正在編輯用戶:Politics Notes on the UK Constitution （章節）

== New Labour and Constitutional Reform 1997-2010 ==
Labour emerged victorious from the 1997 GE after promising a program of constitutional reform that was driven by 4 interlocking themes

=== Modernisation ===

* The existing institutions like Parliament, the executive branch, and the civil service were seen as outdated and inefficient
* So reforms were proposed to make them more effective and up-to-date.

=== Democratisation ===

* The goal was to encourage greater participation in the political process.
* This would be achieved through
** electoral reform
** making the voting system fairer
** and increasing the use of referendums to involve citizens directly in decision-making.

=== Decentralisation ===

* Power and decision-making authority would be devolved to new institutions, giving more control to local governments.
* The aim was to enhance the role and influence of local communities in shaping policies and making decisions.

=== Rights ===

* The rights of citizens would be strengthened and safeguarded

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Area
!Reforms
|-
| rowspan="2" |Rights
|Human Rights Act 1998: Incorporated the ECHR into UK Law
Rights protected by the HRA include:

* Right to Life
* Right to Liberty and Personal Security
* Right to a Fair Trial
* Respect for Private and Family Life
* Freedom of Thought and Expression
* Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
* Right to Marry and Start a Family
* Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
* Freedom from Discrimination

The HRA requires the British Government to ensure that legislation is compatible with the ECHR.
|-
|Freedom of Information Act 2000: Gave greater access to information held by public bodies
|-
| rowspan="7" |Devolution
|The new system was one of asymmetric devolution
|-
|The Scottish parliament with primary legislative and tax-raising powers
|-
|The Northern Ireland Assembly with primary legislative powers
|-
|The Welsh Assembly with secondary legislative powers
|-
|A directly elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly
|-
|Elected Mayors in some English authorities
|-
|West Lothian Question:
"Why should Scottish MPs be able to vote on English matters at Westminster,
when English MPs cannot vote on matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament"
|-
|Electoral Reform
|New electoral systems for devolved assemblies, for the European Parliament and for elected mayors
|-
| rowspan="2" |Parliamentary Reform
|All but 92 hereditary peers removed from the Lords (HoL Act 1999)
|-
|Limited reforms to the workings of the House of Commons
Changes to the PMQ
Working hours of the Commons
2009 Reform of the Commons Committee (chaired by Tony Wright)

* chars of selected committees to be elected by backbenchers
* a backbench business committee to determine the business of the Commons for 1 day each week
* a petitions committee to select issues for debate that have been suggested by the public via e-petitiobs
|-
| rowspan="4" |Judiciary
|Constitutional Reform Act 2005
|-
|Supreme Court started work in Oct 2009
|-
|New judicial appointments system
|-
|Changes to the role of the Lord Chancellor
|}