Sir, Britain already has a written constitution (letter, Feb 8) and it is not hard to find. It is just not written down all in the same place. And it cannot be reformed by codifying it. A code is not supposed to change it. To reform it does seem overdue (for example, to place the decision on going to war in the hands of Parliament). But Parliament can pass an Act to that effect.
It sounds attractive to have a single, maybe short, document that all can understand. But it would not be for us, or even for Parliament, to understand it. A supreme court of unelected judges would interpret it and, where they felt it necessary, amend it by interpreting it. That procedure takes the constitution not nearer to us but farther from both the electorate and Parliament.
So calls for a written constitution end, like the European constitution and, whether intended or not, in attempts to change the constitution by the back door.
WILLIAM WYNDHAM
Lewes, E Sussex