News In Focus
4 July 2007
Brown's 12-point plan for constitutional change
More powers for Parliament, but no English votes for English laws - Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed his plans for a new constitutional settlement for the UK during his first prime ministerial statement in the House of Commons yesterday.
Mr Brown's green paper, The Governance of Britain, sets out 12 key areas where he will surrender or reduce his powers, including the right to declare war. Under the new proposals, Parliament would have to authorise any deployment of troops to overseas conflicts, although ministers would still be able to order military deployments without parliamentary approval for urgent or necessarily secretive matters.
Referring to the "West Lothian question", Mr Brown ruled out the possibility of having only English MPs voting on English laws, saying it would create two classes of MPs, with some entitled to vote only on certain matters.
Other areas where the Prime Minister has pledged to reduce or surrender powers are: the power to ratify international treaties without decision by Parliament; the appointment of judges; directing prosecutors in individual criminal cases; granting pardons; power over the civil service; making key public appointments without scrutiny; and choosing bishops for the Church of England.
The Conservative leader David Cameron welcomed the paper, but expressed disappointment about the refusal to consider English votes on English laws, no referendum on the European treaty and the intention to retain the Human Rights Act.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, head of Scotland's Catholics, also expressed disappointment that the constitution was not to change the Act of Settlement that bars Catholics from the throne.