Shifting the Foundations

The Reith Lectures

BBC

Society & Culture, Science, Government, Technology

4.2 • 770 Ratings

🗓️ 18 June 2019

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jonathan Sumption argues against Britain adopting a written constitution as a response to political alienation. The former UK Supreme Court Justice has argued that politics is in decline partly, at least, because the courts and the law is increasingly doing what politicians used to do. This has indirectly contributed to the electorate’s increasing rejection of the political process. There is growing resentment against the political elite. So what can we do? Lord Sumption makes some suggestions to restore faith in democracy – starting by fixing the party system and changing the way we vote.

The programme is recorded in front of an audience at Cardiff University.

The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand and produced by Jim Frank

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.
0:05.4	My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.
0:10.8	The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.
0:17.5	With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to
0:22.4	helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put
0:28.3	together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,
0:35.0	check out BBC Sounds.
0:41.2	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:48.2	Welcome to the 2019 BBC Reith Lectures with the former Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Sumpchin.
0:55.9	In this fifth and final podcast in his series, Lord Sumpchin asks if the UK should have a written constitution.
1:06.6	Welcome to the fifth and final BBC Reef Lecture of 2019, with the former Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Sumpion. We're at Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Culture,
1:12.8	housed in a shiny new building which opened only last September for the last of this series
1:18.3	examining the relationship between the law and politics. So far, Jonathan has questioned what he
1:24.2	calls Law's Expanding Empire and and the mission creep of the European Convention
1:29.4	of Human Rights. He has discussed how best democracy can accommodate political difference
1:34.6	and has warned the UK against going down the American constitutional road. Now he's going to
1:40.9	offer some suggestions to try and re-energize political participation,
1:44.7	both in our institutions and political processes.
1:48.7	The lecture is called Shifting the Foundations.
1:51.9	Please, will you welcome the 2019 BBC Reith Lecturer, Jonathan Sumpion?
2:05.1	Thank you. I shall begin with a quotation. I shall begin with a quotation.
2:08.7	For 150 years, power has been deposited in Parliament,
	...

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