The government is proposing a mixed bag of constitutional reform, says Roger Smith
Late July and August are always good times for the publication of parliamentary or government reports. With their principals at last on holiday after approving final drafts, officials scramble to publish before going for their own hard-earned rest. This year was no exception and we have had at least three important papers on constitutional matters: two from parliamentary committees and one from the Home Office. For admirers of human rights, civil liberties and constitutional reform, they represent somewhat of a mixed bag.
Renewal questioned
First was the Joint Committee on the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill. The committee contained some of the brighter MPs such as the Conservative Andrew Tyrie and Labour’s Emily Thornberry, but the tone of the report is best described as that of a “grumpy old man”. This is perhaps unsurprising given the nature of the House of Lords’ delegation—10 out of 11 of which were men, largely past retiring age—led by two members whose active public service is distinctly distant. Lord Armstrong of Ilminster is in
