Johnny Hates Jazz

Scottish MPs' role in English affairs is unfair and undemocratic

Sir - Gordon Brown's constituents did not choose him to represent them regarding their children's education (report, June 21) or their need for care in their old age. He does not therefore have to worry about their opinion when he permits large classes in English schools, imposes tuition fees on English students and requires English folk needing care to pay for themselves.

Rather than being accepted as Prime Minister and being given overall control of this blatant discrimination, he and the other MPs elected in Scotland should no longer be permitted to continue their present undemocratic role as MPs with unlimited powers to decide matters for which they represent nobody. Are we a representative democracy or not?

Denis Latimer, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria

Sir - At least the Scottish Parliament is legislating positively to improve the lot of the Scots voters. How I wish the 529 English elected MPs did the same for their constituents. They could easily have defeated the Bill dealing with higher education in England and Wales but chose, instead, to saddle our students with huge debts that will put them, on graduating, at a disadvantage in the job and housing market.

Don't envy the Scots, vote out the incompetent blighters at Westminster for it was they that also approved the Barnett Formula that allows the Scots to spend, while in England it is cut, cut, cut.

Pat Harris, Hampshire Committee
English Democrats
Portsmouth, Hampshire

Sir - The cracks in the Union are now being hammered wider and wider apart. We are on the road to separation. The simple fact is that the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are enjoying health and education benefits paid for with English taxpayers' money, and yet the same benefits are being denied in England on the grounds of cost.

Commentators may blame it on the SNP or the Barnett Formula. They are missing the point. English resentment will grow because there is no political institution that can speak for England. We already have a Scottish-dominated Cabinet, and Gordon Brown will become Prime Minister without the vote of a single person in England. Unless he recognises this, and creates a devolved English Parliament, we will continue on the road to separation.

Tom Waterhouse, Vice Chairman,
Campaign for an English Parliament
Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Sir - There are those south of the border who maintain the Scots deserve their extra benefits as compensation for their weather and the bagpipes.

Dr F Clements, Trefnant, Denbighshire

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Well Done Pat !

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English not British not European ?
- It's time to decide at the 2009 European Elections