Jack Straw's reform proposals for the Lords and the story of Prince Charles' tax raise again the crying need for a new constitutional settlement.

Picking off these issues one by one as they surface wastes time and energy.

The main political parties need to call for a speakers' conference that would thrash out the issues once and for all.

There has long been a call for a Bill of Rights and that surely must come before everything else.

Then we need to draft a proper written constitution so we know what we are talking about.

In terms of our unelected Head of State and our PM, we need to look at what kind of executive we want and what role if any there is for the Monarchy.

We need to finish the job that Blair started in terms of devolution and establish a properly federal (rather than hybrid) system of government. In terms of legislature we need to ask why on earth we need a second chamber (rather than say a constitutional court).

And finally we need to look at the laughably inadequate electoral system.

The issues will not go away.

ANDREW MCLUSKEY