On Independence Day Britons read in their newspapers about new Prime Minister George Brown’s “route map” for reform of the British version of democracy. Mr. Brown said the wanted to make the state a “better servant of the people”.
Among the possible reforms were a Bill of Rights, though there was nothing to suggest that this time the people would tell the state what their rights are, rather than the “rights as privileges” arrangement that we have had till now.
There is to be increased public scrutiny of public appointments but the people are to have no say in the appointment of their head of state. Nor will the scrutinising parliamentary committees have power to block appointments.
The Prime Minister wants Parliament to take over his power to appoint bishops. But he did not question the propriety of the state being involved in the appointment of bishops at all, nor the disgrace of a state discrimination in favour of a religious organisation.
The bishops are legislators but Mr. Brown held out no hope of democratising the House of Lords in which they sit any time soon. Instead he has appointed a number of new legislators-foe-life in order to bring individual who are not MPs into his government.
A written constitution was also a possibility at some time in the distant future. But the Prime Minister gave no indication of how the people might agree this constitution nor how it would be reconciled with the numerous British practices that put state convenience before basic democratic principles.
No mention was made of ending the ban on republicans sitting as legislators or holding many other public offices. Nor was mention made of making all citizens eligible for the office of head of state.