Dizzy has drawn my attention to something deeply worrying, an attempted act of authoritarianism that would make even those of the old-Left blush, an attempted act of authoritarianism though that New Labour (or rather New Brown Labour) is entirely comfortable with. 

Some time ago there was a campaign, called the Save Parliament Campaign, to prevent the passing of the then Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill which if enacted would, in the words of CPS, "grant any minister the ability to amend, replace, or repeal existing legislation."  Parliament would effectively have been neutered. 

Fortunately the Bill did not pass (is it any wonder given the potential ramifications?), but that hasn’t stopped Labour swinging round for another shot (did somebody just say EU Constitution?). 

Step forward the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill. 

Hidden deep within the Bill is the following:

"Part 6
FINAL PROVISION

43 Power to make consequential provision

(1) A Minister o the Crown, or two or more Ministers of the Crown acting jointly, may by order make such provision as the Minister or Ministers consider appropriate in consequence of this Act.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may –

    (a) amend, repeal or revoke any provision made by or an Act;

    (b) include transitional or saving provision.

(3) An order under subsection (1) is to be made by statutory instrument.

(4) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (1) which amends or repeals a provision of an Act may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(5) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (1) which does not amend or repeal a provision of an Act is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament."

With this one section the very idea of parliamentary democracy would be swept away and replaced with an all powerful executive.  What’s perhaps most disgraceful of all is that a provision with such staggering constitutional ramifications was to be sneaked in through the back-door; New Labour, New Britain, No Democracy. 

Something tells me the Save Parliament Campaign is about to go through something of a re-birth. 

[Hat tip: Dizzy.  Original Hat Tip: Spy Blog]