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UK PM Burnham backs written constitution as devolution push grows

Burnham said the lack of a written constitution leaves fundamental issues unresolved and can disempower regions.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Europe

Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled support for a written constitution, arguing the country needs a clear set of principles for how it should be run. According to reporting from SCMP Economy, Burnham linked the proposal to his broader focus on devolving power to regional authorities.

Burnham said devolution plans are intended to move the UK toward what he described as a new constitutional settlement. He also argued it is “wrong” for people to keep debating fundamental questions without a constitution, adding that the current setup can leave places disempowered.

In the UK, there is no single authoritative constitution, and governance instead relies on a patchwork of statutes, common law judgments, and treaties, SCMP Economy noted. The push for a written constitution has gained traction more recently, with Labour’s Gordon Brown, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010, cited as an early supporter.

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