Johnny Hates Jazz

Why do we need an English parliament?

The simple answer is: because of the injustices caused by New Labour’s wonky devolution strategy. So many issues are now devolved in Scotland and Wales that we can’t talk about British education, transport or health policy any more.

The current arrangement is unfair to English voters. Scotland and Wales have their own Parliament and Assembly but they are still over-represented in the House of Commons.

Scottish and Welsh MPs preside over English matters. English MPs have no reciprocal right.

The Barnett formula gives about one third extra spending to Scotland for EQUAL need.

This set-up is completely out of kilter, and the only constitutionally workable solution is the creation of an English parliament.

An English Parliament would ensure that legislation affecting England was proposed and implemented by MPs accountable to the English electorate.

It would allow for proper parliamentary time to be allotted for the debate of English matters and scrutiny of English legislation.

It would kick the West Lothian Question into touch.

An English parliament would ensure that ministers were directly politically accountable to the constituency that their department serves. It is wrong that Scottish constituency MPs are given English portfolios, like Douglas Alexander at English Transport currently trying to impose an England-only road pricing scheme. (This was wrongly reported on the BBC as if it were a UK-wide issue!)

An English parliament would create a more inclusive, civic sense of English identity and national purpose.

An English parliament would give England political leadership. Scotland has a first minister, England does not. Why then should Gordon Brown become in effect first minister of England? Gordon Brown has no democratic mandate on important matters such as Education, Health and Transport – his constituents in Scotland don't elect him to represent them in these areas, and neither does any voter in England.

English people WANT an English parliament. The most recent opinion polls put support for an English parliament at over 60%. Compare that with the vote for the Scottish Parliament of 44% which is described as the "Settled Will of the Scottish People"; and with the 21% who voted for Tony Blair's Government at the last General Election.

An English parliament would spell an end to plans for elected regional assemblies in England, which were simply an attempt to break up England – as Charles Kennedy said to “call into question the idea of England itself”.

An English parliament is the only long term hope of preserving the United Kingdom.

__________________
English Democrats SAY NO To European Union

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

cassie

The Labour Party is a vehicle for Scottish nationalism. It is effectively, a Scottish nationalist party and, because of that, has devolved more power and privileges to Scotland than to Wales.

An English Parliament will clip the wings of the Labour Party until such time as it becomes more representative of England and the English.

Britannist

Labour is an anti-English party and we need to make sure that as many Labour voters in England as possible come to see this.

The europhile Labour Party they currently support hates the English nation and they (English Labour voters) are unaware of this.

One day Labour will pay a very heavy price electorally for their anti-Englishness.

Mikeuk

We don't.

Get rid of the Scotch and Welsh talking-shops instead.

rjt

That is an alternative but those who dont want these bodies need to vote for partys in favour of there abolition no abstain or support pro devolution partys.

I cant see it happening personally, better to get an English Devolved Body to readress the imbalance.

__________________
Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO!
(Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990)

Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

Mikeuk

It might be best to get rid of all these traitor-infested gasworks. None of them are any use to us whatsoever.

Elect a PM and government of no more than 30 indiviiduals at fixed intervals with the right to call a referendum at any time to overrule anything they try to do, or to dismiss them.

It's the nearest thing to true Athenian democracy available to us today.

Northumbrian

'An English parliament is the only long term hope of preserving the United Kingdom.'

Whom is it to be preserved from? There's nobody in England campaigning for it's end, last time I checked.

cassie

Yeah, even if a majority of voters in England, Scotland and Wales want such talking-shops. Yep, continue the practice of imposing arrangements most voters don't want!

Frankly, it is difficult to see the difference between your style of politics and the other hackneyed politics we've had to endure for decades, especially in England. Apart from wanting another version of elective dictatorship, all you seem to want is a penny pinching political system!

Johnny Hates Jazz

A logicial position but now a fantasy

__________________
English Democrats SAY NO To European Union

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

Johnny Hates Jazz

If you are an English Independence Fan, then an English Parliament is part of the way there

If you are a Unionist, then an English Parliament is the only possible way of slowing down the English March to Independence.

Either way an English parliament can be "sold" to both Nationalists and Unionists.

__________________
English Democrats SAY NO To European Union

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