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Introduction

Malsha De Mel ?Constitutional reform since 1997 has not gone far enough? Discuss 40 marks After the Labour party?s strong victory in the 1997 general election, winning 179 seats, they have made moves and provisions towards constitutional reform. Indeed, the two prime ministers; Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have done much for reform over the years. They began to reform the British constitution, introducing the Human Rights Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Devolution, elected mayors and local government cabinets and some reform of the Lords among other less important changes. Unfortunately, Labour did not complete those reforms and great deal was left undone, because Brown lost the 2010 election and Conservative-Liberal Democratic government was created. On one hand, it can be said that the constitutional reform has gone far enough because Human rights act allowed the UK a codified definition of individual?s rights and so widened the capacity to protect individual?s rights. ...read more.

Middle

This is because Northern Ireland and Walsh assembly still did not get complete independence as all the foreign and economical policies are decided in Westminster. Devolution has done nothing to advance representative democracy in England, where about 84 per cent of the UK?s population live. Moreover, the reform of the House of Lords has gone far because it reduced the powers of the House of Lords. . This is because House of Lords was not elected and the reform was created to more democratic. Furthermore, the Supreme Court (the highest appeal court) was created which strengthens judicial independence as it breaks the link between the courts and Parliament. Furthermore, the role of the Lord Chancellor was reduced in 2006, and transferred to the Lord Chief Justice, and the Lord Chancellor?s influence over judicial appointments had been much reduces. Under the constitution reform act 2005, the Lord Chancellor has to swear an oath to defend the independence of the judiciary. ...read more.

Conclusion

For example, the road pricing tax was dropped after 1 million people signed a petition against it. Finally, MPs have agreed on a referendum over electoral reform, from our current first past the post system to alternative vote. Therefore, much has been done towards constitutional reform, and it has been effective. However, the referenda can be in-effective because elections turnout has declined from 75% in 1945 to 65% in 2010. Therefore, the low turnout can be a way in which people expresses their disappointment on the political ideas and choices they have. Finally, constitutional reform can be more effective it is codified and entrenched in the constitution. This would help to control executive power, and will help to protect the human rights further. Also, it will be much clear for people to have access to and understand as it is contained in a single document. Therefore, it can be argued that the constitutional reform since 1997 has not gone far enough. Much more can be done to renew the UK?s uncodified constitution, so we look to see what the ?new politics? of the conservative and liberal democrat coalition can offer. ...read more.

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