Wednesday 4 January 2006

Gordon Brown and a written constitution?

According to the Independent, the Chancellor of the Exchequer may seek to implement a written constitution, if he succeeds Tony Blair as Prime Minister.

Brown is drawing up a series of proposals designed to limit the powers of the state.

In principle, I think this is a good idea, if true. I'm no fan, as a libertarian of our current constitutional arrangment. There simply is no check on governmental power within our "uncodified" consitution.

One thing I object to is the exact content of any constitution layed out by Brown. If it contains things such as a right to health care, or right to education, then for evident reasons, I won't support it.

A draft libertarian constitution for Britain can be seen here.