The hype over Cameron's trailed reforms on the House of Commons was slightly punctured tonight after his reforms were taken up by Jack Straw, Minister of Justice, who welcomed a valuable contribution to cross-party discussions on constitutional change. In a biased article that then lists Tory expenses, Straw downplayed some of the more radical elements and stated that Cameron's proposals were already being considered by Labour.
Given the partisan nature of this Parliament, one can view this as a neutering of Cameron's speech, spoiling the headlines with a narrative wresting reform back to the government.
Straw welcomed Cameron's article as a contribution to the debate. The government does not agree with everything the Tory leader said, but Straw believes that the cross-party talks could reach agreement on some aspects of parliamentary reform within the next few months, such as:
• Strengthening Commons select committees. Cameron said the whips should lose the power to choose the members and chairs of select committees. Straw believes there is scope for reform in this area.
• Petitions. Cameron said that if the organisers of a petition collected enough support, they should be able to get their idea debated in the Commons. Straw looked into this idea when he was leader of the Commons and he is interested in taking it forward.
• Scrutinising legislation. Cameron criticised the way every bill is "guillotined", meaning the time set aside for debate is limited in advance. Straw believes that the creation of a Commons business committee could give the Commons more say over timetabling issues.
The latest prism is the race for reform, though media pressures for leadership on constitutional debate will dissipate as debates dwell on the detail. Cameron wished to seize the narrative and direct the arguments towards democratisation, not PR. In this, he has succeeded, with fixed term parliaments and recall mechanisms entering the fray. It is to the Guardian's disadvantage that they remain wedded to Labour, downplaying the other aspects of his speech, since reform is only worthwhile if it comes from the Left.
The BBC joins in the criticism with the Liberal Democrats providing soundbites, alarmed that their role of kingmaker may be receding as they are outflanked by the other parties. Galling that the changes leave their ideas far behind.
This is a debate, not a race, with contours set by the media timetable. All governments prove less radical, and Cameron must show that the faux-Acton principle that Westminster tends to control is abolished.
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