Keir Starmer has pledged to oversee the “biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people” if Labour wins the next general election.
The Labour leader unveiled a giant 155 page report this morning in Leeds, authored by Gordon Brown, which would radically overhaul the constitution. The report, which the former PM has been working on for two years, outlines a raft of recommendations which would enable Labour to reform Parliament and ditch “a century of centralisation”.
The pledge to abolish the centuries old, “indefensible” House of Lords and replace it with an elected second chamber, while not a new suggestion from Labour, is perhaps the most eye-catching and controversial section of the report. Starmer has promised to hold a consultation on the composition and size of the new chamber but Brown is proposing a special role for this reformed chamber in protecting devolution. Drawing attention to this policy at this moment in time is politically savvy, since Boris Johnson’s impending resignation honours list is likely to prompt a backlash.
