Britain is poised for a second big wave of constitutional reform. Tony Blair never really believed in it, but despite his minimalism, the first wave of reforms (devolution, the Human Rights Act, Lords reform stage one) has transformed Britain’s constitutional landscape and built up momentum for the second. Gordon Brown, by contrast, is a strong believer in constitutional reform. He has kept it quiet for ten years, but in the opening speech of his leadership campaign he committed himself in general terms to a new programme of reform, starting with parliament. In the same week, his campaign manager Jack Straw came out in favour of a written constitution.
Blair’s reforms have left a lot of unfinished business. The main items are devolution, parliamentary reform, Lords and electoral reform and a British bill of rights. On devolution, Alex Salmond is not the only first minister flexing his muscles; all three of the devolved assemblies will demand more powers. Brown should set up a British framework for answering their demands. Under the old regime, each would have been dealt with separately, through the Scotland office, Wales office and Northern Ireland office. Brown should merge the three offices into a single department, and revive the cabinet committee on nations and regions, which lapsed in 2005. As devolution heads into choppier waters, Brown should revive the joint ministerial committee on devolution, the forum in which the British prime minister meets his devolved counterparts, which Blair also allowed to lapse in 2003.
Parliamentary reform is one of Brown’s declared priorities. As leader of the house, Jack Straw has strengthened the legislative process with various technical but important reforms. Now we can expect scrutiny hearings of senior public appointments, as happens with the treasury select committee, which can question new members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee. To reconnect parliament with the public, the government could encourage parliament to welcome public petitions, as the Scottish parliament does. The e-petitions currently directed to No 10 could be channelled through parliament, strengthening its historic role in redressing grievances.
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