Gordon Brown wants the next Labour government to win power – and then give it away. That might explain why Sir Keir Starmer has praised Mr Brown, but not yet committed to his commission’s recommendations. Yet the former Labour prime minister has produced a serious – and sweeping – set of proposals that would change the face of the country, largely for the better.
The 40 recommendations go far beyond the very welcome suggestion that there should be democratic reform of the House of Lords on a federal basis. This proposal would see the self-government in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland become part of the shared government of the UK. There are also encouraging plans to devolve economic powers to communities. Mr Brown is right to ask why, if second jobs can be banned in the US Congress, this could not apply to the UK parliament.
