Constitution

Question 1

Does the constitution protect rights?
- yes

Answer 1

• every parliamentary act has to comply with HRA
• ECHR and HRA with workers rights
• strong institution for protecting rights (UKSC)

Question 2

Does the constitution protect rights?
- no

Answer 2

• HRA and ECHR vulnerable to attacks from parties striking it down
• Brexit removing safety net for migrant rights provided in EU law
• gov to pass legislation diluting rights, Rwanda plan
• international rights have limited impact in practice on gov policy

Question 3

Should the british constitution be codified?
- yes

Answer 3

• provide greater clarity
• more easily understandable rights for all citizens, and entrenched
• reduce concentration of power in hands of executive
• conventions can be broken without it, Johnson proroguing parliament for 5 weeks
• one of 3 countries without a codified constitution

Question 4

Should the british constitution be codified?
- no

Answer 4

• flexibility and adaptation
• goes against tradition of UK politics
• struggle to reach consensus of what goes in constitution
• give unaccountable judges more power
• lack of demand for reform as we saw with AV ref 2011 (42% turnout)
• would undermine P sovereignty