New Prime Minister Gordon Brown has set out plans for a set of constitutional changes that he says will make the government a “better servant of the people”, and could lead to the creation of a bill of rights.
His proposals, which he said are a “route map” towards reform, include giving MPs the final say on declaring war and signing international treaties, and also giving Parliament a "bigger role" in approving public appointments. Brown also proposed that the general election day could be moved to weekends and said he would create a national security council, which would "coordinate military, policing, intelligence and diplomatic action", and in addition to which he would regularly publish a national security strategy.
In what was his first address to the House of Commons since he became Prime Minister last week, Brown said he would also create a Commons committee for each of the English regions, and a new ministerial code, with an adviser appointed to scrutinise ministerial conduct. The Prime Minister also plans to give up the power to choose Church of England bishops, and he proposed that lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 be examined.
However, Conservative leader David Cameron said that “the British system of government needs real and lasting change”, but added: “Surely he [Brown] has to realise he's been at the heart of a government that, more than any other in living memory, has damaged trust in politics.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called for a constitutional convention to discuss the proposed changes, which he said were long overdue. Whereas the SNP’s Westminster Leader Angus Robertson welcomed the statement by Gordon Brown, saying he was pleased the Prime Minister was joining the SNP to support reforms in the way the country is governed, and added that many of the changes are similar to those being taken by the SNP government at Holyrood, such as a review of the judicial appointments system and the clear separation of the role of law officers from the political process.
Robertson said: “I am delighted that the Prime Minister has committed to reforms that will improve democracy, enhance the powers of parliament and bring decision making closer to the citizen.
“There were measures in the statement that the SNP has campaigned for consistently included the power of parliament over military conflict and the possible reduction of the voting age to 16.
“The Prime Minister has been right to echo calls by First Minister Alex Salmond for a national conversation about the way we are governed and the SNP will work with all parties to pursue the agenda of democratic improvements.”
No one has commented on this article.
Related news items:
|
