Labour are to set about making "constitutional changes", them reforming our constitution does seem a joke. Though at least David Blunkett isn't in Brown's 'National Council for Democratic Renewal', that would be beyond a joke. Yet what reform does Brown propose?
For the Commons he suggests, curbing the power of whips and letting MPs select all select committees, take control of the Commons' business programme, and be given a greater chance to introduce legislation. MPs' expenses will be overseen by an independent body and will cover the Lords too. The House of Lords will also be given new powers to "punish" misconduct.
For the public Sir Tim Berners-Lee will advise the government on how to open up access to official information. MPs' expenses that everyone has seen in the Telegraph will be published on-line. Brown will consider whether to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16.
For a political advantage, the 30-year rule of releasing government information will be changed to 20 years, Labour are bringing out Thatcher.
Brown also supports a written constitution which is where it gets worrying, Jack Straw published a green paper on this in March, it shows the Labour idea of what constitution is. Yet I would support a written entrenched constitution, in effect our constitution in writing. As it would place a different focus when making laws, at the moment our rights are not granted to us by the government. Rather, the government has to justify any right it takes away. Countries with a constitution operate on a different idea, that your rights are granted to you. Given "terrorism" is the magic word that can even take away the right to a fair trial, sadly this has become more relevant under a Labour government, as has parliamentary reform.
Lest we forget.
For the Commons he suggests, curbing the power of whips and letting MPs select all select committees, take control of the Commons' business programme, and be given a greater chance to introduce legislation. MPs' expenses will be overseen by an independent body and will cover the Lords too. The House of Lords will also be given new powers to "punish" misconduct.
For the public Sir Tim Berners-Lee will advise the government on how to open up access to official information. MPs' expenses that everyone has seen in the Telegraph will be published on-line. Brown will consider whether to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16.
For a political advantage, the 30-year rule of releasing government information will be changed to 20 years, Labour are bringing out Thatcher.
Brown also supports a written constitution which is where it gets worrying, Jack Straw published a green paper on this in March, it shows the Labour idea of what constitution is. Yet I would support a written entrenched constitution, in effect our constitution in writing. As it would place a different focus when making laws, at the moment our rights are not granted to us by the government. Rather, the government has to justify any right it takes away. Countries with a constitution operate on a different idea, that your rights are granted to you. Given "terrorism" is the magic word that can even take away the right to a fair trial, sadly this has become more relevant under a Labour government, as has parliamentary reform.
Lest we forget.
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