Gordon Brown showing the way

Griff · 07-13-2007, 06:53 AM

So now I propose that in twelve areas important to our national life, the Prime Minister and executive should surrender or limit their powers - the exclusive exercise of which by the Government should have no place in a modern democracy.

These are:

the power of the executive to declare war;the power to request the dissolution of Parliament;
the power over recall of Parliament;
the power of the executive to ratify international treaties without decision by Parliament;
the power to make key public appointments without effective scrutiny;
the power to restrict Parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services;
power to choose bishops;
power in the appointment of judges;
power to direct prosecutors in individual criminal cases;
power over the civil service itself;
and the executive powers to determine the rules governing entitlement to passports and the granting of pardons.
We could use such restraints ourselves. Good luck Mr. Brown.

Undertoad · 07-13-2007, 09:00 AM

power to choose bishops;

Wait, what?

DanaC · 07-13-2007, 09:11 AM

Hehe. Ya didn't know that huh?

Undertoad · 07-13-2007, 09:30 AM

Nope, somehow that one escaped my attention. Is it just C of E?

DanaC · 07-13-2007, 09:44 AM

Yep. It's one of those intriguing constitutional hangovers from an earlier age.

Undertoad · 07-13-2007, 09:46 AM

Well, it's still weird, and it sounds like Mr Brown is taking the right first step.

DanaC · 07-13-2007, 10:50 AM

Absolutely. It's a bloody ridiculous right for a secular Prime minister to have.

Griff · 07-13-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Absolutely. It's a bloody ridiculous right for a secular Prime minister to have.

Try telling that to the Chinese!

DanaC · 07-13-2007, 11:19 AM

Good point.

Urbane Guerrilla · 07-13-2007, 12:06 PM

Well, it's definitely "hmmm"-worthy.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-13-2007, 04:57 PM

Lord Bush is green with envy.

Urbane Guerrilla · 07-17-2007, 04:07 AM

Why, Bruce, you sound like you're sure W. will be President-For-Life.

Too bad for that argument that we don't actually do things that way.

The conservatives understood this even while we groaned under Clinton's abuses.

DanaC · 07-17-2007, 06:11 PM

wtf?

xoxoxoBruce · 07-17-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

Why, Bruce, you sound like you're sure W. will be President-For-Life.

No, not at all... he's just worried about unquestioning obedience during his reign. He isn't worried about later... retired presidents live pretty well, you know.

Quote:

The conservatives understood this even while we groaned under Clinton's abuses.

You mean all conservatives had the hots for Monica?

07-13-2007, 06:53 AM	#1
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Gordon Brown showing the way So now I propose that in twelve areas important to our national life, the Prime Minister and executive should surrender or limit their powers - the exclusive exercise of which by the Government should have no place in a modern democracy. These are: the power of the executive to declare war;the power to request the dissolution of Parliament; the power over recall of Parliament; the power of the executive to ratify international treaties without decision by Parliament; the power to make key public appointments without effective scrutiny; the power to restrict Parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services; power to choose bishops; power in the appointment of judges; power to direct prosecutors in individual criminal cases; power over the civil service itself; and the executive powers to determine the rules governing entitlement to passports and the granting of pardons. We could use such restraints ourselves. Good luck Mr. Brown. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

07-13-2007, 12:06 PM	#10
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Well, it's definitely "hmmm"-worthy. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

07-13-2007, 04:57 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Lord Bush is green with envy. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-17-2007, 04:07 AM	#12
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Why, Bruce, you sound like you're sure W. will be President-For-Life. Too bad for that argument that we don't actually do things that way. The conservatives understood this even while we groaned under Clinton's abuses. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

07-13-2007, 09:00 AM	#2
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	power to choose bishops; Wait, what?

07-13-2007, 09:11 AM	#3
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Hehe. Ya didn't know that huh?

07-13-2007, 09:30 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Nope, somehow that one escaped my attention. Is it just C of E?

07-13-2007, 09:44 AM	#5
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Yep. It's one of those intriguing constitutional hangovers from an earlier age.

07-13-2007, 09:46 AM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Well, it's still weird, and it sounds like Mr Brown is taking the right first step.

07-13-2007, 10:50 AM	#7
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Absolutely. It's a bloody ridiculous right for a secular Prime minister to have.

07-13-2007, 11:19 AM	#9
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Good point.

07-17-2007, 06:11 PM	#13
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	wtf?

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