From the Conservative manifesto:
"Labour have refused to address the so-called ‘West Lothian Question’: the unfair situation of Scottish MPs voting on matters which are devolved. A Conservative government will introduce new rules so that legislation referring specifically to England, or to England and Wales, cannot be enacted without the consent of MPs representing constituencies of those countries."
Of the 532 seats contested in England on May 6 (a final seat will be contested on 27 May), the Conservatives won an absolute majority with 61 seats more than all other parties combined, and secured an average swing of 5.6% from Labour.
The English have clearly voted for self-determination, and the proposed 'progressive coalition' is nothing but the proposed denial of the English right to self-determination and the democratic expression of the English voters.
Whoever you voted for, wherever your normal political loyalties lie, you should be outraged by this.
Showing posts with label West Lothian Question. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Lothian Question. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Inversion of democracy
Daniel Hannan has been blogging about the prospect of a hung parliament.
This is something I've discussed in the past too.
It is beginning to irk me that the direct democracy movement - a movement I have a lot of sympathy with, and which Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell claim has a lot of traction in the Conservative party, is ignoring the place of England in the direct democracy framework. It is simply an inversion of the principles of localism and direct democracy to ignore the current democratic deficit in England, to talk about taking decisions at the lowest possible level and still have Westminster, in the guise of the British parliament, holding powers over England that have already been devolved to the other nations of the United Kingdom.
Can we get an English Parliament? Yes Witan!
This is something I've discussed in the past too.
It is beginning to irk me that the direct democracy movement - a movement I have a lot of sympathy with, and which Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell claim has a lot of traction in the Conservative party, is ignoring the place of England in the direct democracy framework. It is simply an inversion of the principles of localism and direct democracy to ignore the current democratic deficit in England, to talk about taking decisions at the lowest possible level and still have Westminster, in the guise of the British parliament, holding powers over England that have already been devolved to the other nations of the United Kingdom.
Can we get an English Parliament? Yes Witan!
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Balance...
In the interests of balance, I would like to highlight the following campaign on Labourspace which at least shows that some of their activists are not happy at the democratic injustice inflicted on England by their government.
As I've said all along - I want people of all political views interested in this idea. It's the only way it can prosper.
As I've said all along - I want people of all political views interested in this idea. It's the only way it can prosper.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
The referendum we should get, but won't
You've probably seen that Gordon Brown wants a referendum on an alternative voting system for Westminster elections.
It's not for this blog to discuss the merits of the relative voting systems, of the motivation behind Gordon Brown's sudden conversion to the idea of voting reform, of the attractions to the Lib Dems in a hung parliament of such an idea etc.
What I do want to say, however, is that if there is a constitutional reform that the country is crying out for, if there is a democratic deficit that needs addressing, the way we elect MPs to Westminster is not the most pressing. How about the fact that this Prime Minister and his Scottish cohorts vote on issues south of the Firth that they can't vote on in their own constituency? How about the fact that the biggest nation in the United Kingdom is the only one without a national assembly?
The referendum we need is a referendum on English Independence. At the very least a referendum on an English Parliament. Any other reform that is supposed to improve democratic representation is simply a sticking plaster on a gunshot wound.
It's not for this blog to discuss the merits of the relative voting systems, of the motivation behind Gordon Brown's sudden conversion to the idea of voting reform, of the attractions to the Lib Dems in a hung parliament of such an idea etc.
What I do want to say, however, is that if there is a constitutional reform that the country is crying out for, if there is a democratic deficit that needs addressing, the way we elect MPs to Westminster is not the most pressing. How about the fact that this Prime Minister and his Scottish cohorts vote on issues south of the Firth that they can't vote on in their own constituency? How about the fact that the biggest nation in the United Kingdom is the only one without a national assembly?
The referendum we need is a referendum on English Independence. At the very least a referendum on an English Parliament. Any other reform that is supposed to improve democratic representation is simply a sticking plaster on a gunshot wound.
A question for Gordon...
The excellent Douglas Carswell is asking for suggestions for his question at the next PMQ.
I have suggested he ask about a Parliament for England. Perhaps likeminded supporters could do the same?
I have suggested he ask about a Parliament for England. Perhaps likeminded supporters could do the same?
Monday, 8 February 2010
2010, the year that could set England free
Writing in the Times, William Rees Mogg predicts a hung parliament. I have mentioned before that the 2010 general election is a unique opportunity for those who wish to see an Independent England, for it promises to remove the democratic legitimacy of the UK government to govern for the whole of the UK.
