A route map to where?
- 3 Jul 07, 06:15 PM
Ever since the days of Magna Carta our leaders have usually only agreed to limit their powers when seeking to regain the trust of those they govern. So it is today. Gordon Brown's long believed that unless he can restore trust in what this Labour government says voters will simply not listen to anything ministers do say. That is why this is the first statement he's made as Prime Minister.
Without ever uttering the words he's telling the country I am not like Tony Blair. Thus Parliament's guaranteed more say over the decision to go to war and the scrutiny of intelligence...thus the Attorney General will lose any say in many prosecutions - like, we're helpfully informed, those which may follow the cash for honours investigation.
What's still far from clear is the final destination of what the new Prime Minister called a route map and not a final blueprint. It could be a long long way from where we are now - a written constitution, a Bill of Rights and electoral reform - or it could be somewhere quite close to home. One thing which suggests more rather than less change is the interest of all the major parties in constiutional change.
There is one power which Gordon Brown did not change today but is acutely aware of. It's a power that didn't exist in the days of King John. It's the ultimate power we have if we no longer trust our rulers - to kick them out.
I filmed there because I think it's likely (though we still don't know) that alongside anti-sleaze measures (a new ministerial code of conduct and watchdog) and new powers for Parliament (to vote on wars and approve public appointments) Gordon Brown may announce moves towards a new Bill of Rights. This may simply be a statement of what it means to be British - both rights and responsibilities. It may, also, be an attempt to narrow the room for judges to interpret the law - in particular the Human Rights Act - in ways which have frustrated ministers' attempts to tighten anti-terror laws. 
