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Or sign-in if you have an account.Andy Burnham has made devolution of power to regional authorities a focus of his administration. Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis /POOL/AFPBritain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled his support for a written constitution for the U.K., which, unlike most countries, does not have one authoritative document.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorSince entering office just two weeks ago, the former mayor of Greater Manchester has made devolution of power to regional authorities a focus of his administration.“In the end, I think it does start to point towards a new constitutional settlement,” Burnham said of his devolution plans on the weekend.Calling for a “new clear set of principles about how this country should be run,” Burnham said there was a need for a written constitution — something he has called for before he was prime minister.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“It’s wrong that people are left arguing for things that are just fundamental… and the lack of a constitution disempowers places in that situation,” said Burnham.Unlike most countries around the world, Britain does not have a written constitution, and is instead governed by a patchwork of statutes, common law judgments, and treaties.The push for a written constitution is fairly recent, with Labour’s Gordon Brown, who was prime minister from 2007 to 2010, an early proponent of the overhaul.Burnham served as a minister in Brown’s government.A parliamentary committee considered options for codifying the constitution in a five-year review, which concluded in 2015 that there was no clear consensus.Any serious attempt to codify the constitution by Burnham would be a years-long process likely requiring a major public inquiry and consultations.Burnham on Friday announced plans to allow regional mayors in England to keep a share of taxes collected in their area, part of his drive to transfer power out of the highly centralized nation’s capital.The U.K.— comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — saw significant constitutional reforms in the late 1990s that created devolved parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.But England itself remains one of Europe’s most centralized nations, despite the creation of some regional mayors and other bodies in the last decade, experts say.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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