This is absolutely brilliant. Not because I feel the country is necessarily crying out for a constitution, nor because I feel it would be particularly beneficial, but because the hand-over programme appears to finally be unfolding with consummate political skill. A discrete day for the retrospectives of Blair’s term in office (which are generally far more favourable that ordinary press coverage) and then the unveiling of new post-Blair policy to ride the poll wave. Enjoy it ladies and gentlemen, Labour HQ has been choreographing this for a long time.

Gordon Brown needs a policy or an idea that is fresh, untainted in British politics, marks him as different to both Blair and Cameron, and attempts to restore the tarnished image of the last 10 years. Constitutional reform, whilst it doesn’t always capture hearts and minds in the UK, is an excellent way of making a government appear dynamic without knuckling down to the substance of public service administration. Blair’s first government played this game beautifully, as they were hamstrung by their own commitment to Tory spending plans for 2 years. During those 2 years, devolution, elected mayors, first-wave Lords reform, power-sharing in Northern Ireland all came in- genuine constitutional reform indeed, but perhaps also a sign of a government with little opportunity for public service reform. This also applies to Gordon Brown when he becomes Prime Minister, but something tells me he will adhere even closer to the previous chancellor’s spending plans…

This does raise an interesting issue for Gordon, which seems to have been ignored in favour of the jockeying for the deputy prime minister’s job- who on earth could possibly be chancellor? It seems possible, to me at least, that Gordon Brown will not in practice, relinquish control of the Treasury to anyone. Chancellor of the Exchequer is a hugely senior cabinet position, but anyone who does it will have to be Gordon’s obedient placeman. Ed Balls would be best, but catapulting him over the heads of the big hitters of the Labour party might be provocative…Anyway, I digress. No doubt there are scribbled-out Cabinet team plans littering Gordon Brown’s office as I write.

This is roughly where this post gets partisan…it isn’t just a pleasure to watch the political giants of the past decade doing what they do best, it is also a pleasure to see Gordon finally hitting back. It must have been torture to sit on this plan, and whatever else is still in the bag of tricks, waiting for Blair to announce while Cameron rode high on a cloud of hot air and good intentions. Brown has practically been straining at the leash these past months, taking any opportunity (the Budget speech comes to mind) to undermine Cameron, but always with the gloves on. Now, suddenly, things look much more hopeful. Brown might just renew Labour, and perhaps the whole party system. Cameron will be forced to pit his half-formed ideas and affable manner against a formidable politician with an unparalleled record of experience at the heart of government, who is finally allowed to set out his stall.

Filed under: constitution, davidcameron, democracy, gordonbrown, labour, ukpolitics on May 12th, 2007