Devolution has changed all that, the emails of complaint pour in

From this cover story in the Spectator:

Then there is the impact of devolution. The English are a tolerant bunch and, outside elements of the London elite, never much minded the rise of the Scottish Raj: after all, we were British, well-educated, reasonably cultivated and spoke with clear, classless accents. Devolution has changed all that. The English increasingly resent Scots in charge of English affairs now that Scotland has control of its own domestic matters.

I see this resentment on the Daily Politics show I present for BBC2. When politicians from Scotland pontificate on English matters, the emails of complaint pour in. Some don’t even like the fact that I, a Scot who has lived in London for over 30 years, question Scottish politicians who have responsibility for English affairs. When do the English have a say? they ask, not unreasonably.

The growing resentment is a consequence of the asymmetric devolution plan, which gave Scotland its own Parliament, but not England. Great Britain has become a two-class state: those with home rule (Scots and Welsh) and those without (the English).

Gradually people are becoming aware of the mess that devolution has deposited on the giant welcome mat at England's front door.

I recently introduced a friend to the issue when sitting in a local pub garden. I started with "you know, England doesn't actually exist" and after absorbing the expected "That's bullshit" remark went on to explain to him the ins and outs of devolution, political representation and the government's plans to regionalise England. You should have seen the look on his face.

No doubt he will tell someone else, and that someone else will also pass it on. At some point someone will come up to me and say "you know, England doesn't actually exist". At that point I will know that victory is not that far away.

Posted by John at August 22, 2005 12:32 PM | TrackBack