Centuries-old tradition under threat: new British PM unexpectedly backs creation of a written constitution
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham for the first time at such a high level voiced support for the idea of a single written constitution. If the reform takes place, it will overturn the entire British legal system, which for centuries has relied not on a single law, but on a chaos of customs, traditions and disparate acts.
Key points about the initiative:
- Historic shift: Britain has never had a single fundamental law. Burnham proposed codifying the rules of governance amid large-scale devolution of power.
- New powers for regions: The government has already announced that English regional mayors will get a share of income tax and business revenues.
- Don't expect quick changes: There is no ready-made draft, and the process will require many years of public consultation and parliamentary debate.
Why does Britain still have no constitution?
Great Britain is one of the few countries in the world (along with Israel and New Zealand) that does without a single codified document. Instead, citizens' rights and government powers are set out in historical statutes, judicial precedents and unwritten political conventions. Proponents praise such flexibility for the ability to quickly adapt to crises, but critics call the system opaque.
Andy Burnham, who became Prime Minister on 20 July after a long tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, is convinced: regions are tired of spending years coaxing powers out of Westminster. A written constitution could establish the rules of the game once and for all.
What will change in practice?
For now, the Prime Minister's statement is a strategic political direction rather than a ready bill. Any attempt to rewrite British foundations will face colossal difficulties: the authorities will have to figure out how to preserve Parliament's traditional right to change any laws by a simple majority.
Nevertheless, economic steps are already being taken: regional leaders are gaining financial autonomy, and talk of a "reset" of British statehood is moving from academic circles to the level of real politics.
Based on materials from: Euractiv, UK government, House of Commons Library, parliamentary report on constitutional codification
