Patriot games

28 Mar 08
MIKE THATCHER | Gordon Brown is a Scot who is proud to be British. He believes in British workers for British jobs and is scathing of those who threaten the Union.

Gordon Brown is a Scot who is proud to be British. He believes in British workers for British jobs and is scathing of those who threaten the Union.

We know this because Brown chose constitutional reform as the subject for his maiden speech in Parliament as PM. Nine months on and we have finally seen what he intends to do.

The draft Constitutional Renewal Bill includes proposals on electoral reform, parliamentary approval for war, and strengthening civil service independence. It even abolishes restrictions on the number of days public buildings can fly the Union flag.

Many of these ideas are sensible, although there is some concern that patriotism could give way to jingoism. Is it really necessary, as Lord Goldsmith has proposed, to create a ‘Britishness’ day or to force 18-year-olds to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen?

Brown is also taking a risk by establishing a constitutional commission to examine the powers of the Scottish Parliament and to consider tax-raising measures and financial accountability.

The commission, supported by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, will not consider independence for Scotland. But it could make far-reaching recommendations, including putting an end to the Barnett Formula, which has determined spending levels north of the border for the past 30 years.

Brown hopes that calls for Scottish independence will be muted if the Parliament is given extra powers. But it could work the other way, with a beefed-up Parliament seen as a stepping-stone to full independence.

The Scottish National Party certainly believes this to be the case. First Minister Alex Salmond claimed that the Unionist parties had played into his hands by establishing the commission under Sir Kenneth Calman.

It won’t be long until we find out, with Calman due to publish an interim report in November. Salmond has challenged his opponents to support a referendum, which would include the commission’s proposals and those of the SNP on independence.

Whatever happens, the constitutional settlement is likely to look very different another ten years from now

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