Iain Dale on an English Parliament
Iain Dale writes English Parliament Remains a Fringe Issue for the Tories… But Not For Much Longer. Iain is one of the people who is willing to confront this issue with the intention of actually solving it long term. I agree entirely that English Votes for English Matters is a band aid, short term solution as Iain puts it and that an English Constitutional Convention is required.
There a three main camps on this issue. Camp one believes that the current situation is both desirable and sustainable. Camp two believes that half measures (EVoEM) is preferable and will actually work in practice (the killer) and camp three believes in equality for each of the component nations of Great Britain through the creation of an English Parliament.
Camp one proclaim that they wish to preserve the Union. They hope to do so by doing nothing. I think that they will fail because their plan asks for the people of England to grin a bare both constitutional anomalies and practical outcomes that show equality of citizenship, as legislated for by the state, is no longer a reality.
Camp two are less dangerous. They, at least, recognise the magnitude of the issue. When the wheels come off their bicycle the solution will become all the more apparent to them.
Camp three is, at present, a relatively small camp but as Iain suggests that won’t last forever.
Camp 4. Dissolution of the Union and home rule for England
Camp 5, dissolution of all local parliaments with Europe united under one mother of all parliaments.
Are you scared yet……….
I’m in camp three but I don’t think that EVoEM is a stop-gap solution. If it is then it’s a damn stupid one that will disrupt the working of parliament and potentially wreck the Union, or at least bring down the government that implements it.
An English Constitutional Convention is required but it needs to be part of a wider UK Constitutional Convention. Great Britain is greater England; England is the centre. You cannot change the centre without it affecting the periphery.
Likewise, you cannot change the periphery without it affecting the centre – something that Labour didn’t understand when they devolved power to the Scotland and Wales.
I just wish the 3 main parties would stop igoring the issue or putting forward dumb arse solutions…. They’ve got to wake up and smell the anger. I was heartened by Iain’s commitment to action – I just hope it doesn’t get diluted and forgotten on the pyre of loyalty to his party. The only way things are going to change is for people like Iain, Boris, Frank Field, John Thurso and others to form a cross party pressure group – Call it the Democracy for England Movement or something – and get gobby. They already have the public profile, they could launch the campaign to a blizzard of publicity. i seem to remember Tony Blair doing something similar with Ken Clarke and Tarzan during his early days as PM – I think it was a commitment to Europe or something…… The difference being with this new campaign, it will grow and grow. What do you think, John?
One thing is for sure, if they do start some sort of campaign, they can be assured of a lot of coverage from the Witanagemot Club.
Alfie, I think the louder this thing gets the better. The only thing that is of concern is the language used. People should be left in no doubt that this is not about Scotland or the Scottish but, instead, is about accountability. It should be firmly about the MP’s constituency and its isolation from the MP’s decisions and not about nationality. Naturally, any talk of a distinct voice for the English is perfectly legitimate outside of the WLQ IMHO.
And yes Gareth, we’ll be all over it. I’m chomping at the bit already.