Clegg challenges Brown and Cameron to match their words with deeds

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 1st Jan 2008

Nick Clegg MP Leader of the Liberal Democrats

We need to reopen the political system and revitalise public trust in government and public bodies, Nick Clegg has said. Mr Clegg called upon Gordon Brown and David Cameron to support the Liberal Democrats in establishing an independent British Constitutional Convention, with the purpose of constructing a consensus on the reforms needed to reopen the political system and revitalise public trust with representatives from all political parties and all aspects of society playing a part.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said "The British Constitutional Convention would examine the role and powers of Parliament and ministers; the way in which Parliament is elected and held to account; the relationships between the nations of the United Kingdom; the concentration of power in Whitehall; and the need to strengthen basic individual rights and liberties against the abuse of state power. Fixing Britain's broken politics is no easy task, but it is essential if we are to restore public faith in a system that relies on popular participation. Only once we have reformed our constitution to make it open and accessible to every British citizen will we restore public trust and engagement with the policy process."