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# Must read this
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/must-read-this/
- Published: 2009-05-14T17:05:30.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:43:08.000Z
- Author: Anthony Barnett
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:49

[Brilliant article by Matthew Norman](http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-seize-moment-to-demand-a-written-constitution-1684493.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) in today's Indie recognising the constitutional moment:

*the fiddling, as shameful as it's been, is not the disease but one of its more trivial symptoms. It is to a democratic sickness that remains largely undiagnosed what a bout of violent diarrhoea can be to colonic cancer. Mask it with over-the-counter medication though you may, more serious symptoms will soon enough emerge. The longer you ignore those, the more brutal the treatment required, and the lower the chances of recovery.*

Problem is his scenario depends on Cameron delivering constitutional democracy whereas the Tory leader's machine is dedicated to ruling like Tony Blair. 

Matthew Norman's argument is reinforced by a powerful [blog post by Henry Porter](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/may/14/privacy-internet-government-database?ref=opendemocracy.net). He too calls for a codified constitution. We know what we need. The question is how do we get it?