| Why do we need a written constitution? |
| Wednesday, 18 March 2009 14:54 |
| Practically every country in the world except the UK has a written constitution, for at least two good reasons. The first is to place restrictions on what politicians can do with their powers. At themoment, for instance, the UK Parliament has legally unlimited powers to legislate as it sees fit, though this power is now limited both by the EU treaties and by international Human Rights Law. There are still, however, no binding constitutional standards that Parliament and Government are bound to respect. However, an independent Scotland will have a written constitution to define what its Parliament and Government can and cannot do. The second reason for a written constitution is to guarantee the ordinary citizen certain basic human rights. At present, Westminster’s laws and actions do not have to conform to any basic standards laid down in a written constitution. For instance, just as Westminster voted to adopt the European Convention on Human Rights into UK Law, it could just as easily vote to repeal all these rights. The SNP wants a constitution which guarantees rights for everyone and places limits on what politicians can do. |
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