BURT BACKS LIB DEM LEADER'S CALL TO ABOLISH ROYAL PREROGATIVE POWERS

5.39.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Jun 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has echoed LibDem Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell's call to abolish many of the Queen's remaining powers as part of a wide-ranging new constitutional settlement.

Sir Menzies has challenged the prime minister-in-waiting, Gordon Brown to deliver on his promises to bridge the widening gap between politicians and the public by transferring to MPs the monarch's historic powers under the Royal Prerogative, mostly exercised by ministers without the need for parliamentary approval.

The royal powers range from the right to declare war to pardoning offenders. They also include the Prime Minister's power to seek a dissolution of Parliament in order to call a general election at a time of their own choosing.

Sir Menzies has written to Gordon Brown welcoming his commitment to introduce a Constitutional Reform Bill and urging him to seize the opportunity to seek a broadly based, consensual agreement with the British people for constitutional reform.

Richard Burt said:

"No monarch has refused Royal Assent to an Act of Parliament since the reign of Queen Anne, but successive Prime Ministers, and most notably Tony Blair, have abused these powers to undermine the authority of the House of Commons and in doing so, have lost the trust of the British people.

"Gordon Brown must seize the moment to restore faith in government by handing power and accountability back to Parliament."