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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Straw's written constitution hint | Straw's written constitution hint |
| (39 minutes 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 he said most UK people "struggle to put their finger on where their rights are". | In a speech in the US he said most UK people "struggle to put their 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. |
| 'Scattered' rights | 'Scattered' rights |
| 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 concedes 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 concedes 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 a great deal from the US example, particularly with regard to the enviable notion of civic duty Jack StrawJustice Secretary | We can learn a great deal from the US example, particularly with regard to the enviable notion of civic duty Jack StrawJustice Secretary |
| Mr Straw, who oversaw the introduction of the controversial Human Rights Act when he was home secretary, outlined his thoughts in a 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, outlined his thoughts in a speech at George Washington University during a three-day visit to the US. |
| He said the UK could learn a great deal from the US constitutional system "with regard to the enviable notion of civic duty that seems to flow so strongly through American veins". | He said the UK could learn a great deal from the US constitutional system "with regard to the enviable notion of civic duty that seems to flow so strongly through American veins". |
| "It is made much easier to fulfil your civic duty when you have a clear sense of to what you belong and what it is expected from you." | "It is made much easier to fulfil your civic duty when you have a clear sense of to what you belong and what it is expected from you." |
| Mr Straw says the constitution of the UK "is in our cultural DNA". | Mr Straw says the constitution of the UK "is in our cultural DNA". |
| However, "most people might struggle go put their finger on what those rights are or in which texts they are located". | However, "most people might struggle go put their finger on what those rights are or in which texts they are located". |
| "The next stage in the UK's constitutional development is to look at whether we need better to articulate those rights which are scattered across a whole host of different places and indeed the responsibilities that go with being British." | "The next stage in the UK's constitutional development is to look at whether we need better to articulate those rights which are scattered across a whole host of different places and indeed the responsibilities that go with being British." |
| Shifting position | Shifting position |
| Mr Straw said developments in the UK had been a "quiet revolution". | Mr Straw said developments in the UK had been a "quiet revolution". |
| The Human Rights Act "was a landmark in the development of rights in the UK", but the question now was "whether this goes far enough", he said. | The Human Rights Act "was a landmark in the development of rights in the UK", but the question now was "whether this goes far enough", he said. |
| However desirable it may be, a written constitution isn't going to happen Professor Robert Hazell University College London | |
| "We need now to think very carefully about whether a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities should be a step towards a fully written constitution, which would bring us in line with most progressive democracies around the world. | "We need now to think very carefully about whether a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities should be a step towards a fully written constitution, which would bring us in line with most progressive democracies around the world. |
| "But that is a debate for another time." | "But that is a debate for another time." |
| Earlier 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. | Earlier 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. |
| 'Constitutional convention' | '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. |
| Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Heath said: "The Liberal Democrats have long argued for a written constitution, subject to a national referendum. | 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. | "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." | "It is about time ministers trusted people and involved them in decision making, rather than just consulting them." |
| Constitution 'unlikely' | |
| Professor Robert Hazell, of the University College London constitution unit, said he thought it unlikely that Britain would ever have a written constitution. | |
| "Constitutions don't get written in cold blood. | |
| "Written constitutions typically follow defeat in war, a revolution, independence or the collapse of the previous system of government. | |
| "None of those fates is likely to befall the UK. So however desirable it may be, a written constitution isn't going to happen". | |
| But Professor Hazell said he did support the government's interest in developing a British Bill of Rights. |