UK Parliamentary reform is part of constitutional reform

Reforming UK parliament is part of a wider concern – constitutional reform.  Here together are the original Charter 88 ‘Ten Constitutional Demands and a proposed agenda for UK parlimentary reform.

The time has come to demand political, civil and human rights in the United Kingdom. We call, therefore, for a new constitutional settlement which will:-

1 Enshrine by means of a Bill of Rights, such civil liberties as the right to peaceful assembly, to freedom of association, to freedom from discrimination, to freedom from detention without trail, to trial by jury, to privacy and to freedom of expression.
2 Subject executive powers and prerogatives, by whomsoever exercised, to the rule of law.
3 Establish freedom of information and open government.
4 Create a fair electoral system of proportional representation.
5 Reform the upper house to establish a democratic, non-hereditary second chamber.
6 Place the executive under the power of a democratically renewed parliament and all agencies of the state under the rule of law.
7 Ensure the independence of a reformed judiciary.
8 Provide legal remedies for all abuses of power by the state and by officials of central and local government.
9 Guarantee an equitable distribution of power between the nations of the United Kingdom and between local, regional and central government.
10 Draw up a written constitution, anchored in the idea of universal citizenship, which incorporates these reforms.
The inscription of laws does not guarantee their realisation. Only people themselves can ensure freedom, democracy and equality before the law. Nonetheless, such ends are far better demanded, and more effectively obtained and guarded, once they belong to everyone by inalienable right.

Charter 88 – Ten constitutional demands

We have had less freedom than we believed. That which we have enjoyed has been too dependent on the benevolence of our rulers. Our freedoms have remained their possession, rationed out to us as subjects rather than being our own inalienable possession as citizens. To make real the freedoms we once took for granted means for the first time to take them for ourselves.

The time has come to demand political, civil and human rights in the United Kingdom. We call, therefore, for a new constitutional settlement which will:-

1 Enshrine by means of a Bill of Rights, such civil liberties as the right to peaceful assembly, to freedom of association, to freedom from discrimination, to freedom from detention without trail, to trial by jury, to privacy and to freedom of expression.

2 Subject executive powers and prerogatives, by whomsoever exercised, to the rule of law.

3 Establish freedom of information and open government.

4 Create a fair electoral system of proportional representation.

5 Reform the upper house to establish a democratic, non-hereditary second chamber.

6 Place the executive under the power of a democratically renewed parliament and all agencies of the state under the rule of law.

7 Ensure the independence of a reformed judiciary.

8 Provide legal remedies for all abuses of power by the state and by officials of central and local government.

9 Guarantee an equitable distribution of power between the nations of the United Kingdom and between local, regional and central government.

10 Draw up a written constitution, anchored in the idea of universal citizenship, which incorporates these reforms.

The inscription of laws does not guarantee their realisation. Only people themselves can ensure freedom, democracy and equality before the law. Nonetheless, such ends are far better demanded, and more effectively obtained and guarded, once they belong to everyone by inalienable right.

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THE MANIFESTO TO REALLY GIVE ENGLAND/The UK A MODERM POLITICAL SYSTEM

1 ESTABLISH FAIR VOTING – all the rest are weakened without proportional representation.

2 OVERTURN TRIBAL POLITICS – get out of the strait-jacket of the tired Tory & Labour ideologies – Cameron is not a real alternative to Blair-Brown, he is the same old stuff – with a slightly different flavour.

3 CENTRE ON ISSUES BEFORE IDEOLOGIES – MPs, especially Independent MPs, need to learn to continuously group around issues rather than tribal loyalties.

4 ENABLE MORE INDEPENDENTS – more than a quarter should produce positive results.

5 ACCELERATE FAIR REPRESENTATION – of women and minorities.

6 DEMAND FACTS BEFORE OPINIONS – the public as well as MPs need to get the best info from independent sources.

7 COOPERATE MORE – more cooperation – less wasteful combat for combat’s sake.

8 MAKE MPS REWARDS FAIR – eg same as average Head Teacher – combined with serious and continuous accountability.

9 INSTITUTE PRIMARIES – but only after a close examination of their benefits in other countries?

10 FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL STAKE-HOLDERS – as pre-eminent virtues.

11 REDUCE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – create best-practice county-level broad policies e.g. ‘You are statutorily required to provide a holistic set of services for youth in your area.’  Then keep central government out – other than to check that every county is implementing a range of best practice.

12 MAXIMISE FREE VOTING IN PARLIAMENT – whipping distorts and stultifies.

13 MAXIMISE SECRET BALLOTS IN ALL APPROPRIATE CONCERNS – e.g. election of a new Speaker.

14 HABITUALLY IMPORT BEST PRACTICE – from Denmark, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia, Germany etc.

15 CREATE A SIMPLE WRITTEN CONSTITUTION WITH 1 YEAR – then take 10 years to refine it.

16 ELIMINATE WASTE – everywhere, at all levels.

17 CONTINUE BEEFING UP TRANSPARENCY IN ACCOUNTABILITY – we want MPs to be transparently accountable for what they do, not just their expenses.

18 SACK OR PUNISH SERIOUSLY ‘DEVIANT’ MPs

19 MAKE VOTING COMPULSORY – it will, when combined with fair voting, reduce wasteful and dispiriting carping by lazy moaners.

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For a starting point on Constitutional Reform see WikiPedia

Author: Roger - Dr Roger Prentice

Now I write, teach and coach mainly self-understanding. At advanced levels About 21stC 'interfaith as inter-spirituality' - and how we can grow closer to our True Self. In the past I : . 1) I ran courses and give talks at conferences and in universities and colleges in the UK, China, USA, Canada, Scandinavia etc. . 2) I provided materials, outlines and lessons for Schools. . 3) My range of interests include personal development, learning and teaching, photography and film, the arts generally, spirituality and educational practice and theory. . 4) At the same time I continue developing the human-centred studies SunWALK PDS (People Development System) - a whole-person, high-achievement model for individuals, and for use in, NGOs, schools and other organizations. . 5) The key question that continues to animate me and my work remains, "What is it to be fully and positively human?" . Contact me via onesummit AT gmail DOT com (replace At with@ etc.). . All good wishes Roger (Dr Roger Prentice) . For those interested; My first degree is in English and Education. My masters is in Adult and Community Education. My doctorate presented a new holistic meta-model of education called SunWALK.

One thought on “UK Parliamentary reform is part of constitutional reform”

  1. Great suggestions on constitutional reform, i believe to add to that the executive should be completely removed from parliament, and have a seperate vote for governance and the legilative that way the independance of both government and parliament can be ensured. Also i think the Human Rights Act covers most of the first few points.. but still great suggestions.

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