There has been a lot of discussion in the past week or so about whether the UK should have a written constitution. It comes about after Boris Johnson looked like he might try to hold on as prime minister despite not having the confidence of his party or even his own cabinet.
What would stop a prime minister in this context? What if Johnson was not only mad but also bad? How would the UK constitution deal with a Trump figure?
Generally I am sceptical of arguments that call for a written constitution here in the UK. Those who propose it should point to what it is that they want to codify and how that is not available from any other source such as legislation. If they are unable to do this then the nebulous idea of a written constitution fades to irrelevance.
I haven’t changed my mind on this point and I think the argument still stands strong but events from the past 24 hours have led me to the conclusion that there are some things that would benefit from codification. That doesn’t have to be in the form of a constitution but giving certain conventions legislative force would not be a bad thing.
The thing that changed my mind is the refusal by the government to allow a no confidence vote in the government by the opposition today.