House of Commons - Consultation on A new Magna Carta? - Political and Constitutional Reform

Political and Constitutional Reform - Seventh Report
Consultation on A new Magna Carta?

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 3 March 2015.

Contents

Terms of Reference

1 Consulting on A new Magna Carta?

Background

Activities to promote the consultation

Seminars and conferences

Other consultation activities

Use of social media

Responses and levels of engagement

2 Themes from consultation responses

Is the time right for constitutional reform?

A constitutional convention for the UK

A 'constitutional moment'?

Is a written constitution necessary?

Should codification start from here?

How should codification be approached?

Our view

3 Further work

Other initiatives for constitutional renewal

Amendments to the blueprints

Consideration by the House in the 2015 Parliament

A draft accessible summary constitution, with options for reform

Conclusions and recommendations

Annex: A draft accessible summary constitution, with options for reform

Appendix 1: Winning entries in the Committee's competition to find a preamble for a written constitution for the UK

Appendix 2: Proceedings of the Committee's conference A new Magna Carta? A constitution for the 21^st century, held in Portcullis House on 11 December 2014

Morning session: 2015—time for a 'constitutional moment'?

Welcome and opening remarks

Professor Vernon Bogdanor: What are the prospects for constitutional reform in 2015?

Professor Dawn Oliver: Constitutional codification: options and challenges

Questions and discussion

Dr Andrew Blick: How should democratic principles and a settlement for the Union be reflected in a written constitution?

Richard Gordon QC: Reform or continuity: should a codified constitution include elements of reform or attempt to describe the UK's current constitutional arrangements?

Questions and discussion

Afternoon session: British democracy and a written constitution

Dr Michele Olivier: What type of body or convention should prepare a written UK constitution?

Professor Ian Cram: Can agreement be reached on a Bill of Rights for the constitution?

Questions and discussion

Professor Roger Mortimore: What constitutional changes could engage the public in politics?

Nick Pearce: A written constitution: what's in it for the public?

Alexandra Runswick, Unlocking Magna Carta: responses from the public

Questions and discussion

Closing remarks

Formal Minutes

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament