As readers of this blog will know, Lord Tyler and I both served on the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Renewal Bill which met before the summer recess and, under a tight and demanding timetable, managed to produce a substantial report on the Bill.   Published on 31 July, it can be found at:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200708/jtselect/jtconren/166/16602.htm

The intention was to ensure we reported in time so that the Government could take our comments into account in preparing the Bill for introduction this session.  It was expected to be among the Bills included in the Queen’s Speech.  In the event, the Speech contained an ambiguous reference:

“My Government will continue to take forward proposals on constitutional renewal, including strengthening the role of Parliament and other measures.”

The Government is now saying it will bring forward the Bill as time allows.  So what was to be the cornerstone this session of the Governance of Britain agenda may or may not appear.   Those of us on the Joint Committee need not have rushed…