Why liberals and the left should champion constitutional change

Today [Thursday] is the day in Parliament where a lucky few MPs are given the chance to make law. 20 MPs’ names are pulled out of Black Rod’s stocking* who are given the chance of bringing forward a Private Members Bill that has a realistic chance of becoming law. The higher up the list, the better the chance.

In practice what this means is that the top 7 briefly become the most popular politicians in Westminster. They will be wined, dined and flattered by pressure groups, lobbying firms and individuals, intent on persuading the Honorable Member to adopt their proposed bill. I’ll be one of those people, pushing for the Citizens’ Convention Bill, and I’d like to persuade you to join me.

Reforming the constitution has always been a concern of the liberal left. The Guardian has recently been shouting about the Putney Debates. Following on from the Levellers, there were the Chartists. The Liberal Party emerged out of the process that got us the Great Reform Act. The Trade Union movement was always keenly aware of the nature of power. In the 20th century the Suffragists extended the franchise even further while issues ranging from Lords reform (or abolition), devolution and fair votes have been ongoing debates that have never quite resulted in action but have always been predominantly lead by those on the liberal left.

We need change and this is something that all the main political parties are now signed up to. What we have not yet persuaded politicians of yet however is that change cannot be simply on their terms. So it is that Gordon Brown made a point early in his premiership to unveil a wide range of constitutional reforms, along with the promise of more. His specific proposals however were very much the lowest of the hanging fruit: parliamentary votes on whether to hold elections or go to war; more scrutiny of appointments and international treaties; a petitions committee.
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