Brown Goes Back On Previous Pledges On Constitution As He Continues To Fiddle With It

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has modified his proposals for "Constitutional Renewal" from his announcement to the House on 3 July 2007.

Then he said: "now I propose that in twelve areas important to our national life, the Prime Minister and executive should surrender or limit their powers - the exclusive exercise of which by the Government should have no place in a modern democracy." These powers thus would pass to the House of Commons

On 25 Mar 2008 in a further statement to the House six of the twelve have now be dropped. Those retained are as follows plus the first which is new.
1. Right to protest around parliament should be reasonable
2. Attorney-General cannot direct prosecutors to individual cases
3. PM cannot appoint judges
4. Parliament to ratify treaties
5. Civil service to be put a on statutory footing. Appointment on merit
6. House of Commons to approve military deployments
7. Queen to continue to appoint senior churchmen advised by PM

The following have been dropped without explanation
• the power to request the dissolution of Parliament;
• the power over recall of Parliament;
• the power to restrict Parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services;
• power to choose bishops;
• power over the civil service itself;
• and the executive powers to determine the rules governing entitlement to passports and the granting of pardons.

The ability of the Executive to fiddle around with the constitution in this way is extraordinary for a modern state. And any changes Brown makes can be reversed by the next Prime Minister.

To cure this lack of constitutional solidity we need a proper Republican Constitution. Go to www.republicanparty.org.uk