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June 26, 2008
Promise of power to the people proves lacklustre
The Guardian has been doing a series on 'Brown's first year' and its analysis of how Brown has done on constitutional matters is a corker.
"While Gordon Brown sought to entrust more power to British citizens and make the executive more accountable, constitutional changes appear tokenistic and disappointing."
That's the byline. It is unclear whether that is a sub's work or the journalist, Andrew Sparrow, himself, but either way it gets to the heart of the matter. Andrew continues:
"Many of the changes proposed have been either tokenistic, [are] welcome ... but unlikely to have a perceptible affect on the quality of public services, [or] sound significant, but in practice will merely codify arrangements that are already underway."Confirming Brown's timidity and the lack of progress on electoral reform, Andrew writes:
"A blueprint for House of Lords reform is also due soon. But the government is not planning legislation until after the election. And although there have been hints from ministers about changing the electoral system, Brown himself has been silent on the subject."The final verdict, according to Andrew, is:
"Constructive change, but it's been incremental, not radical. More John Major than Thomas Jefferson."This chimes very much with my response to the announcement on weekend voting a few days back: "it isn't the first time, sadly, that Brown, Straw and Wills have mistaken symbolism for real bravery and commitment to change, at least when it comes to constitutional reform."
This led the public administration committee to describe the plans in this area as "disappointingly limited"."
Verdict: .
Posted by malcolmclark on June 26, 2008
