House of Commons Debate: 20 May 1991 vol 191 cc665-7 665
Mr. Tony
Benn presented a Bill to establish a democratic, federal and secular
Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Wales dedicated to the welfare of all its
citizens; to establish fundamental human rights within that Commonwealth; to
lower the voting age to 16 years and to make other provision with respect to
elections, including equal representation for women; to prescribe a
constitutional oath; to establish a Commonwealth Parliament consisting of the
House of Commons and the House of the People and to make provision for the term
of a Parliament and for legislative and other procedure; to establish the
office of President, and a Council of State, and to prescribe the powers of
each; to provide for the formation of governments; to amend the law relating to
official information, the armed forces and the security services; to make fresh
provision for the participation of Britain in the United Nations Organisation
and the European Communities; to make the basing of foreign forces in Britain
dependent upon the approval of the House of Commons; to make new provision with
respect to the judicial system and to establish a National Legal Service; to
set up national Parliaments for England, Scotland and Wales; to amend the law
relating to local government, the district auditor and the accountability of
police forces; to end the constitutional status of the Crown and to make
certain consequential provision; to abolish the House of Lords and the Privy
Council, to end the recognition in law of personal titles, and to provide for
the acknowledgement of service to the community; to disestablish the Church of
England, abolish the offence of blasphemy, and to provide for equality under
the law for all religions and beliefs; to end British jurisdiction in Northern
Ireland; to provide for a Constitution and for constitutional amendment; and to
make transitional and related provision: And the same was read the First time;
and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 28 June and to be printed. [Bill
161.]
Motion text
That this
House recalls that the Commonwealth of Britain Bill, presented by the Right
honourable Member for Chesterfield, has received its first reading and the
House has ordered it to be printed; notes that this Bill would, amongst its
provisions, establish a democratic and secular Commonwealth of England,
Scotland and Wales, each with its own national parliament, provide for
fundamental human rights and equal representation for men and women, the
election of a President, end the constitutional status of the Crown, the Privy
Council and the House of Lords, disestablish the Church of England, terminate
British jurisdiction in Northern Ireland and offer a new constitution for the
electors to consider, after its passage through parliament, in a referendum; welcomes
Her Majesty's decision, conveyed through the Home Secretary, to place Her
Prerogative and Interest, so far as they may be affected by the Bill, at the
disposal of Parliament for the purpose of the Bill; and believes that this
House and the people must find time to discuss and decide upon proposals for
fundamental democratic reforms in the constitution in order to prepare Britain
for its future in the next century.
The first 6
Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary
sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility
for it.
Benn, Mr Tony
Austin-Walker,
John
Banks, Tony
Boyes, Roland
Corbyn, Jeremy
Etherington, Bill
In addition
to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Jones, Lynne
Livingstone, Mr Ken
Parry, Robert
https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1991/may/20/commonwealth-of-britain