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# The unfinished business of British democracy
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/the-unfinished-business-of-british-democracy/
- Published: 2007-05-16T14:05:20.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:36:08.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**Graham Allen (Nottingham,** [**MP**](http://www.grahamallen.labour.co.uk/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):** Gordon Brown’s references to a written constitution at the 2006 Labour Party Conference were followed last week by Jack Straw’s conversion to the idea of a written constitution for the UK. Next Tuesday 22nd May, I will be able to test the water in a parliamentary debate on the need for a written constitution which is taking place at 12:30pm in the House of Commons. With a change of political leadership there is now hope that for the first time the British political system may be created on a legitimate and understandable basis. It is the last unfinished business of the British democracy – the British people prising the political rulebook from the closed grasp of the executive. As Thomas Paine said in *The Rights of Man*, "a government without a constitution is a government without a right".

For further information I can be contacted on 0115 979 2344 at my constituency office.