Britain plans to draft its first written constitution to advance constitutional reform and devolution of powers

Ending an Unwritten Tradition: The UK Discusses Drafting a Unified Constitution, Implementation May Take Years

The UK may be on the verge of its first written constitution. Prime Minister Andy Burnham supports creating a unified document to establish fundamental principles governing the nation's structure and division of powers.

He stated that the country needs "a fresh, clear set of principles clearly defining how the nation should be governed."

He argued that without entrenched institutional rules, regions are forced into continuous struggles for basic powers, weakening their own positions.

This constitutional reform will complement Burnham’s devolution plan, which aims to transfer power and financial resources from London to local areas.

Government-specific proposals include:

???? Allowing mayors in English regions to retain a portion of locally collected corporation tax;

???? Granting local governments greater control over transportation, housing, and job creation funding;

???? Establishing clearer delineations of powers among England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Andy Burnham formed the UK government on July 20, pledging to drive the largest power redistribution in decades—shifting authority from Westminster’s central government to local communities.

However, implementing a written constitution could take several years. It will likely require broad public consultation, extensive stakeholder negotiations, and a comprehensive review of the existing legal framework and parliamentary powers.

This is not the first time such reforms have been discussed in the UK. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown also expressed support. However, after five years of research, a parliamentary special committee concluded in 2015 that society and political leaders had not reached a clear consensus on a written constitution.

The UK does not have a single, codified constitution. Its constitutional rules are scattered across various statutes, judicial precedents, international treaties, and political traditions. This system has evolved gradually over centuries: beginning with the Magna Carta in 1215, which established the principle that royal power is subject to the law; followed by the Bill of Rights in 1689 and the Acts of Union.

Differing from the US and France, the UK never experienced a revolutionary or war-induced “founding moment” requiring a complete overhaul of its national institutions.

British institutional rules have always evolved incrementally alongside national development.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872459157793796/

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