When did UK governments lose their way?

Grany

Thats why we need an affective Head of State and a written constitution you can't rely on politicians in government to be good chaps. All power from the election is given to parliament government and PM with no checks and balances in place. Time for proper democracy take what we have and make it democratic from top to bottom. Abolish the Monarchy the elephant in the room

Firstly, we have a 'written constitution', it just isn't written all in one place.

Secondly, no 'written constitution' guarantees that it isn't going to be manipulated by a government determined to use its power to have its own way, either for the good or the detriment of the country being governed.

Thirdly, constitutions are very difficult things to design from scratch. there are always unintended consequences. do you think that the Founding Fathers of the USA intended 'the right to bear arms' to mean that Americans were henceforth free to amass huge personal arsenals of lethal weaponry and use it to kill their fellow citizens in huge numbers?

IIRC from my uni lectures, post revolutionary France went through several new 'constitutions' over the course of 100 or so years before settling on what they have now.

Checks and balances only work if everyone respects them...We've seen how our current government has blithely ignored or sought to restrict the 'checks and balances' we have in place and how very difficult it is to hold them to account.

Who would you propose the ultimate power to lie with, if not Parliament?

1946?

Do you mean 1984?

Also Grany not being nitpicking but did you mean ‘affective’ as in mood disorder or ‘effective’ as in unattainable goal?

MaizieD the ultimate power of the government is supposed to lie with the people?

ronib

MaizieD the ultimate power of the government is supposed to lie with the people?

I think it is meant to be a joint effort.

If you say it lies with 'the people', who is to say what 'the people' want? After all, we got bloody Brexit on the 'will' of less than half the electorate..

OTOH, if a government is elected on a certain manifesto, then starts enacting things that aren't on their manifesto; changing some constitutional arrangements, perhaps, or over riding the actual legislative body (as the government is currently trying to do) how do 'the people' stop them if they only have a voice once every 4 or 5 years?

MaizieD the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011 was amended in 2022 so arguably some democratic powers are restored?

Unfortunately British Constitution at A level wasn’t the most enthralling subject at the time. However I can’t but help notice that we have had a rapid turnover of PMs in recent years. I am worried that in reality the Uk PM holds far too much political power- and this needs to be rebalanced? Some policy decisions are akin to the charge of the light brigade?

Aqa runs a gcse course and one module suggests joining an interest group? Campaigning?

Nah!

Revolution.

ronib

MaizieD should be possible to request a transfer to another department, or take redundancy payment or early retirement.

Redundancy happens when an employer wants to reduce its workforce and early retirement usually takes place at age 55 or over, unless you're a footballer or ballerina or in other types of work where by the age of 55 you probably couldn't do.

Dinahmo redundancy also happens in the Civil Service when a department or part of one is closed down.

ronib

Dinahmo redundancy also happens in the Civil Service when a department or part of one is closed down.

They're not going to shut down the Home Office. In fact, they need to expand it to deal with the massive backlog of asylum applications.

However I can’t but help notice that we have had a rapid turnover of PMs in recent years.

Gosh, I didn't think anyone had noticed that... What would we do without you to put us right, ronib....

How do you think that the Fixed Term Parliament Act (which has now been repealed, contributes to 'restoring democratic powers'?

I don't know if you noticed, but certainly over my lifetime very few Parliaments have gone as long as 5 years... Even when the act was in force we had GEs 2015, 2017 and 2019...

I think if I were in charge, I would restructure it and therefore make it work to the benefit of the whole community! Not just the woke bit.

MaizieD this current government is not going to call an early election though is it?
The elections of 2015, 2017 and 2019 suited Cameron, May and Johnson?

Don’t you think it’s an advantage to be able to call a general election without waiting 5 years come hell or high water? Wasn’t that a Clegg idea?

Oh, do stop wittering, ronib

Why don't you go and take that AQA course on the British constitution.

After you MaizieD

ronib

Dinahmo redundancy also happens in the Civil Service when a department or part of one is closed down.

Exactly - when they want to reduce the workforce.

Dinahmo or when another government department wishes to take over the work of another.

Without a written constitution it's impossible to entrench anything in British law. Anything Paliament does Parliament can undo. If Labour introduces new rights in next Parliament, a future government can take them away. So written constitution and elected Head of State.

This explains everything in detail

1979

Grany

Without a written constitution it's impossible to entrench anything in British law. Anything Paliament does Parliament can undo. If Labour introduces new rights in next Parliament, a future government can take them away. So written constitution and elected Head of State.

Something or someone has to be sovereign, Grany. It is either Parliament, elected representatives of the citizens of the country, or it is a Dictator (your 'elected head of state'). Which is going to best represent the diverse needs and desires of the electorate?

I prefer to think that Parliament, imperfect though it is, is the correct sovereign element. And a parliament without the power to change the law is not an effective instrument of governance.

I'm sorry, but I think those ideas, if they reflect the thought of Republicans, are pie in the sky. And dangerous. Systems which are subject to sudden change are volatile and vulnerable.

Written constitutions guarantee nothing at all. Even they can be changed and amended.

“OTOH, if a government is elected on a certain manifesto, then starts enacting things that aren't on their manifesto; changing some constitutional arrangements, perhaps, or over riding the actual legislative body (as the government is currently trying to do) how do 'the people' stop them if they only have a voice once every 4 or 5 years?”

Perhaps we should do as the Swiss do and have a referendum vote on any important decision

I think manifestos have had their day.

I used to think the Swiss idea was a bit bonkers, but what we and some other countries have is a lot worse now, now that higher ups seem to do as they please.