UK Prime Minister Burnham calls for a written constitution and announces a reform plan for the UK

UK Prime Minister Burnham calls for a written constitution

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for a historic reform of the political system, saying his country needs a written constitution. He also announced a comprehensive devolution plan that gives more powers to local authorities.

Scraper SystemAugust 02, 2026, 08:34 PM

UK Prime Minister Burnham calls for a written constitution

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for a written constitution, emphasizing the need for a fundamental change in the UK's political structure. The Prime Minister, who took office two weeks ago, announced that this reform would also include further devolution of powers to local governments.

Call for New Constitutional Settlement

In remarks this week, Burnham said, 'I think ultimately this will lead to a new constitutional settlement,' and argued that clear principles for governing the country need to be established. The Prime Minister stated that the lack of a written constitution weakens the regions' capacity to defend their fundamental rights.

The United Kingdom's constitutional system is based on a mix of statutes, case law, conventions and treaties rather than a single written document. Gordon Brown, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010, is known as one of the early supporters of this idea.

A parliamentary committee reported in 2015, after a five-year review, that there was no clear consensus on the constitution. Any constitution-making process under Burnham's leadership is expected to require years of work and extensive public consultations.

Last Friday, Burnham announced plans to allow England's regional mayors to retain some of the taxes collected in their areas. This move is part of a devolution plan aimed at changing the country's centralized structure.

The United Kingdom carried out significant constitutional reforms in the late 1990s, establishing devolved parliaments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, according to experts, England remains one of the most centralized countries in Europe, despite the creation of mayoral offices and regional bodies over the past decade.

UK Prime Minister Burnham calls for a written constitution