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UK: Government is to consult on the "Governance of Britain"

01 October 2007

- War powers and treaties: limiting Executive powers (pdf)

Centuries overdue proposal to remove the "royal perogative" powers exercised by government:

The "Ponsonby Rules". Arthur Ponsonby, a life-long pacifist and campaigner for open government, was an Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office in the Ramsay MacDonald Labour government of 1924. He gave an undertaking, during the 2nd reading of the Treaty of Peace (Turkey) Bill on 1 April 1924, that the House of Commons would be informed of all treaties and agreements and that they would be "laid" before the House for 21 days and it became the constitutional practice. Unlike most other national legislatures where written constitutions gives parliaments the formal power of ratifying treaties and international agreements this power rests with the government in the UK (exercising the royal prerogative on behalf of the monarch).

- Managing Protest around Parliament (pdf)

This would not be "on the table" but for Brian Haw's courageous ongoing protest outside the House of Commons against the Iraq war and the protests organised by Mark Thomas and friends.

- Judicial Appointments (pdf)

Also: Result of government consultation on increasing FOI fees - the majority against so the government has backed off: Fees consultation response (pdf)