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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Straw's written constitution hint | Straw's written constitution hint |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw has sent out a strong signal that the government is ready to draw up Britain's first ever written constitution. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw has sent out a strong signal that the government is ready to draw up Britain's first ever written constitution. |
| He said the move would encapsulate in one document a citizen's rights, their responsibilities and an outline of how the different arms of government work. | He said the move would encapsulate in one document a citizen's rights, their responsibilities and an outline of how the different arms of government work. |
| He told the BBC the process could take 20 years and depend on a referendum. | He told the BBC the process could take 20 years and depend on a referendum. |
| In a speech in the US later he will say most UK people "struggle to put a finger on where their rights are". | In a speech in the US later he will say most UK people "struggle to put a finger on where their rights are". |
| Mr Straw is already working on a new Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, which could be used as the basis of a written constitution. | Mr Straw is already working on a new Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, which could be used as the basis of a written constitution. |
| Careful thinking | Careful thinking |
| It would spell out an individual's obligations to society and place a new emphasis on the concept of civic duty. | It would spell out an individual's obligations to society and place a new emphasis on the concept of civic duty. |
| He will concede that some aspects of a country's constitution should change to reflect the modern world - a remark interpreted as a reference to the difficulties of dealing with terror suspects. | He will concede that some aspects of a country's constitution should change to reflect the modern world - a remark interpreted as a reference to the difficulties of dealing with terror suspects. |
| We can learn from the American example, particularly from the concept of civic duty Jack StrawJustice Secretary | We can learn from the American example, particularly from the concept of civic duty Jack StrawJustice Secretary |
| Mr Straw, who oversaw the introduction of the controversial Human Rights Act when he was home secretary, will make the speech at George Washington University during a three-day visit to the US. | Mr Straw, who oversaw the introduction of the controversial Human Rights Act when he was home secretary, will make the speech at George Washington University during a three-day visit to the US. |
| He will say: "We now need to think very carefully about whether a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities should be a step towards a full written constitution, which would bring us in line with the most progressive democracies around the world. | He will say: "We now need to think very carefully about whether a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities should be a step towards a full written constitution, which would bring us in line with the most progressive democracies around the world. |
| "But that is a debate for another time." | "But that is a debate for another time." |
| Mr Straw says the constitution of the UK "exists in hearts and minds as much as it does in law". | Mr Straw says the constitution of the UK "exists in hearts and minds as much as it does in law". |
| "But most people might struggle go put their finger on where their rights are." | "But most people might struggle go put their finger on where their rights are." |
| Magna Carta | Magna Carta |
| "The next stage is to look at whether we need to articulate those rights which are scattered across a whole host of places. | "The next stage is to look at whether we need to articulate those rights which are scattered across a whole host of places. |
| "We can learn from the American example, particularly from the concept of civic duty. | "We can learn from the American example, particularly from the concept of civic duty. |
| "We want to elevate them in a new status in a constitutional document. | "We want to elevate them in a new status in a constitutional document. |
| "It is much easier to perform your civic duty when you have a clear sense of what is expected of you." | "It is much easier to perform your civic duty when you have a clear sense of what is expected of you." |
| But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that if the government went for a full written constitution, it would take between 10 and 20 years to establish and would involve a referendum. | But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that if the government went for a full written constitution, it would take between 10 and 20 years to establish and would involve a referendum. |
| Mr Straw's call for a debate on the matter marks a shift in the government's and his position. Last year he indicated he was no longer opposed to a written constitution. | Mr Straw's call for a debate on the matter marks a shift in the government's and his position. Last year he indicated he was no longer opposed to a written constitution. |
| 'Constitutional convention' | |
| The existing British constitution is contained in a wide range of written documents - tracing back to Magna Carta in 1215 - and common law. | The existing British constitution is contained in a wide range of written documents - tracing back to Magna Carta in 1215 - and common law. |
| Mr Straw will say that developments in the UK had been a "quiet revolution", and that the Human Rights Act had been carefully drafted so it did not affect the constitution. | Mr Straw will say that developments in the UK had been a "quiet revolution", and that the Human Rights Act had been carefully drafted so it did not affect the constitution. |
| Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Heath said: "The Liberal Democrats have long argued for a written constitution, subject to a national referendum. | |
| "If ministers are serious... it should not be drafted behind closed doors by politicians but by a constitutional convention that includes members of the public. | |
| "It is about time ministers trusted people and involved them in decision making, rather than just consulting them." |