Writing the British Constitution

Democracy is “in a crisis”, an MP has warned at a discussion with leading constitutional experts on the merits of a written constitution.

Speaking last week at a King’s College London event, Writing the British Constitution, Graham Allen MP spoke of historically high levels of voter disengagement and argued that the current political system is in danger of becoming irrelevant without codification.

The Scottish Referendum, 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and ongoing arguments over membership of the EU and the European Convention on Human Rights have heightened the significance of the written constitution debate.

Stephen Hockman QC said no-one involved with the creation of the Human Rights Act dreamt that it would be at risk within so short a time. He called for the act to be given greater protection from the “pendulum” of public perception.

The event was chaired by Professor Robert Blackburn, author of the Halsbury’s Laws of England title, Constitutional and Administrative Law, published by LexisNexis.