Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Gordon Brown is expected to make his historic statement on the constitution this afternoon, delayed by a day thanks to the security issues. It is going to set a sweeping agenda of reforms and call for new kinds of non-partisan participation to confront the malaise in public life - a call prepared by his 'all the talents' approach to some of his appointments. No, I have not seen it, but he has said plenty about his intentions. Whatever the details, most important of all he will address the constitution of Britain as a whole.
Reforms as radical as those after 1997, such as the Scottish parliament, the human rights act, are unlikely. These finally broke the old regime's unified sovereignty. They were commitments Blair inherited but never liked and refused to link - I know because I tried to persuade him to do so. Brown, however, gave a speech to a Charter88/Economist conference just after the 1997 election setting out a unified approach. As the constitution fell under Blair's remit Brown's speech was embargoed.
Since then it has been clear that his ambition has been to unify and renew Britain as a whole, not simply administer it or enjoy the fruits of office.
Before we role up our sleeves, then, to engage with the Brown agenda and what kind of history it will make, spare a thought for the Conservatives. Their stupidity on the big picture has amazed me. Anyone could see this was coming. And if anything should be conservative territory - it is the constitution.
Not any more, it seems. Cameron's reshuffle really does have a change your partners for a last dance on the Titanic feel about it. Trying to catch up when the game has already moved on.
Its a pity because Brown - and Britain - needed a coherent, democratic challenge from the Conservatives to help resist the inevitable, cautious greasy-poleism of the Prime Minister's colleagues. Jumping up and down about the Sustainable Communities Bil, however wonderful, will not be enough for the Tories. A profound complacency about any need to rethink British democracy and the way Britain is run as a whole has deprived them of the opportunity to command the agenda (or 'be the change' as they would put it in their childish way). I begin to think now that they really did kid themselves into believing that because Blair was right-wing in his instinct and manner that they were still the ruling party by default, and had no need therefore to rethink the nature of Britain as a parliamentary nation when they had the chance.
