David Cameron’s rush to rewrite the rules in wake of Scottish referendum result is absurd, says his former Oxford tutor

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-camerons-rush-to-rewrite-the-rules-in-wake-of-scottish-referendum-result-is-absurd-says-his-former-oxford-tutor-9746555.html

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Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government at King’s College London, has called the Government’s plan to reform the UK’s constitution in the next six months “absurd”.

The proposal, announced by the Prime Minister within minutes of the outcome of the Scottish referendum, is intended to address the so-called “West Lothian question”, an anomaly whereby Scottish MPs can vote in Westminster on issues that do not directly affect their constituents. But some have claimed the PM was seeking to maximise the discomfort of Labour MPs and pre-empt criticism by Ukip.

Professor Bogdanor, a former tutor of David Cameron from his undergraduate days at Oxford, said yesterday: “It is unseemly to see Tory MPs rushing to use constitutional difficulties for party advantage. It is little wonder that politicians are held in low esteem. Constitutional changes should not be made in a rush or for party advantage. This is not the way to make changes to a centuries-old constitution. To try and get this through by January or February is absurd.”

He called instead for “a proper national conversation, a public debate about where we should be going”, beginning with a Royal Commission, which would help instigate “a national learning exercise”. “In Scotland, they have been talking about all this for years, but in the rest of the UK the argument has barely started. People need time to get used to the idea of constitutional reform, and England is just waking up to it.

“Without proper consultation, to do this in three months is absurd.” He praised the lengthy consultation that preceded the agreement on Scottish devolution, agreed in the late 1990s, “but even that has had to be amended twice”. “The English question needs to be addressed, and it’s a very serious one. If the new constitution is to last, it cannot be rushed. Current proposal have been made hurriedly, and in a panic.”

Yesterday, a former Liberal Democrat MP (now Lord) Paul Tyler claimed that the drafting of the US constitution meant there was a precedent for moving quickly, but Professor Bogdanor was unimpressed. “Those who say the US constitution was written in four months forget that this was drawn up by philosopher kings who had spent years thinking about and debating the matter. The Federalist Papers is a classic constitutional tract. It was not dashed off in a hurry.”

Mr Bogdanor was quick to add that this is not typical of Mr Cameron. “He is normally laid back, thoughtful and consensual,” he said. “He made the concessions without consulting Parliament, and, it appears, without consulting the Cabinet. This appears rushed and panicky. Nevertheless, the outcome of the referendum has vindicated his political judgement.”