Since I’ve started this blog, the most surprising thing for me has been the reaction to my "Call Me Dave" post; it’s provoked not only the most comments, but also several e-mails, all from (I think) English readers.
I agree with them that the Nulabour Devolution Project has been inherently unfair to the English. Where I disagree with most of them is the solution to this inequity; as a Unionist, I believe that England’s interest,like the other integral three parts of the UK is better served by the continuance of the Union, with the central legislature based at Westminster. I’ll be doing a post shortly which will outline my reasons for believing this; for the moment, I’ll leave you with this thought:
Any law passed in Westminster would have to have the support of at least 45% of English MPs, whereas a law could easily be passed in Westminster without the votes of a single Scottish or Welsh MP.
In the meantime, I’ll also point you towards this very interesting podcast conducted by Slugger O’Toole supremo, Mick Fealty, and leading Tory blogger, Iain Dale last year.
Iain describes himself as both "British" and "English" with the primary emphasis on the latter, and argues not only for EVoEM, but also the establishment of a separate English parliament.
1 comment:
Iain correctly calls for an English parliament but unfortunately he sees English Votes as a stepping stone to that.
I think that English Votes will result in rapid constitutional break down because Scottish and Welsh MPs will demand their right to vote on legislation that affects funding in their constituencies, and so they should.
An English Grand Committee - which is what the Democracy Task Force will recommend in August - is a slightly better arrangement because it does not create two classes of MPs; the principle of committees already being well established. But it does suffer from all the other problems associated with EVoEM.
The real problem with either of these solutions is that they are top down solutions to the English Question - they are UK solutions to an English problem. The only people who can answer the English Question, and resolve the West Lothian Question, are the English themselves, but we have not been asked. If Scotland has the sovereign right to determine the form of government best suited to its needs, then so too does England. That's the bottom line. The reason we won't be asked is because we will choose an English parliament, and they don't want that.
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