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# The doubts of a Labour MP
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/the-doubts-of-a-labour-mp/
- Published: 2007-05-17T19:05:43.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:36:09.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**Henry Porter (London,** [**Vanity Fair**](http://www.vanityfair.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** I met a Labour MP last night. He said, more or less: I feel that we'll get something from Brown on Parliament and the Constitution, but it will be cosmetic - the limiting, even the end, of the Royal Prerogative; a Parliamentary convention to approve military action but not legislation; something small on Select Committees, but nothing that will actually shift the balance between Parliament and the Executive. No ceding of control over Parliament's Business to a Business Committee; no powers of subpoena granted to Select Committees; no election of Select Committee members or, more important, their Chairs; no reduction of patronage; no giving up control of the Modernisation Committee. Just a few crumbs. Both Brown and Straw are pragmatic Stalinists. They'll keep control.