The United Kingdom must finally adopt a codified constitution to settle fundamental questions of governance and empower the regions, the prime minister has declared, marking a significant shift in the country’s constitutional debate.
“A clear set of principles”
Speaking on Monday, Andy Burnham threw his weight behind a proposal that has languished in the political wilderness for decades, arguing that the current uncodified system forces the country into perpetual disputes over matters considered settled law elsewhere. He suggested that a sweeping programme of devolution should ultimately culminate in a new constitutional settlement.
“We need a clear set of principles that define how this country should be governed,” Burnham said. He warned that the absence of a single, written document not only stymies the ability of the regions to defend their powers but also leaves the nation arguing over what should be basic, foundational questions.
A centuries-old anomaly
Unlike the vast majority of modern states, Britain relies on a patchwork of parliamentary statutes, judicial precedents, constitutional conventions, and international treaties rather than a single text. The debate over codifying this arrangement is not new. It was publicly championed by former prime minister Gordon Brown— under who Burnham once served — though it has failed to gain lasting traction.
In 2015, a special parliamentary committee concluded a five-year inquiry into the matter, finding no clear consensus on the need for a written document. Now, with Burnham’s intervention, the idea appears to be gaining fresh political momentum, though officials acknowledge that drafting such a constitution would take years and require exhaustive public consultation and cross-party consensus.
Devolution as the first step
The prime minister’s remarks come amid an acceleration of his government’s devolution agenda. Last week, Burnham announced plans to allow elected mayors across England to retain a portion of locally collected taxes, a direct effort to dismantle the extreme centralisation of power in Westminster.
While Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland secured their own parliaments following the reforms of the late 1990s, England has lagged conspicuously behind. Despite the emergence of regional authorities in recent years, experts maintain that England remains one of the most centralised parts of Europe—a status quo Burnham’s proposed reforms aim to upend.
