The future of the British constitution

Osem · 19-09-2014, 08:11

I'll today be writing to my MP making the point that it's now time to for us English to have our own representation on our own affairs. Having enjoyed for far too long a situation by which they can have their cake and eat it, we certainly don't need a bunch of Scottish MP's to continue voting on matters in England which don't concern them.

Irrespective of their views on the EU referendum, I urge everyone who feels similarly frustrated by this unfairness to do likewise and seize this opportunity to put direct pressure on their MP's to this end. The Scottish tail has well and truly wagged the UK dog and it's time the English demanded an answer to the West Lothian question which is fair to them.

greeninferno · 19-09-2014, 08:32

that is fair and really should have been resolved long before now.

Russ · 19-09-2014, 08:32

You already have one - it's called Westminster. The majority of MPs are English anyway.

Osem · 19-09-2014, 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeninferno

that is fair and really should have been resolved long before now.

Yup. It's long overdue and it's a matter for the English to decide.

nomadking · 19-09-2014, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

You already have one - it's called Westminster. The majority of MPs are English anyway.

Exactly, and yet you could and indeed currently do, have an executive(government) that didn't represent the English voters. England didn't vote Clegg in to dictate policies in England. All those English MPs could do is vote down proposals. They couldn't create any policies or laws. You could have the crazy situation where a SNP MP is the minister making decisions on affairs in England.

Russ · 19-09-2014, 09:02

I think the misconception in this idea is that an English Parliament will be best for all of England.

In reality, those of us who are geographically further away from Westminster feel the distance politically too. I've got little doubt that if you had your own parliament it would serve London and the surrounding areas well - but those in say Cornwall, the north etc would soon feel disenfranchised. And if you feel MPs have plenty of holidays and breaks as it is, an England-only parliament would give them even less to do.

nomadking · 19-09-2014, 09:16

Wherever a government of whatever level is located, other areas claim to be disenfranchised. With a town council, parts of that town still complain.

Those areas struggle because they have nothing much to offer. What could Cornwall offer business? It is relatively remote and cutoff. What does North Wales have to offer compared to South Wales?

Russ · 19-09-2014, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

Those areas struggle because they have nothing much to offer. What could Cornwall offer business? It is relatively remote and cutoff. What does North Wales have to offer compared to South Wales?

Were you not aware that Cornwall does pretty well as a holiday destination?

Osem · 19-09-2014, 09:25

Well my email is sent and I hope many other English voters will seize this opportunity, do likewise and press their MP's on this matter. You can't blame MP's for not representing your views if they don't know what they are....

19-09-2014, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

I'll today be writing to my MP making the point that it's now time to for us English to have our own representation on our own affairs. Having enjoyed for far too long a situation by which they can have their cake and eat it, we certainly don't need a bunch of Scottish MP's to continue voting on matters in England which don't concern them.

Irrespective of their views on the EU referendum, I urge everyone who feels similarly frustrated by this unfairness to do likewise and seize this opportunity to put direct pressure on their MP's to this end. The Scottish tail has well and truly wagged the UK dog and it's time the English demanded an answer to the West Lothian question which is fair to them.

I thought Cameron agreed to this in his speech this morning or have I misinterpreted what he was saying?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29271763

Osem · 19-09-2014, 09:32

Yes, he's promised one or two things hasn't he, including an EU referendum with certain caveats. We need to ensure he delivers on those promises and the best way to do that is to make him and his colleagues aware that we want change and if it isn't delivered in an acceptable form our votes will go elsewhere. That's what I've just done.

**Chris** · 19-09-2014, 10:10

I've updated the thread title, as there are a lot of overlapping issues that are now thrown up by the Scottish result and we might as well keep them together.

nomadking · 19-09-2014, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

Were you not aware that Cornwall does pretty well as a holiday destination?

So everybody in Cornwall is filthy rich and they don't grumble about government funding?

Quote:

‘Penzance Treneere’ and ‘Camborne Pengegon’ were within the 2% most economically deprived areas in England (based on data from 2009). ... Cornwall ranks 122 out of 326 local authorities in England (where 1 is most deprived) for overall economic deprivation,

MovedGoalPosts · 19-09-2014, 10:42

If Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland need some devolution of powers, then the same has to be argued for England. However the needs to England, with it's own different economic areas are quite diverse that a single English Assembly is probably not workable.

One quote I heard last night was that in fact, since the Scottish Parliament was formed there are many elements of government that have become more centralised in Scotland than perhaps elsewhere in the UK, so that there is some feeling, especially in island communities that the national government may not be suitable.

I'm not however sure that all these tiers of government are beneficial. How much extra cost do they add? Europe, UK, national assemblies, county or metropolitan council, local borough / council, parish council. To me that all adds up to a costly system of loads of people in back offices trying to justify their existence.

But if one area has a national assembly, then every area needs a similar level of devolved powers. That is equality. But could our London based parliament serve as an English Assembly when issues are just English and thus exclude MPs from the other regions, and still provide the over-riding UK government for all? Do we need a minister for England, if we have one for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland?

Fundamentally I think the Scottish devolution argument has just cost everyone in the UK a lot of money as there will be a lot of expensive changes to come.

**Damien** · 19-09-2014, 11:43

It does appear Cameron was advocating a slightly more federal UK. I think this needs to be extended beyond N.Ireland, Wales and Scotland to the regions of England as well. Too many people feel isolated from Westminster and need to take more local accountability for the way they're run.

The problem is England. Do we have a English Parliament and Westminster? Or does the Parliament become England's Parliament by excluding votes from outside England in devolved matters and, if it's the latter, what do you do about a Government having a majority in Westminster by virtue of Scotland/Wales/N.Ireland but not in England? Will we have two governments in effect, switching from policy to policy?

Also how do you spread out the budget? If London and the South East become it's own region then, even if you adjusted it so corporate profits report in the region they're earned rather than London, it would be a region swimming in cash. Almost a City State. Wales would suddenly find themselves in a lot of trouble and so would a lot of English regions. However that is a realistic prospect if you allow regions more control over income tax.