Sunday 28 May 2017

Is the "English Question" really unsolvable?



As the General Election and Pol tics in general in Scotland diverts from a a mostly Labour-Tory battle to a Nationalist V Unionist campaign. We actually  see  very little  concrete proposal to address the devolution of powers and in particular what happens to a number of powers that  currently come under the EU which will be returned to the UK.

But I am not going to talk about Wales or Scotland , Because is it not about time the English Question is addresses?

The last Government after the Scottish Independence Referendum  saw David Cam for English Laws (EVEL) in which only English MPs are allowed to vote on laws perceived  as affecting (Mostly) England.

But it seems the English Problem will still remain unsolvable by what are supposed to be astute politicians.

Labour Manifesto claim they will will redress that imbalance as part of their thinking on devolution.by creating a Minister for England , who is actually currently the Prime Minister

However think more junior minister than an English Nicola Sturgeon.or Carwyn Jones and we can wonder what the English Minister would do.

Would they or the Minister currently responsible steer EVEL laws through the Commons if it is the latter then the Minister for England will be in his or her office with nothing to do.


UKIP wants to create an English Parliament with a First Minister of England sitting in the chamber of the abolished House of Lords.

In their plan, the English First Minister would be on an equal footing with the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Ukip thinks the English First Minister and the English Parliament would share the House of Commons with the UK’s Prime Minister and a slimmed down House of Commons.
he manifesto says: 
“The public widely regards the UK’s current devolutionary system as fundamentally unfair, particularly to the English.
“Ukip will put England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the same footing by instituting an English Parliament.
“It will sit in the chamber vacated by the House of Lords, have its own First Minister and its 375 members will be elected under the Additional Member system of proportional representation, one or more from each traditional county or large city and 125 top-up seats.”
Wouldn't this indicate that  some how the English Parliament is more important than its devolved equivalents? 

It would see MPs and EMP mixing in Westminster causing obvious friction  as they strut around like peacocks , trying to exert their influence

Its not for me to tell England where its devolved  Parliament but I think that it would benefit them if it was outside London in Manchester or Birmingham for example.

Why is the English problem so problematic, Could it be that in actually finding a solution , London politician realise that their "Precious Union" is doomed  as Scotland and then Wales realise that England under a permanent Tory Majority vastly differing from their Centre Left model.

PR may see an English Parliament open to the odd Non-Tory coalition, but the Tories would probably always be the largest party.

But if that's what England want unless they decide to devolve to the Regions instead that's the future for them.

It may sound selfish but why should Wales constantly , be part of a Union that is already resembling  an English-Tory  led hegemony.



  

1 comment:

Dave said...

Cornwall is a nation and will not be part of an English Parliament!