Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
Cassie: Cassie, with respect, you do need lessons about the constitution, because you don't appear to know anything about it. Are you in the business of dealing with actual political problems or merely theoretical ones?
|
Geoffrey, you are yet another Englishman dumping on England and the English! your assessment of the constitutional situation is somewhat simplistic and superficial as far as it goes. You have yet to demonstrate that my disagreement with you amounts to ignorance about the British Constitution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
Can you give me an example of how England is disadvantaged by the existing constitutional arrangement?
|
Yes, England as a nation in its own right does not have its identity maintained. [Also, see below - under 'comparable examples'.] You obviously did not read my earlier post properly! Can you give me an example of how Scotland and Wales are disadvantaged by the
existing constitutional arrangement?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
What do you want to achieve, which cannot be achieved in a HoC where English constituencies provide 528 of the 645 representatives? That majority provided the means, wisely or unwisely, to privatise public assets and other utilities in Scotland, Wales and NI.
|
Nothing! All the changes I seek MUST be made via the British Parliament, unless there is serious civil unrest or external military intervention which are the only alternatives!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
Can you provide a comparable example of where the Scots, or indeed Wales and NI, combined, and armed with their 117 votes, have ever possessed that ability to impose their political will over England? This is central to the issues being discussed.
|
Yes, in 1997 they conducted referenda in Scotland and Wales which excluded any participation in those processes by the 85% of the UK's voters in England. They have refused to allow a similar referendum for England as a nation in its own right. Don't you take any interest in news of current affairs! There are numerous other examples of how the English have been discriminated against eg in Health - prescriptions charges, PFI, denial of prescription drugs, Education - imposition of top-up tuition fees whereby the English pay more than other categories such as EU students, asylum seekers, Scots studying without fees in England, Transport - rejection of a tram scheme for Leeds [pop 725,000] by Alistair Darling, MP for Edinburgh South but subsequent approval of a similar scheme for Edinburgh [pop 450,000] . . do I really need to go on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
You stated, Cassis, as an implied threat, if you can't get your own way, you would prefer an independent England. What happens if the Scots inform you that Norway, with a smaller population than Scotland, (4.7 milllion to 5.3million) are independent, have their own seat on the UN, embassies world-wide, the third highest GDP per capita in the world and also a good Welfare State. In addition, they have control over their own oil and armed forces, while being members of NATO.
|
. . . and your point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
Scotland is a valued member of the UK. For reasons which you cannot justify or explain, you and other EDs', want a constitutional showdown within the UK.
|
I want a
constitutional settlement for England. Kindly do not misrepresent my position in order to make spurious points.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
If you want to partake in the dismantling of the nation state; well carry on.
|
Britain is NOT a nation! How can it be with so many citizens who were neither born here and are not of British (English) stock? Britain is a state comprising four nations. Do you feel better having got that off your chest? Were I to respond in kind, I might say: if you want to continue having England and the English penalised, carry on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
The EU must be delighted with your political ambitions: and when you have destroyed everything which is good around you, presumably you will then deem your life's work done. Complex things constitutions; creating one which actually works for generations, is something which few nations have achieved. Give thanks for how fortunate you are.
|
I am well ware the there is a school of thought within UKIP circles which believes that separate parliaments/assemblies for each nation - especially England - will play into the EU's hands; but I do not share that opinion. I do not regard creating a separate parliament in England within the UK as destructive and, for you to say so, begs the question and is illustrative of how weak are your arguments that you present a conclusion in substitution for rational argument!
_____________________________