Originally Posted by cassie

<Problems may arise when both parties gain 'critical mass' and start to put up candidates against each other, but that bridge can be left until it needs to be crossed.>



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Originally Posted by Richard the Lionheart

Cassie, I think you know my position on the referendum issue as we have discussed it several times. It seems quite unacceptable that the discussions being had in the halls of power are all about what Scotland wants, never mind anyone else. You will of course remember the justification for the Scottish parliament is that it was "the settled will of the Scottish people". Not content with that, they now want more powers for their parliament, and a vote on independence, all this, while the rest of us sit on our hands waiting for them to decide what they want.

Well, it's not good enough. It's about time the English decided what WE want. We should have a say whether we want things to carry on as they are, whether we want a federal UK or or whether we want independence. I'm fed up of the other nations of this unbalanced union making this demand or that demand. Everyone else except the English are getting a choice over their system of government. It's not on.

Originally Posted by Andrew Constantine

Danny

"When I was an ED" ... I used to get cross with those who said that if the English Parliament was revived, then its importance would automatically de-stabalise the Union.

I think now that I was wrong then, and I now do agree with the proposition that an English parliament and a federal UK are basically incompatible.

To support my changed view, if I were a member of an English Parliament (yes, please to both) and, say, voted in a majority against another Iraq, I would hate to see the Scots or Welsh in a federal Parliament somehow voting with a minority of English federal MPs to take us to another Iraq war. I therefore think that an English Parliament would soon after its revival claim complete and total sovereignty in England - and quite rightly too.

If my new view is right, then there is perhaps a critical implication to consider ... in that an English Parliament might well decide that England is coming out of the EU unilaterally and we do not care what Scotland or Brussels thinks.

Where does this leave those (such as the FEDs) calling for an English Parliament within a federal UK?

In the long term, such a major policy platform is unsustainable and so I would not be surprised if the FEDs move to an independence policy some day. In their defence, they may well rationalise their present position by saying it is better to talk about just reforming the Union with an English Parliament (say, with the same powers as the present Scottish Parliament) as this causes "less alarm and opposition". It is a viewpoint which I personally no longer share, but it is one that is not totally without some merit.

What do you and others think?

Regards, Andrew

Originally Posted by Danny

Andrew you ask me what I think so I will reply as clearly as I can.I think that you in the FEP are far to ahead of yourselves.I said the very same thing in another post in another thread.Independence for England Andrew simply at the moment isnt on the radar.Opinion polls will tell you that there is no hunger for Independence.I will put this as politley as I can you are far to ahead of yourselves in FEP and are barking up the wrong tree.The moderate centre ground of the people of england want fair play.They want fairness they dont wake up in the morning thinking oh my god we must have Independence.They want a level playing feild with other UK regions.The english question is gaining momentum and will have to be answered thats for sure