ABSTRACT
In the quarter-century following the Second World War, the constitution rarely figured in political debate. No extraordinary features are laid down in Parliament for the passage or amendment of measures of constitutional law. As a consequence of membership, the constitution acquired a new juridical dimension, one that challenged the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty. At the same time, it also acquired a new political dimension, one that challenged the decision-making capacity of British government. John Smith, leader from 1992 to 1994, committed a future Labour government to a referendum on the issue of electoral reform. It is wary of, or opposed to, reforms that might prevent the return of a socialist government and the implementation of a socialist programme. The corporatist, or group, approach seeks the greater incorporation of groups into the process of policy making in order to achieve a more consensual approach to public policy.
