Recommendation 18

The Government should bring forward, and opposition parties should support, a Bill to establish a cross-party Commission on the governance of England. This Commission should be funded through and responsible to Parliament. The remit of the Commission should be to draw up proposals for reforms to the governance arrangements for England and for addressing the questions of England’s place in the Union. The Commission should also draft legislation to implement these proposals, to be presented to both Houses for approval. It is imperative that this Commission has the support of all major parties, regardless of future General Election results, as given the significance of these reforms is it likely that the Commission may undertake its work over the course of one or more Parliaments. The Government should take the steps to begin the establishment of such a Commission before the end of this Parliament.