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'I want a government that knows
its place', says Brown
Colin Brown
London
Indepedent
Saturday May 12, 2007
A more "humble" Government has been promised by Gordon
Brown with a clear admission that it has become too out of touch
under Tony Blair.
Launching his campaign for the Labour leadership under the slogan
"Gordon Brown for Britain", the prime minister-in-waiting,
promised a style of government that is more open and accountable
to Parliament.
"I want to lead a Government humble enough to know its place,"
he said.
"When you fall short, you listen, learn and then are confident
enough to set new priorities.... For me this starts with governing
in a different way."
In a sideswipe at the Tory leader, David Cameron, he added: "I
have never believed presentation should be a substitute for policy.
I do not believe politics is about celebrity."
At the centre of a new manifesto for change, Mr Brown put sweeping
constitutional reforms to give Parliament a greater say over sending
British troops to war, and the appointment of public sector watchdogs.
A vote in Parliament will be required in future before Britain goes
to war.
As part of a shake-up of Whitehall, public sector regulators will
participate in senate-style hearings in Parliament where they will
be questioned by MPs before they can be confirmed in their jobs.
The Chancellor said he would also introduce a new ministerial code
of conduct to restore public trust in the Government. It will be
underpinned by accountability to Parliament and could end the power
of the Prime Minister to decide whether his ministers have breached
the code. He also plans changes to the civil service rules to answer
criticism that the Civil Service is being abused by Downing Street
spin doctors. Mr Blair put his communications director, Alastair
Campbell, and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, in charge of
the senior civil servants, but that will end.
"I want to build a shared national consensus for a programme
of constitutional reform that strengthens the accountability of
all who hold power," he said. "It is important people
who do public jobs, for example the regulatory authorities, go through
parliamentary hearings to find out about their intentions and what
the nature of their job is."
For the first time in British history, Mr Brown is also expected
to propose a written constitution setting out people's rights and
responsibilities with statutory backing.
INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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