Voting in general elections may be switched to weekends as Gordon Brown seeks to reverse falling turnout and reconnect politics with modern Britain.

Saturday and Sunday voting was part of proposals for constitutional change put forward by the Prime Minister yesterday to reinvigorate British democracy and restore trust in politicians. Without mentioning Tony Blair, Mr Brown was making the clearest possible attempt to break with his predecessor’s era.

In one immediate move Mr Brown made plain that the new Attorney-General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, would have no role in deciding whether prosecutions should take place in the cash-for-honours inquiry.

Among a dozen areas highlighted by Mr Brown in which the Government should surrender or limit its existing powers was the Attorney-General’s prerogative to direct prosecutors in individual criminal cases. Mr Blair’s Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, had refused to give up his role in the honours inquiry.

In his first Commons statement as Prime Minister, Mr Brown announced that he would transfer to Parliament a series of powers, from deploying British troops overseas to appointing bishops. He will even give up his right to appoint the poet laureate. MPs would also get a vote over whether Parliament should be dissolved.

Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, will consult councils, religious groups and others on switching polling day for general and local elections to Saturdays and Sundays.

Elections have been held on Thursdays since 1945, although the only legal requirement is that they be held on weekdays. Before the Second World War, voting took place on different days, and the last general election held on a Saturday was in 1918.

Mr Brown said that giving up the power to declare war without parliamentary approval must “never limit our ability to deal with emergencies”.

MPs would hold US-style confirmation hearings for nominees to important public posts — such as the chief inspector of prisons and the local government ombudsman — and to ratify international treaties.

There will be a new ministerial code, with an adviser, named as Sir Philip Mawer, to scrutinise conduct.

Mr Brown completely rejected the idea of allowing only English MPs to vote on English matters, saying that would create two classes of MP. He added: “We will do nothing to put at risk the Union.”

Rules may also be relaxed to allow the Union Jack to be flown more often from public buildings. This is limited to 18 days a year such as birthdays of members of the Royal Family.

“While in other countries, such as France and the United States, the national flag is regarded as a source of pride, in recent years the Union Flag has all too often become the preserve of political extremists, a symbol of discord rather than harmony,” the Green Paper accompanying Mr Brown’s statement said.

On the Church of England, Mr Brown said: “The Church of England is, and should remain, the established Church in England. Establishment does not, however, justify the Prime Minister influencing senior church appointments, including bishops.”

At present a commission recommends two names for bishoprics to No 10 and one is forwarded to the Queen for approval. In practice, Mr Brown’s spokesman suggested, all that will happen in the future is that one name will emerge from the commission.

Suggesting that there could be a Bill of Rights and Duties, Mr Brown said: “In Britain we have a largely unwritten constitution. To change that would represent a fundamental and historic shift in our constitutional arrangements.

“So it is right to involve the public in a sustained debate [as to] whether there is a case for the United Kingdom developing a full British Bill of rights and duties, or for moving towards a written constitution.”

David Cameron said that he agreed with much of Mr Brown’s statement. But the Conservative leader added there was a need for “real and lasting change” in the British system of politics. He told Mr Brown: “The country is too centralised, Parliament is too weak, ministers don’t get straight answers and people feel shut out of decision-making.”

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Reform of our constitution is long overdue. The UK deserves a constitution fit for the challenges and standards of contemporary Britain.”

He added: “The Prime Minister has taken a pick-and-mix approach to constitutional reform. While we welcome many of the proposals, he has failed to address the need for a fair voting system.”

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