Do We Need a Constitutional Convention for the UK?

by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Political and Constitutional Reform Committee

2013 · The Stationery Office

The ability of the foundations and rules of the UK to evolve and in doing so adapt to changing circumstances has been a great strength. England, despite being home to 83% of the population of the UK, is yet to join the other nations of the Union in having effective devolution. Outside London, most decisions about England are still taken centrally by the UK Parliament though many decisions in the devolved parts of the Union are also taken centrally in the sense that they are made by the devolved Administrations and Legislatures for the whole of that part of the Union. 'Prospects for codifying the relationship between central and local government' (HC 656-I, ISBN 9780215052544) outlined a way in which devolution for England could be taken forward using local councils as the vehicle. Among the options is a national forum, or pre-convention, for England to discuss the most appropriate method to address the English Question. A strong, lasting democratic settlement for the UK must be built upon two principles: those of devolution and union. That is to say, a broad acceptance of the role and powers of the Union, allied to a respect for different but agreed forms of devolution for the nations that make up the Union. The development of bespoke devolution, rather than one size fits all, is welcomed but the more this is within a context of an agreed role for the UK, the more sustainable the settlement will be