Labour has unveiled a 40-point plan to overhaul the UK constitution, including the replacement of the House of Lords with an elected chamber. The proposals, drawn up by former prime minister Gordon Brown, aim to curb the influence of wealth and foreign money in politics and devolve power from Westminster to local areas.
Keir Starmer will join Brown on Monday to launch the Commission on the UK's Future. The party has stopped short of committing to abolition of the Lords in its manifesto, instead launching a consultation on the recommendations. Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said Labour would ensure an elected second chamber is established within the first term.
The plan also includes tighter enforcement of political rules through a new integrity commission and measures to boost economic growth by empowering devolved governments, mayors and local authorities. Brown has recommended cultivating '300 emerging clusters of the new economy' to spread prosperity more evenly.
However, the proposals have sparked a constitutional clash, with Lord Speaker Lord McFall expected to argue for consensus-based reform rather than outright abolition. Some senior Labour figures fear a lengthy public debate on constitutional reform could overshadow other priorities in a first-term government.
Starmer emphasised the need for careful implementation, stating that the party will test propositions and refine them before crafting a manifesto. Brown, meanwhile, insisted there is public support for radical change, including enhanced Scottish representation in a reformed second chamber.
