Field is right and wrong.

“Failure to embrace the ‘English Question’ will account for more than a political double whammy – it may act as the final straw for many families who have been Labour ever since we became a political force.”

If it weren’t for the fact that Frank Field is such an individualist maverick, you’d have said that these two articles at the weekend were timed to perfection to coincide with the rather nasty reference to theScottish Mafia by two other Labour MPs.

I do think he’s starting to move onto dodgy ground though, trying to tie in the resentment with the devolution inequities with the fears over "uncontrolled" immigration:

Mr Field will say voters have turned to the BNP because of of anger about “uncontrolled immigration”, with its impact on housing, schools and other public services.

And he will warn: “The failure to act decisively to protect our borders accounts in part for the widespread disillusionment with Labour and, in particular, by our core working class supporters.

Core white working class voters I presume he means there- but I don’t think there is a connection between those two “concerns”- I doubt very much that the British National Party has picked up much or any support because of English dissatisfaction at how the UK’s assymetrical devolution has panned out.

Also, on a note of pedantry:

And he will predict Welsh and Scottish Nationalist MPs will soon refuse to vote on devolved issues – putting pressure on Scottish and Welsh Labour MPs to do the same

I thought that was already the case, or is is just that the SNP or Plaid Cymru refuse to vote on solely “English” issues?