It ain’t over...

The current Labour government have overseen the most radical reforms of the constitution since the late 17th century. Taken individually, the most recent proposals may not sound as important as those already delivered - such as devolution - but in total they signify that Labour is still serious about changing the apparatus of government

For those of you who’ve been banged up in some Cuban jail, as Alan Sugar said on this week’s Apprentice, the government has formally presented its plans for further tinkering of the constitution.

These were first trailed by Gordon Brown last summer, and this week the Justice Minister, Jack Straw, put his white paper to the Commons.

According to the BBC website, the key proposals are:

“Seek approval of Parliament before committing forces into armed conflict abroad

Lift restrictions on demonstrations outside Parliament

Allow government buildings to fly the Union flag at any time

Attorney General to have no power to give directions to prosecutors except in exceptional cases

End power of the prime minister to make judicial appointments and the Lord Chancellor from appointments below the High Court

Put civil service values into law

The ratification of treaties cannot proceed without the approval of Parliament - although this will not affect current arrangements for EU and tax treaties.”

Reaction was, understandably, much cooler than it was last summer, and is captured best by Jonathan Freedland’s column in the Guardian:

“It’s taken nine months of gestation, and yesterday it was delivered. But when Jack Straw presented his baby to the House of Commons there was not much in the way of ooh-ing and aah-ing. Instead the package of constitutional reforms he showed off to MPs elicited little more than a shrug inside the Commons and disappointment outside. It served as another reminder that what matters in politics is rarely content alone. Just as important is context.

Last July it was Gordon Brown, rather than Straw, who unveiled a raft of measures to improve the way Britain is governed. Constitutional anoraks swooned, competing for superlatives. A new era in British governance had dawned.

The proposals Brown offered then were much the same as those advanced by Straw yesterday, promising to transfer key powers from the executive to parliament. Yet no one will be getting out the bunting this time. That’s partly because there were telltale water stains all over the white paper and draft bill Straw launched yesterday - clear signs of dilution. Last July’s promise of a shift in war powers from the prime minister to MPs now emerges in paler form: there will be no new law, merely a convention that MPs ought to vote on sending our troops into battle.”

Read more here