Straw hints at written constitution
Straw drafting bill of British rights
Wednesday, 13, Feb 2008 12:00
The UK will not get its first written constitution for at least two decades, the justice secretary has said.
Jack Straw confirmed ministers are seriously considering a written constitution - an idea first floated by the prime minister in July - but said any progress would be slow and based on consensus.
Gordon Brown has already asked Mr Straw to compile a British bill of rights and responsibilities and the justice secretary said today this could be extended into a broader constitution, including an outline of how the government works.
In a speech in the US later, he is expected to say: "We now need to think very carefully about whether a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities should be a step towards a full written constitution, which would bring us in line with the most progressive democracies around the world."
Speaking to the Today programme this morning he stressed any written constitution would need years of debate before being put to a public vote.
"It is not something that can be rushed. It is certainly something that can only be done on a bipartisan, consensual basis … I think this would take 10, 20 years to get there," Mr Straw said.
In his speech to George Washington University, the justice secretary will say many Britons "struggle to put a finger on where their rights are".
But he will argue the UK constitution "exists in hearts and minds as much as it does in law".
"The next stage is to look at whether we need to articulate those rights which are scattered across a whole host of places.
"We can learn from the American example, particularly from the concept of civic duty.
"We want to elevate them in a new status in a constitutional document.
"It is much easier to perform your civic duty when you have a clear sense of what is expected of you."
The Conservatives rejected the comparison, arguing the US constitution was drawn up for a new country by leaders with a vision for democracy.
"The last thing which Britain needs, with two thousand years of history behind us, is more of New Labour's blind constitutional vandalism," said shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert.
He added: "The government is clueless about what reform they're actually offering.
"They're calling for a written constitution, but saying nothing will happen for decades. They're concocting a Statement of British Values, but asking focus groups what should be in it."
The Liberal Democrats, who have long argued for a written constitution ratified by a referendum, were more supportive of the idea.
Justice spokesman David Heath said: "If ministers are serious... it should not be drafted behind closed doors by politicians but by a constitutional convention that includes members of the public.
"It is about time ministers trusted people and involved them in decision making, rather than just consulting them."