Gavin Yates (Edinburgh, GYmedia) The Smith Institute, often cited as Gordon Brown’s favoured think-tank has released a paper gaining publicity today calling for the end of the Barnett
Stuart Weir (Cambridge, Democratic Audit): The media find constitutional reform dull, and local government even duller. Which means that they report Hazel Blears' perky pronouncements on citizens juries, participatory
Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Fascinating long tussle between John Humphrys and Alastair Campbell on the Today programme this morning. If this is the choice it has to be Humphrys! Campbell
Michael Macpherson (London, I&R ~ GB): In his speech presenting his Green Paper on his reforms to parliament, the Prime Minister said,
"While our system of representative democracy
Moderator: Paul Kingsnorth has just posted a longish comment on Anthony Barnett's post about Edward I. He talks about English voice and votes, here is a taster:
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Dan Leighton (London, Power Inquiry): In last Thursday's Times Peter Riddell posed an important if poorly formulated question: Does 'power to the people' mean democracy or
Anthony Barnett (London, OK): The One Wales agreement was endorsed today by Plaid Cymru and thus a Labour-Plaid coalition is formed to govern Wales and the nationalists will become
Pam Giddy (London, Power Inquiry): The media has never been comfortable with democracy. It may like campaigns which it can brand and have a populist edge, for example the Independent
FYI: The antipodian blogosphere is already pointing to Brown's reforms as an example to be followed by Australia's inherited parliamentary regime - from decomposing trees to south
Gavin Yates (Edinburgh, GYmedia): Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond appears to have got himself into a bit of a pickle over his dual role of MP and MSP.
Mr
Geoffrey Bindman (London, BIHR): The age of Brown has begun with the dramatic offer of a new constitutional settlement that “entrusts more power to Parliament and the British people”. The
Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Here is a clue: "a deeper historical, and broader regional, awareness might question whether the multifarious and tolerant people of England will meekly file into