The government announced (in the Queen's Speech) plans to publish a draft Constitutional Renewal Bill. Eventual legislation would be designed to give parliament more ability to hold government to account, as well as to clarify the role of government (both central and local). The civil service could be placed on a statutory footing.
Source: Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to Both Houses of Parliament, 6 November 2007, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Queens Speech | Downing Street press release | Unlock Democracy press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Nov
The government published a Green Paper on constitutional reform. It proposed ending or limiting the executive's powers in a range of areas – including over the declaration of war, the recall of parliament, and the making of key public appointments. There would be a new ministerial code of conduct. MPs representing Scottish seats would continue to be allowed to vote on English-only matters. It called for a debate over whether there should be a bill of rights.
Source: The Governance of Britain, Cm 7170, Ministry of Justice, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Green Paper | Hansard | Downing Street press release | Scotland Office press release | Conservative Party press release | Liberty press release | JUSTICE press release | Unlock Democracy press release | BHA press release | National Secular Society press release | CofE press release | BBC report | Guardian report | FT report | Young People Now report
Date: 2007-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs put forward plans to enhance the role of backbench MPs. It recommended time limits on the length of frontbenchers' speeches; a weekly 90-minute debate on a 'big issue of the day'; and allowing MPs to ask ministers questions without having to give three days' notice.
Source: Revitalising the Chamber: The role of the back bench Member, First Report (Session 2006-07), HC 337, House of Commons Modernisation Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Jun
A taskforce created by the opposition Conservative Party made recommendations designed to reform and strengthen Parliament. There would be new checks and balances on the power of government, and an increase in the independence and influence of Parliamentary Select Committees.
Source: Conservative Democracy Task Force, Power to the People: Rebuilding Parliament, Conservative Party (020 7222 9000)
Links: Report | Conservative Party press release
Date: 2007-Jun
A discussion paper examined how laws were made, and the influences that were brought to bear on the legislative process.
Source: Alex Brazier, Susanna Kalitowski and Gemma Rosenblatt, Law in the Making: A discussion paper, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2007-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs said that the Home Office had 'wilfully ignored' the wishes of Parliament and signed up to new European Union rules on compulsory prisoner transfers without parliamentary approval. Ministers had been warned on three occasions that they should not agree the plans until they had first been debated by Parliament: but they had done so anyway. (The agreement would allow Britain to send some 2,000 European Union prisoners back to their home countries: in exchange, about 800 British nationals in prisons abroad would be repatriated.)
Source: European Enforcement Order and the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Nineteenth Report (Session 2006-07), HC 41, House of Commons European Scrutiny Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-May
A report examined the legitimacy and effectiveness of lobbying Members of Parliament. Lobbying was more widespread than it was often assumed to be by its critics and supporters, and public affairs activity was becoming more professionalized. 62 per cent of MPs claim that they were more persuaded by arguments put forward by charities and interest groups than by businesses.
Source: Philip Parvin, Friend or Foe? Lobbying in British democracy, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Apr
The House of Commons voted in favour of a wholly elected House of Lords, by 337 to 224, in an 'indicative' vote (not part of a bill for reform of the Lords). The House of Lords voted to reject all options for reform.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 6 March 2006, columns 1524-1632, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Conservative Party press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | FT report
Date: 2007-Mar
The government published a White Paper on reforming the House of Lords. It proposed a smaller upper house of 540 members, with an equal mixture of appointed and elected members.
Source: The House of Lords: Reform, Cm 7027, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: White Paper | Hansard | Conservative Party press release | Unlock Democracy press release | Guardian report | FT report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Feb