UK PM Burnham signals support for written constitution

Britain's new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has expressed his backing for the establishment of a written constitution in the UK, which currently lacks one. Upon taking office just two weeks ago, Burnham has made the devolution of power to regional authorities a key focus of his administration. He emphasized that the current lack of a written constitution leaves people arguing about fundamental issues and disempowers regions within the country.

According to Burnham, "It’s wrong that people are left arguing for things that are just fundamental … and the lack of a constitution disempowers places in that situation."

Unlike most countries, the UK does not have a single authoritative document guiding its governance. Instead, the nation is governed by a collection of statutes, common law judgments, and treaties. This issue has gained prominence in recent years, with Labour's previous Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who served from 2007 to 2010, being a notable advocate for the change.

Burnham, who previously served as a minister in Brown's government, has not ruled out the possibility of initiating a serious effort to codify the constitution.

The process of codifying the UK's constitution would likely be a lengthy endeavor, potentially requiring a major public inquiry and extensive consultations, as indicated by a parliamentary committee's five-year review in 2015. The review concluded that there was no clear consensus on the matter.

In a recent announcement, Burnham revealed plans to allow regional mayors in England to retain a portion of the taxes collected within their areas. This move is part of his broader initiative to transfer power away from the highly centralized capital and distribute it to regional authorities. Currently, the UK, which consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, has seen significant constitutional reforms in the late 1990s that established devolved parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast.

However, experts note that England remains one of Europe's most centralized nations, despite these recent developments.