The Prime Minister has indicated that a formal, written constitution may be required as the government pursues a new model of devolution that would change how the country is run.
What the Prime Minister said
Speaking as he set out proposals to increase the powers of local and regional authorities, Andy Burnham said the changes made a stronger argument for a constitutional settlement that sets out clear principles and minimum guarantees across the United Kingdom.
"In the end, I think it does start to point towards a new constitutional settlement, particularly with what Steve and I were writing about with that commitment to equivalent living standards."
Mr Burnham, who co-authored the 2024 book Head North: A Rallying Cry For A More Equal Britain with Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram, said the idea of ensuring comparable living standards across the country should be at the heart of any new charter. He described the ambition for "good growth in every postcode" as more than a slogan and argued it required a different way of running the country.
Why this matters
Unlike many states, the UK does not have a single written constitutional document. Its constitutional arrangements are derived from a mixture of statutes, common law and long-standing conventions. The Prime Minister suggested that as powers are redistributed — including changes that would allow more areas to act as strategic authorities and to keep a greater share of income tax and business rates — those shifts pull in the direction of a clearer national framework.
- Devolution proposals: plans to increase local control and strategic authority.
- Fiscal changes: a suggestion that places would retain more income tax and business rates.
- Constitutional debate: an argument that new principles and minimum guarantees should be set out formally.
Mr Burnham argued that some basic entitlements, such as essential services and connectivity, should be guaranteed everywhere, saying it was wrong for people to have to argue for fundamentals in certain parts of the country while they are already provided elsewhere.
| Issue | Point made by PM |
|---|---|
| Living standards | Commitment to equivalent living standards across regions |
| Local powers | Right for everywhere to be a strategic authority |
| Fiscal devolution | Retention of more income tax and business rates suggested |
The comments deepen an ongoing conversation about the future balance of power between Westminster and local government. For readers in Stirling and across Scotland, the implications are practical: changes to fiscal arrangements and statutory powers would affect how councils plan services, invest in infrastructure and shape economic development strategies.
Any move towards a written constitution would raise complex questions about what rights and minimum standards would be enshrined, who would decide them and how they would be enforced — matters that would require detailed public debate and legislative work if taken forward.
This development will be watched closely by local leaders and councillors as proposals progress and more detail emerges.
