK watched her deliver the four-minute speech, which paid tribute to...

Boris Johnson in hospital: constitutional expert on what this means for governance of the UK

Apr 08, 2020 12:43 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Since Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, was diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to an intensive care unit, the airwaves have been full of speculation about how government is being conducted in his...

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: why half in, half out just isn't an option for royals

Jan 14, 2020 00:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles decision to step back from royal duties has been described as a crisis for the monarchy, but they are the ones who are most likely to suffer the damage. Members of the royal family are in...

Economy

ECB Warns Euro Zone Inflation Will Keep Rising Despite Strait of Hormuz Reopening

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that inflation in the euro zone is expected to continue rising due to the ongoing Iran war, even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens immediately. Speaking on Friday...

Trump Signals Tough Stance on Iran Uranium Stockpile as Nuclear Talks Show Limited Progress

U.S. President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran Thursday, declaring that Washington would eventually seize Tehrans highly enriched uranium stockpile amid ongoing but fragile diplomatic negotiations over Irans...

Trump to Swear In Kevin Warsh as New Federal Reserve Chair Amid Inflation Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to officially swear in Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve on Friday at the White House, marking a major leadership shift at the U.S. central bank. Warsh was confirmed by...

Dollar Eases as US-Iran Peace Deal Report Impacts Forex and Bond Markets

The U.S. dollar trimmed earlier gains on Thursday after reports emerged that Washington and Tehran had finalized a draft peace agreement aimed at easing Middle East tensions. The news influenced global forex markets, bond...

Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Iran Talks Continue to Influence Global Crude Market

Oil prices climbed sharply during early Asian trading on Friday, recovering some of the heavy losses recorded earlier this week as investors closely monitored developments surrounding the ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations....

Politics

Wang Yi to Lead UN Security Council Meeting and Visit Canada Amid Improving China-Canada Relations

Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to travel to New York on May 26 to chair a high-level United Nations Security Council meeting, according to an announcement from Chinas foreign ministry on Friday. The diplomatic trip...

Taiwan Says No Notice of U.S. Arms Sales Pause Amid Iran Conflict Concerns

Taiwans presidential office said Friday it has not received any official notice from the United States regarding any suspension or adjustment of military sales to the island, despite comments from a senior U.S. defense...

House Republicans Delay Vote on Iran War Powers Resolution Amid Growing Congressional Debate

Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives postponed a planned vote Thursday on a war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trumps military actions against Iran without Congressional approval....

U.S. Sanctions Tanzanian Police Official Over Human Rights Violations

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that the United States has officially designated Tanzanian police official Faustine Jackson Mafwele over alleged human rights violations. The move is part of...

Israel Faces Global Backlash Over Gaza Flotilla Activists’ Treatment

Western governments sharply criticized Israel after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a controversial video mocking Gaza-bound flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces. The incident has...

Science

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

Technology

PDG Explores $1 Billion Sale of China Data Center Assets

Princeton Digital Group (PDG), a major data center operator backed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, has reportedly launched a sale process for its China-based assets that could be valued at as much as $1 billion,...

Lam Research Expands AI-Powered Semiconductor Tools and Arizona Operations

Lam Research is accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence and advanced sensing technology to improve semiconductor manufacturing efficiency while expanding its presence in Arizona and California. The...

Texas Sues Meta Over WhatsApp Encryption Claims

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms and its messaging service WhatsApp, accusing the companies of misleading consumers about WhatsApps encryption and privacy protections. The...

Pentagon Expands AI Model Testing as It Seeks Alternatives to Anthropic’s Claude

The US Department of Defense is accelerating its evaluation of artificial intelligence models as it searches for alternatives to Anthropic PBCs Claude AI system, according to a Bloomberg report published Thursday. The...

SoftBank Shares Surge as OpenAI IPO Buzz and SB Energy Filing Boost AI Optimism

SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) shares soared on Thursday as investor confidence returned to the Japanese technology giant, driven by growing excitement around its artificial intelligence investments. The companys stock jumped...