Brown’s constitutional reform as-it-happened
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By Ian Dunt
11:43 – Gordon Brown will be announcing his package of parliamentary reforms right after PMQs at 12:30 BST. Come back then to see a live account of his package and the response from the opposition. What do we know in advance? We’re expecting some suggestion about reform to the electoral system, probably with a nudge towards alternative vote, a fairly tepid alternative system which falls short of proportional representation. There should also be some news on House of Lords reform, Brown’s parliamentary oversight committee and taking salary and allowances decisions out of the hands of MPs.
12:32 – “The subject of politics itself has become the focus of our politics,” Brown begins. He intends to rebuild the legitimacy of parliament. First, all past and future expenses will be published on the internet over the next few days. There will also be disciplinary procedures for those who misbehaved. There will be further restrictions on expenses (already agreed by the Commons) and everyone’s committed to Kelly’s proposals as long as they meet transparency tests (which they will). He describes these measures as necessary but insufficient.
12:34 – The Commons and Lords will move from self-regulation to statutory regulation. No more can Westminster operate in ways reminiscent of the last century, Brown argues. As part of that process, the new regulator will supervise value for money to make “parliament cost less”. There will be a statutory code of conduct for all MPs. It will clearly codify misbehaviour much more clearly. The current system of sanctions is not “fit for purpose”. The last person to be expelled from the House was 55 years ago, and members can be sent to prison for a year without losing their seat, he mentions. There will be consultation for dealing effectively with inappropriate behaviour.
12:37 – The House of Lords: There’ll be a review of Lords accountability, cost and transparency, and new laws for disciplinary sanctions for peers. There will be modernisation of the procedures in the Commons, including democratising select committee memberships and allowing more time for non-governmental tabling in the main chamber. Jack Straw will broaden the application of freedom of information. Very impressive so far – if any of it happens. They will reduce the time to release official material, from 30 to 20 years so government information is accessible. The creator of the internet will work with the government to open up government material online.
12:39 – The first laughs, when Brown says he has made the executive more accountable to parliament. There will be movement on the following issues: Elected peers in the House of Lords before the summer adjournment. The rights and responsibilities of British citizens will clarified, potentially through a British constitution. Power will be devolved to local communities, and there will soon be recommendations on devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The same goes for local government. He defends having a link between an MP and their constituents, but says if there is strong disagreement in the country there could be movement. “We will set put proposals for taking this debate forward,” he says, whatever that means. It sounds like not much. There will be action to increase the engagement of young people.
12:43 – “In the midst of all the recriminations, let us seize the moment…” He stops to tell the Speaker the House isn’t behaving properly. “…to rise to a higher standard. Britain deserves a political system that is equal to the hopes and character of the British people.” Hateful shouts from the opposition. Cameron gets up and mentions how quickly Brown read it. Yes, I’m sympathetic to that one. Predictably, Cameron says what we need is a general elections. He gets to the proposals. Parliament is too weak, and the government is unwilling to give up power. The Tories support much in the statement because Labour stole it apparently. “they have at least mastered the art of copying things.” He calls for regional quangos to be scrapped. Why won’t the PM just say today that he’ll give up control of select committee membership. He’s prepared to do it – is the PM?
12:47 – Cameron highlights how often Brown has done this. He did – if you remember – a big constitutional renewal bill when he became PM, and is doing it again now – “endlessly launched and relaunched.” It’s a “relaunch distraction” strategy, Cameron argues. He mocks Brown’s constitutional renewal committee, as ” a bunch of minister talking to themselves”. How do we give power back to the man and woman in the street? Cameron wants citizens’ initiatives and a veto on local council tax rises. He wants a referendum on Lisbon, because these anti-democratic moves have sucked out the heart from British politics.
12:49 – Cameron again attacks proportional representation as taking power away from the people. Won’t people conclude Brown has only started talking about PR because he’s scared he’s going to lose under the current rules? Isn’t it time to redraw boundaries to make constituencies the same size? People don’t want an alternative vote, they want an alternative government. Cameron goes very party political about Labour taking Britain to the edge of bankruptcy. Brown, in very statesmanlike pose, tells Cameron most people didn’t vote for any of them at the European election. It;s a highly effective point, and he delivers it like the Brown of those first few months in power. “Before we get into the issues which divide the parties…”The opposition laughs and Brown stammers badly. The Speaker defends him. Brown continues by defending his constitutional renewal bill, and it is coming to the Commons for second reading very soon.
12:53 – Brown says he’s the first PM to have a review on select committees working in a new way. It’s a decent defence to Cameron’s charge. As for devolution of power: “We devolved power to Scotland and Wales against the views of the Tory party”. On electoral reform: Before he asked Brown questions at PMQs he had sight of his statement and already knew what he was proposing and not proposing. Translation: You jumped on the ‘Brown trying to fiddle the system to save himself’ quote knowing it wasn’t true. It sounds valid, and the hatred for Cameron shines from Brown’s face. Clegg gets up: “I welcome this death-bed commitment to political reform from a man who has blocked change for years.”
12:56 – This isn’t time for reviews and committees, we’ve been debating these issues for years. Clegg says he supports the Lords reform. He asks Brown to forego the summer recess to get on with reform. Very interesting. He’s dismayed by the silence on party funding. “We cannot allow our politics to go the way of America”. On electoral reform: ” I welcome any movement away from our system, which gives his government untrammelled power with only a fifth of the vote.”
12:58 – The Speaker stops debate to tell someone to shut up: “You’ve got to be quiet. It’s just something you’ve got to do.” Clegg says the Tories will never want to change this “cozy Westminster stitch up.” He is demanding a referendum, in the same way Cameron demanded Brown promise not to have on. Clegg says the PM has nothing to lose, this is no time for his “trademark timidity”. Brown gets up to respond. He stresses that MPs work hard during the summer recess, because they work in their constituencies, and urges Clegg not to perpetuate the myths that they just sit around relaxing those months. About half true, by the way. Party funding: We have been looking at it on an all-party basis. It’s on the agenda. The Tories and Labour – both with their own demons – have really scuppered any attempts to fix this, and Brown’s statements on this are evasive. He leaves it at that. And so will we. Tony Wright, chairman of the Public Account Committee, gets the last word: Today’s package was “important and may well turn out to be historic”.
