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Brown Surrenders War Powers to Parliament
Iraq Slogger ^ | 7/3/07

Posted on 07/03/2007 3:47:49 PM PDT by bnelson44

With British confidence in their leaders at a low ebb, new Prime Minister Gordon Brown assumed office last week pledging to undertake measures designed to restore public trust in the government. Following through on his promise, Brown presented a new plan Tuesday that would dramatically revise the Constitutional powers of the British government, with an eye to strengthening the checks and balances.

In his first statement to the House of Commons since assuming power last week, Brown said he would surrender to Parliament 12 powers traditionally reserved for the prime minister under the "Royal prerogative," including the power to declare war, along with the power to dissolve the House, and the right to appoint judges and bishops.

"I now propose to surrender or limit these powers to make for a more open 21st century British democracy which better serves the British people," he told MPs, to loud Labour cheers.

(Excerpt) Read more at iraqslogger.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: chamberlain; geopolitics; war
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To: bnelson44

Gordon Brown outlines plans for U.K

Tuesday 3rd July, 2007

British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has proposed many changes in the way the U.K is governed.

The sweeping reforms include a written constitution and more checks and balances on going to war.

In the British parliament, Mr Brown, who succeeded Tony Blair last week, vowed a new government with new priorities, and made his recommendations for improving the democratic process.

It is his proposal for a British bill of rights that is likely to generate the most debate in the next weeks.

Britain’s constitution as it stands, consists of written legal precedents, international treaties, parliamentary conventions and royal prerogatives.

Mr Brown spoke of laws to make those in power more accountable, with a recommendation to renounce prime ministerial power to declare war without parliamentary consent. He said, such authority has no place in a modern democracy.

He also proposed the creation of a new National Security Council bringing together domestic and overseas security with development and community relations. It would help, he said, to co-ordinate military, policing, intelligence and diplomatic action and also to win hearts and minds.

He also outlined proposals to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/261828/cs/1/


41 posted on 07/03/2007 7:51:48 PM PDT by TexKat ((Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.))
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To: Clemenza

Lol!


42 posted on 07/03/2007 7:53:06 PM PDT by TexKat ((Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.))
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To: RebelTex
W*E*A*K
43 posted on 07/03/2007 7:53:06 PM PDT by bannie (The Good Guys cannot win when they're the only ones to play by the rules.)
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To: LibLieSlayer

44 posted on 07/03/2007 7:55:58 PM PDT by bannie (The Good Guys cannot win when they're the only ones to play by the rules.)
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To: bannie

LOL


45 posted on 07/03/2007 8:01:13 PM PDT by RebelTex (Help cure diseases: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1548372/posts)
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To: bnelson44

Translation: “Here, you fellows do the heavy lifting...I’m going to a tea party.”


46 posted on 07/03/2007 8:20:27 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: bnelson44

IMHO making the QUEEN the absolute ruler is a better idea than giving Parliament that much power!!


47 posted on 07/03/2007 8:23:44 PM PDT by PISANO (There is NO security & there can be none as long as there are suicide bombers!!)
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To: bnelson44
The Brit.. they use to complain about the PM being Bush's poodle

Now they got a PM that Islam's bitch

48 posted on 07/03/2007 8:32:17 PM PDT by tophat9000 (My 2008 grassroots Republican platform: Build the fence, enforce the laws, and win the damm WAR!)
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To: California Patriot
Looks like the Labour Left will now be running the country, with Brown as a figurehead. Yuck.

Well he some kind of "head"

49 posted on 07/03/2007 8:35:34 PM PDT by tophat9000 (My 2008 grassroots Republican platform: Build the fence, enforce the laws, and win the damm WAR!)
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To: muawiyah
This Brown character must be oblivious to the world beyond his clouded mind.

This is a very dangerous situation for UK to find itself.

Why was Tony Blair so loyal to President Bush???

I believe that he has learned some terrible secrets about the terrorists that GWB told us we would never learn about because of not compromising the nature of our national security. I believe Gordon Brown soon will learn that too and make a 180 turn when he gets settled at Downing 10!!!

50 posted on 07/03/2007 9:03:05 PM PDT by danamco (Now, I would LOVE to hear your solution as to how to remove 12 to 30 million people from this countr)
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To: bnelson44

51 posted on 07/03/2007 9:05:49 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (RINO cleaner - the backbone restorer)
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To: bnelson44

He’s institutionalizing a state of perpetual impotence wherein the British government and its leaders will be unable to effectively defend their country or their people.


52 posted on 07/03/2007 9:11:54 PM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: David Isaac

Want the simple answer?

An end.


53 posted on 07/03/2007 9:15:14 PM PDT by Almondjoy
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To: jpl

They should go to the tomb of Edward I, “Longshanks”, dig up his corpse, put it in the Prime Minister’s seat and kick out Brown. Even dead and mouldering, he is still more of a man than any of the current crop of British leaders, and more than a great many modern Britons.


54 posted on 07/03/2007 9:19:16 PM PDT by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
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To: bnelson44

Mr. Brown appears to be incredibly stupid and unprepared to lead, not to mention he doesn’t want to have to do too much for his paycheck. He doesn’t seem to understand what “Prime” means in Prime Minister.


55 posted on 07/03/2007 9:19:26 PM PDT by skr (Car bombs and IEDs are the exclamation marks for the latest Democrats' talking points.)
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To: bnelson44

So, he has essentially dissolved the office of the Prime Minister. Odd for someone who wanted this job his whole life. (Maybe that was his plan.)


56 posted on 07/03/2007 10:00:01 PM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp (Evil never sleeps.)
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To: bnelson44

It all makes you choke. My God what are these people doing???????


57 posted on 07/03/2007 10:06:13 PM PDT by Empireoftheatom48
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To: Empireoftheatom48; All

“The Congress shall have power

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;

To provide and maintain a navy;

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions”

Interesting that Gordon Brown is effectively borrowing an American idea with these proposals and yet so many people here think it will be a disastrous move. Are you all similarly opposed to the above clauses in your own Constitution?


58 posted on 07/04/2007 12:20:07 AM PDT by JHT
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To: bannie

Are you calling brownie a cowering dog? If so... well done!

LLS


59 posted on 07/04/2007 4:22:46 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims!)
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To: JHT

I think some us are questioning the wisdom of such a “borrowing”(as you put it) in a time of unprecedented terror threat when a strong hand may be needed. The war making powers enumerated in our constitution have been an organic part of our government since its birth and we have a better sense of the check and balances governing our selves.
To suddenly thrust that kind of power onto a legislative body (Lords and Commons) which is not known for nimble response to complex social issues, is to invite socio-political paralysis at a time when flexible police/military responses may be needed.


60 posted on 07/04/2007 5:08:04 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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