03 July 2007

Changing the non-existent

Is it possible that newly crowned or appointed or whatever, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is actually going to change things? Perhaps he is. From Number 10 Downing Street* comes the news that Gordo is set to make sweeping constitutional changes including giving Parliament the power of war. Had this been the case in 2003 would Britain have gone to Iraq? Would Britain still be in Iraq? Would Tony have had to step down as PM after relying on the Tories to get his declaration of war? So many questions. So few answers.

Note to Americans - British talk about their constitution a great deal but if you ever ask them to show it to you they either look at their shoes or suddenly spot a colleague on the other side of the room/bar/street/continent that they absolutely must speak to straightaway. It doesn't actually exist as such so when a PM wants to change it they just change it. None of this silly amendments process. It is much simpler really.

*He used to reside at Number 11 - does he have a new post code now?

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