Through the smoke of battle at last, a positive image for a renewed United Kingdom begins to be visible. Arise Gordon Brown, mark 2. Brown could be one to redesign UK if vote is no Patrick Wintour (The Guardian, 18/9/14) Gordon Brown, in pole position in the event of a no vote to be hailed as the man who saved the union, has crafted a plan for a post-referendum constitutional settlement in the UK, including a new role for an elected House of Lords as an arbiter in disputes between the four nations.nBrown is likely to get a prominent role in the debate following a no vote and has served notice that he intends to lead a major Commons debate on the future of the union. He wants the entrenchment of the Scottish parliament, a codification of the purpose of the UK and a power sharing partnership that he describes as home rule within the UK. Until two weeks ago his plans might have quickly gathered dust, but the sudden transformation in his reputation from a failed prime minister to a visionary has given him a renewed influence. David Cameron has admitted he has been in frequent contact with Brown, leaning on his advice about how best to prevent a haemorrhage of Labour votes to yes. The two joint devolution initiatives made in the last few days by the three Westminster party leaders were heavily influenced by Brown’s thinking. Many of Brown’s ideas were set out in his summer book My Scotland, Our Britain. Although some of his thinking will be anathema to Conservatives, much of it has been embraced by Nick Clegg and Cameron. The two party leaders have accepted his argument that “voters had a right to see the likely devolution reforms mapped out and to have them on the table before they vote in the referendum – enabling them to judge the merits of renewing the union versus the merits of ending it”. No such devolution offer, or timetable, was on the table until Brown intervened. His plan includes a statement of purpose for the UK similar to the US declaration of independence, including a commitment to provide security and opportunity for all. He also wants the Scottish parliament recognised as permanent and indissoluble. The same permanence, he says, could be conferred on the assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland. He also proposes the Lords could become an elected senate and be more representative of the regions and nations. It might also be able to block legislation for two years if proposed laws meet such strong opposition in one part of the country that it threatens the unity of the whole. The plan has shortcomings, including saying little about devolving powers within English regions, but if Scotland votes no, Brown will have earned the right for his ideas to be heard with the respect he failed to get in No10 On the website © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 15:28:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015