Brown backs debate on PR and votes at 16

Gordon Brown has said the Power inquiry report "opens the way" to a new debate on constitutional reform.

Writing in the Guardian newspaper on Monday, as the independent report called for an overhaul of British democracy, the chancellor hinted at backing for electoral reform and votes at 16 if he becomes prime minister.

Brown has previously argued against proportional representation, while the Electoral Commission rejected lowering the voting age.

But the chancellor said both ideas should now be considered, although any extension of the franchise should be accompanied by citizenship education.

"The Power report opens the way to renewed debate on issues from the role of parties and electoral reform to voting at 16," he wrote.

"Here there is a bigger question, whatever the decision on age: how by better citizenship courses in our schools backed up by our new national youth community service we can address disengagement among the young."

He said his views had been formed by the report and his tour of the country, which he claimed had confirmed his belief in a hunger for civic activity.

"Having talked to young people shaping youth services, parents who now run schools and under-five services, and social entrepreneurs transforming their communities, I am convinced that, quietly and unannounced, Britain is seeing the rise of a new kind of citizen, involved in their neighbourhoods and now demanding the right to set the agenda," he said.

Brown said that democratic problems including "low turnouts, youth disengagement, falling party membership and a long-term decline in trust... owe more to our political system than our civic culture".

He highlighted his own granting of independence to the Bank of England as a model to follow.

Setting out the outline of a platform of constitutional reform policies, he hinted at support for changes to the House of Lords and for MPs voting on the deployment of troops in combat.

"As we prepare our manifesto for the next parliament, I am clear that it should also be a priority that, across government, ministers come together to work out the detail of the next steps for both local democracy and long-term constitutional reform," he said.

"To build trust we must also listen more, hear more and learn more.

"Our approach to long-term Lords reform should be founded on the primacy of the Commons and enhanced accountability of the second chamber.

"I have already said there is a case for a detailed consideration of a greater role for parliament in decisions such as peace and war."

He also signalled support for "the double deal for devolution" proposed last week by communities minister David Miliband, under which both councils and communities would receive more power.

Drawing on his own upbringing, he cited examples of community activity that was better placed than the state at helping individuals.

Brown claimed these ideas were "light years from the anti-state libertarianism beloved of some Tories" and would be developed in his Budget next month.

"They were practical responsible citizenship in action, which governments should (and the Budget will) encourage," he said.

And he said the themes tied in with his concept of Britishness being updated for the 21st century, which he has explored in recent speeches.

"Britain is seeing the rise of a new kind of citizen, involved in their communities and now demanding the right to set the agenda... a new Britain is in the process of being born," the chancellor claimed.

"The next step is to encourage new forms of community involvement: from citizens' juries to neighbourhood agreements on service delivery and the transfer of assets to community groups."