Here we go again, I just had to listen to a New Labour Minister telling me, an Englishman, that I didn’t want England to have a Parliament, No, what I really wanted was Labour dominated “Regional assemblies!”
What she didn’t mention was that this was the only way Labour could remain in power if Scotland went fully independent.
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| The English Only Parliament Has Long History |
What she didn’t mention was that this was the only way Labour could remain in power if Scotland went fully independent.
The reason why she was out on TV denouncing the Tories, as risking the
‘break up of the Union’ (An absolute disgrace from one of the architects
of the new labour model of devolution that set us on the current
course), was because the Tories have announced that they are considering
English only voting in parliament. This has the backing of the Scottish first minister Alex Salmond who said he supported the idea.
Ah the duplicitous nature of our political classes …. Listening to Harriet (what’s the party line Gordon?) Harman on TV, just confirms how completely out of touch New Labour are with the 3/4s of England who don't vote for them. She was waffling on again about regionalizing England, despite the fact that the English don't want regional parliaments, as one of the John Prescott failures proved.
She was using figures from a BBC commissioned poll in 2002 which showed apparent support for regional government to defend her position, when this was totally discredited by the absolute rejection which was given to the idea by the electorate.
We English have spotted regional parliaments as just jobs for more lazy politicians, and a blatant ruse to perpetuate Labour power in the UK for ever. Despite some Labour party members claiming that there is no such nation as England (1 & 2), we know that there is, and we want our powers back. The increasing differences between Scotland and England over NHS prescriptions, Education fees and other matters make it inevitable that the question has to be dealt with.
The New Labour Government has never been able to properly explain why its fair on the English, that Scots, Irish and Welsh MP’s vote on purely English matters, when English MP’s have no reciprocal say in the regions. The truth that drives all Labours 'constitutional reforms', is that in the popular vote, Labour have never won an election purely in England, and have always relied on Scottish and Welsh MP's to hold power.
They are terrified that the twin poisoned chalices of Tony Blair’s legacy, the war in Iraq, and a panicky granting of devolution in Scotland for short term gain, will come back to haunt them for a few generations.
Without Scotland’s MP’s (and the Welsh, as they will follow the same path), then Labour will never win an English election again. They will be held responsible for the destruction of the UK, and all so that they could feel political power again.
Many Labour thinkers fear that this is an inevitable scenario, and are therefore casting around for some mechanism that will stop or at least delay this happening. Regional government is the only "Big Idea" they have so it's waived around pathetically by anyone who has the strength to do so.
The current situation is very unhealthy, and reflects in the preponderance of Scottish Ministers we have had for the last 10 yrs. They should make more effort to have popular English policies, instead of appealing to the neo socialist; state controlled subsidized sectors of Scotland and Wales.
(1). Hansard 11/05/1999 pt 27: "I was disappointed to hear the Minister of State and the right hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Mr. Maclennan lab) appeared to say that there was no such thing as England, whereas Scotland and Wales were real countries."
(2). Liberal Democrat Leader of Newcastle City Council, Peter Arnold who insisted extraordinarily that there is no such thing as England.
She was using figures from a BBC commissioned poll in 2002 which showed apparent support for regional government to defend her position, when this was totally discredited by the absolute rejection which was given to the idea by the electorate.
We English have spotted regional parliaments as just jobs for more lazy politicians, and a blatant ruse to perpetuate Labour power in the UK for ever. Despite some Labour party members claiming that there is no such nation as England (1 & 2), we know that there is, and we want our powers back. The increasing differences between Scotland and England over NHS prescriptions, Education fees and other matters make it inevitable that the question has to be dealt with.
The New Labour Government has never been able to properly explain why its fair on the English, that Scots, Irish and Welsh MP’s vote on purely English matters, when English MP’s have no reciprocal say in the regions. The truth that drives all Labours 'constitutional reforms', is that in the popular vote, Labour have never won an election purely in England, and have always relied on Scottish and Welsh MP's to hold power.
They are terrified that the twin poisoned chalices of Tony Blair’s legacy, the war in Iraq, and a panicky granting of devolution in Scotland for short term gain, will come back to haunt them for a few generations.
- Firstly; by Iraq losing them the next general election, and
- Secondly; that (with a Tory Government in the UK), the Scots will take the plunge and give the Scottish National Party (SNP) the mandate it needs for a referendum on full independence.
Without Scotland’s MP’s (and the Welsh, as they will follow the same path), then Labour will never win an English election again. They will be held responsible for the destruction of the UK, and all so that they could feel political power again.
Many Labour thinkers fear that this is an inevitable scenario, and are therefore casting around for some mechanism that will stop or at least delay this happening. Regional government is the only "Big Idea" they have so it's waived around pathetically by anyone who has the strength to do so.
The current situation is very unhealthy, and reflects in the preponderance of Scottish Ministers we have had for the last 10 yrs. They should make more effort to have popular English policies, instead of appealing to the neo socialist; state controlled subsidized sectors of Scotland and Wales.
(1). Hansard 11/05/1999 pt 27: "I was disappointed to hear the Minister of State and the right hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (Mr. Maclennan lab) appeared to say that there was no such thing as England, whereas Scotland and Wales were real countries."
(2). Liberal Democrat Leader of Newcastle City Council, Peter Arnold who insisted extraordinarily that there is no such thing as England.
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The point you make 'Despite some labour party members claiming that there is no such nation as England...' convinces me all the more that there is a tendency among a lot of Labour Party members to accept whatever they are told, from whatever level, as some sort of holy writ. Another source that you might consider using is Article III of the Treaty of Union of 1707 -
ReplyDelete'That the United Kingdom of Great Britain be represented by One and the same Parliament, to be stiled, the Parliament of Great Britain.'
The fact that Great Britain was created by the Union of Scotland and England seems to escape them. I can see no logical reason why Scottish MPs should vote on matters which only affect England - that is one of the reasons why I am a member of the SNP.
Michael, I am not happy with the idea of the union breaking up, as I think ultimately it weakens us all.
ReplyDeleteHowever the current situation of non English MP's determining English law but the reverse not being true, is not tenable.
The legality of the situation under British law is dubious as you have pointed out, and possibly is an infringement of the human rights of English voters.
Morally it's just not defensible for this system to prevail, purely to allow a scots MP to be PM of a United Kingdom.
Thank you for your comment.