Jon Bright (London, OK): The Indie has a two page spread today asking the question: why doesn't the UK have a written constitution, and does it matter? (Circumstance and yes!). They've put it up in response to Straw's comments on the Today programme which we reported on yesterday. Their conclusions:
Do we need a written constitution?
Yes...
* Britain's arcane hotch-potch of freedoms and rights cannot be defended in the 21st century
* It could help citizens clarify their rights and protect themselves against the state
* Most flourishing democracies base their institutions on a written constitution
No...
* The system should not be tampered with as it has served Britain well for centuries
* The practical problems over what to include and leave out would be a logistical nightmare
* It could undermine the power of Parliament to scrutinise ministers on behalf of the public
Two quotes right at the end of the article are also interesting. One from shadow justice spokesman Nick Herbert - "The last thing Britain needs, with 2,000 years of history behind us, is more of New Labour's blind constitutional vandalism" - which will be quickly deconstructed by fans of Britology watch. Another from Robert Hazell of the UCL's constitution unit: "Constitutions don't get written in cold blood."
Don't they? It's true that most foundational constitutional documents around the world seem to have originated in or shortly after some sort of violent struggle (thought the exception - as Anthony pointed out to me today - might be the soon to be signed EU treaty). One of the talking points of OK has always been: if you are interested in the democratic reform process, how can it be made to "matter" to people who don't perceive its influence in their daily lives? How can their blood be made to warm up slightly? The unevenness of the current devolution settlement seems to be one issue - connecting to both a general desire for decentralisation and a particular desire for an English parliament. Privacy, security and an incipient database state is another. The practical theme of "good governance" is an often floated third - though I'm not sure how much traction this has. Anyone feel their blood boiling yet? And what else could be added to the mix?
