Should We Codify the British Constitution? | Full Head To Head | Oxford Union

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As the dust settles on Boris Johnson’s premiership, the unwritten British constitution

has been pushed to its limits. From the unlawful prorogation of parliament, to Jonhson’s threats to break domestic and international law over the Northern Ireland protocol, the extent to which the constitution relies on convention and governmental integrity has been revealed. In turn, some politicians, scholars, and commentators have argued that a written

constitution is a better guardian of fundamental rights and the separation of powers. On the other hand, critics of a written constitution point to the United States, which arguably faces rights retrenchment and an activist judiciary. Would a written British constitution be a stronger shield against tyranny, or would it merely empower unaccountable judges and stymie positive societal change?

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