The government’s ‘ad hoc and piecemeal’ attempts at constitutional reform risk further undermining public confidence, a report published today has warned.

The report, prepared by the Commons justice committee, said this month’s Parliamentary Standards Act should serve as a warning about the dangers of undertaking reform too quickly. Sufficient time must be allowed for ‘adequate and thorough consultation’ with the public and parliament on constitutional change. Otherwise, the report said, the government will risk further alienating the public, ‘potentially worsening the crisis that it is seeking to resolve’.

Sir Alan Beith MP, chairman of the committee, said the new act’s progress through parliament illustrated the folly of party leaders responding to public anger by starting a ‘bidding war’ on constitutional change. ‘Issues like a written constitution, reform of the electoral system, how England should be governed following devolution, and the relationship of parliament and the executive require wide consultation and careful consideration. Instead, we are seeing a rush to legislate,’ he said.