Sewel Convention

A constitutional convention about Westminster legislating on devolved matters.

Also used as: Sewel, legislative consent convention, Sewel convention

Source / explainer: Read the Commons Library briefing on legislative consent

Last reviewed: 3 August 2026

The Sewel Convention is a constitutional convention that the UK Parliament will not normally legislate on devolved matters, or change devolved powers, without the consent of the relevant devolved legislature. It is closely linked to legislative consent motions and can be important in debates involving Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

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