London, Aug. 3 (LaPresse) – British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that his programme for the decentralisation of powers strengthens the case for adopting a written Constitution for the United Kingdom, a reform that would profoundly change the functioning of the State that has developed over the centuries. The United Kingdom is one of the few major democracies without a written Constitution. The prime minister has long argued that the British political system, which he has described as “obsolete”, needs a radical transformation so that opportunities are distributed more equally across the country. In what could represent a historic change, Burnham said that his government’s decentralisation programme – which includes, among other measures, granting regional leaders much broader control over financial resources – strengthens the need for a formalised constitutional framework. “This will make the need for a Constitution even stronger, because Britain is changing through this process, and England in particular,” he said. According to Burnham, the United Kingdom must develop a clearly defined devolution model applicable to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions. “In the end, I believe all of this points to the need for a new constitutional settlement based on the commitment to ensuring equivalent living standards,” he explained.
United Kingdom: Burnham opens up to the possibility of a written constitution
London, Aug. 3 (LaPresse) – British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that his programme for the decentralisation of powers strengthens the case for adopting a written Constitution for the United Kingdom, a reform that would profoundly change the functioning of the State that has developed over the centuries. The United Kingdom is one of the few major democracies without a written Constitution. The prime minister has long argued that the British political system, which he has described as “obsolete”, needs a radical transformation so that opportunities are distributed more equally across the country. In what could represent a historic change, Burnham said that his government’s decentralisation programme – which includes, among other measures, granting regional leaders much broader control over financial resources – strengthens the need for a formalised constitutional framework. “This will make the need for a Constitution even stronger, because Britain is changing through this process, and England in particular,” he said. According to Burnham, the United Kingdom must develop a clearly defined devolution model applicable to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions. “In the end, I believe all of this points to the need for a new constitutional settlement based on the commitment to ensuring equivalent living standards,” he explained.
