UK Chapter 3: constitutional reform 1997-2010
- Created by: maddydavey
- Created on: 13-06-21 15:37
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- Constitutional reform 1997-2010
- Aims
- Democratisation - electoral reform, greater use of referenda, unelected HoL
- Decentralisation - devolution to S,W and NI, and to English regions
- Modernisation - get rid of outdated and inefficient aspects of Parliament and the executive
- Stronger protection of rights, incorporate the ECHR into domestic law under the HRA, FOI
- Rights
- FOI Act 2000
- gives the public the 'right to know', makes government decisions more open and therefore more accountable
- HRA 1998
- first time secondary legislation has enshrined rights of citizens into law
- quite successful, HRA and FOI very significant
- FOI Act 2000
- Devolution
- devolved institutions created in Scotland, Wales and NI after 'yes' voted in referenda
- Scotland - given primary legislative powers in a range of policy areas, including tax-varying powers
- NI - given primary legislative powers but no tax-varying powers
- Wales - given secondary legislative and executive powers, only able to implement Westminster's policies
- devolution to English regions
- a newly elected mayor of London granted significant power in areas such as transport and the environment
- London Assembly created to scrutinise actions of the mayor
- introduced a congestion charge for motorists entering central London
- a successful policy that was implemented elsewhere
- a newly elected mayor of London granted significant power in areas such as transport and the environment
- devolved institutions created in Scotland, Wales and NI after 'yes' voted in referenda
- When did most reform happen?
- Most under Blair's first government, however Constitutional Reform Act of 2005 very significant
- It appeared an early priority for Brown, however impacts of global economic crisis and his short tenure in office meant that little was achieved
- Electoral reform
- Jenkins report (1998) recommended replacing FPTP used for Westminster elections with hybrid system: AV+
- not successful, Labour failed on one of its central reforms
- reforms made to other elections and new devolved institutions given more proportional systems
- European Parliament
- Scottish Parliament: AMS
- Scottish local government: STV
- London Assembly: AMS
- directly elected mayors: SV
- Jenkins report (1998) recommended replacing FPTP used for Westminster elections with hybrid system: AV+
- Judicial reform
- Constitutional Reform Act 2005
- get rid of incumbent's role as Lord Chancellor and speaker of the HoL
- enhanced separation of powers
- changed system of appointing judges
- get rid of incumbent's role as Lord Chancellor and speaker of the HoL
- principles
- improve independence of judiciary, separation of powers
- bring UK into line with modern constitutional practice
- Constitutional Reform Act 2005
- Parliamentary reform
- House of Lords Act 1999
- abolished the right of all by 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the upper chamber
- intended as the first stage
- second stage was supposed to be reviewing the composition of the Lords but Lords and Commons couldn't come to an agreement
- abolished the right of all by 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the upper chamber
- reform to the Commons
- change to working hours of commons, changes to PM's Question Time, chairs of select committees to be elected by backbenchers, BBBC to control business of HoC for 1 working day
- Brown's 'Governance of Britain' green paper 2010
- designed to limit powers of executive and make them more accountable
- House of Lords Act 1999
- Aims
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