Change is Essential for Britain's Future

Gordon Brown has called for constitutional reform that "entrusts more power to Parliament and the British people".

In a statement to the House of Commons, the Prime Minister outlined the Government's proposed changes to the relationship it has with both Parliament and with the electorate. The "route map" of today's paper will ensure that the Government "is a better servant of the people", he said.

Measures in the Green Paper, titled "The Governance of Britain", include a debate on the possibility of a written British constitution and Bill of Rights and granting Parliament the right to vote on legislation arising from international agreements such as the recently agreed EU amending treaty.

The Prime Minister said:

"We will only meet the new challenges of security, of economic change, of communities under pressure - and forge a stronger shared national purpose - by building a new relationship between citizens and government that ensures that Government is a better servant of the people.

"This route map seeks to address two fundamental questions: to hold power more accountable and to uphold and enhance the rights and responsibilities of the citizen."

The Green Paper, which will be taken forward by the Ministry of Justice, sets out four main areas for reform: limiting the powers of the executive; making the executive more accountable; re-invigorating democracy; and strengthening the relationship between the individual and the state.

To limit the power of the executive the Government proposes to give up or curtail certain powers such as declaring war, ratifying international treaties and influencing the appointment of judges.

Mr Brown also revealed that the Government intends to establish a National Security Council charged with bringing together activities such as defence and community relations, and to regularly publish a national security strategy for public scrutiny.

To increase accountability and make itself "answerable to Parliament and the people", the Government will add to the existing Ministerial code of conduct with a number of measures. These include a simplified system of reporting on expenditure and the holding of parliamentary debates on the objectives and plans of major Government Departments.

The Government will also continue its work on establishing a "substantially or wholly elected" second chamber in place of the House of Lords. Other proposals include a review of the guidelines surrounding protests in the vicinity of Parliament and a consultation on moving general and local elections from Thursdays to Saturdays.

The paper also sets out proposals on the future relationship between "the citizen and the state", such as developing a statement of British values and setting up a Youth Citizenship Commission

ENDS

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