Delivering enduring change February 2, 2010

CentreForum in association with The Constitution Society

Constitutional reform is back near the top of the political agenda as a result of the Parliamentary expenses scandal. Everyone is now agreed that change is needed, but there is little or no agreement about what those changes should be. Each week, new reforms – some populist, some partisan, all piecemeal – are offered up by the political parties, with little apparent regard for their wider constitutional impact. It isn’t at all clear that politicians are capable, on their own, of properly handling these issues.

For this reason, many believe that a constitutional convention should be established to bring together, in a holistic fashion, the large number of issues (and stakeholders) involved. But what should be the product of such a convention – a simple report or a draft Written Constitution? And should such a constitution be put, in its entirety, to a referendum, or should plebiscites be used only in relation to specific constitutional changes? And how can we best ensure that political calculations of party self-interest aren’t able to delay or derail the process, and that there is proper consideration and debate of issues which will affect generations to come?

Participants:

* Professor Sir John Baker, St Catherine’s College, Cambridge
* Lord (Jim) Wallace of Tankerness, former Deputy First Minister, Scottish Executive
* Professor Vernon Bogdanor, Brasenose College, Oxford '
* Peter Riddell, Chair of the Hansard Society and Senior Fellow of the Institute for Government

Refreshments

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