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National Insurance Contributions Bill

Yes, I fear that my right hon. Friend is right. I am worried that we are finding that gradually over time—Bill by Bill and Act by Act—what we always thought was sacrosanct, even though we do not have a written constitution, is being eroded by such phrases. For most of my life, I have taken a lofty attitude to written constitutions. I thought that we did not need them and that they were for only people such as the Americans and the French. I have now come to the view that only a properly written constitution will protect us from Governments such as this. Such phrases in Bills have the effect—whether openly or surreptitiously and gradually or suddenly—of removing from our lives what we thought were precious certainties. If we do nothing else, surely we must remove phrases such as ““It does not matter”” from our legislation.