Most likely in my view is that the Conservatives will win an overall majority, however, they will be 3rd in terms of seats in Scotland and Wales, and this will deny them legitimacy in these countries. In this event, you can be sure the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly will demand and almost certainly be granted, new powers. An alternative (though much less likely) is that Labour win a small overall majority, thanks to their vote in Scotland and Wales holding up better than expected. They would have won much less seats and votes than the Conservatives in England, but will hold power through the seats of MP in other countries. In this scenario, how likely do you think it is England would be granted a parliament? Who will stand up for the people of England?
Finally, there is Lord Rees-Mogg's prediction of a hung parliament. In this event the Conservatives would again be the biggest party in England, and the clear majority and mandate voted for by the people of England would be denied by the votes of the Scots and Welsh. Where is the justice, where is the democracy, in that?
Most likely in my view is that the Conservatives will win an overall majority, however, they will be 3rd in terms of seats in Scotland and Wales, and this will deny them legitimacy in these countries. In this event, you can be sure the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly will demand and almost certainly be granted, new powers. An alternative (though much less likely) is that Labour win a small overall majority, thanks to their vote in Scotland and Wales holding up better than expected. They would have won much less seats and votes than the Conservatives in England, but will hold power through the seats of MP in other countries. In this scenario, how likely do you think it is England would be granted a parliament? Who will stand up for the people of England?
Finally, there is Lord Rees-Mogg's prediction of a hung parliament. In this event the Conservatives would again be the biggest party in England, and the clear majority and mandate voted for by the people of England would be denied by the votes of the Scots and Welsh. Where is the justice, where is the democracy, in that?
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Why 2010 is so important... (part 2)
A thought experiment, if you will indulge me.
Forgive me, Iain Dale, for asking my readers to imagine your prediction is wrong. Imagine the SNP do better than you've predicted, or UKIP squeeze the Conservatives in a few key marginals. Imagine, in short, that the Conservatives fall a few seats short of an overall majority.
The clear choice of the English people would be a Conservative government, denied by the choices of voters in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Forgive me, Iain Dale, for asking my readers to imagine your prediction is wrong. Imagine the SNP do better than you've predicted, or UKIP squeeze the Conservatives in a few key marginals. Imagine, in short, that the Conservatives fall a few seats short of an overall majority.
The clear choice of the English people would be a Conservative government, denied by the choices of voters in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Why 2010 is so important... (part 1)
You may have seen Iain Dale's prediction for the 2010 election.
He is predicting a narrow Conservative majority of just 12 seats. Amazingly, this corresponds almost exactly to the number of seats he is predicting the Conservatives will win outside England (13).
If his breakdown is correct, the 'United Kingdom Government' will have just 9 out of 40 seats in Wales and 4 out of 59 seats in Scotland. This will give them virtually no democratic mandate to rule the whole of the UK, and rob the UK of any claim to legitimacy as a unified state. Their power will rest almost solely on winning 318 out of 529 English seats.
He is predicting a narrow Conservative majority of just 12 seats. Amazingly, this corresponds almost exactly to the number of seats he is predicting the Conservatives will win outside England (13).
If his breakdown is correct, the 'United Kingdom Government' will have just 9 out of 40 seats in Wales and 4 out of 59 seats in Scotland. This will give them virtually no democratic mandate to rule the whole of the UK, and rob the UK of any claim to legitimacy as a unified state. Their power will rest almost solely on winning 318 out of 529 English seats.
What's true of the EU, is true of the UK, only more so...
Douglas Carswell, Conservative MP for Harwich and Clacton and one of the most thoughtful politicans of our age, is submitting a Private Members Bill on an 'in or out' referendum regarding the UK's membership of the EU. It is an important bill, that deserves to be widely publicised and I urge you to go to his page and send it on to your friends or on facebook, twitter, blogs etc.
I'm afraid, however, that Douglas isn't really taking things to their logical conclusion. Every argument that can be made against the UK being a member of the EU (loss of sovereignty, financial cost, loss of an independent voice in the world, a lack of democracy) is equally true of England's membership of the UK.
I'm afraid, however, that Douglas isn't really taking things to their logical conclusion. Every argument that can be made against the UK being a member of the EU (loss of sovereignty, financial cost, loss of an independent voice in the world, a lack of democracy) is equally true of England's membership of the UK.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
The Anti-English Mainstream Media Bias
Over on 'A National Conversation for England' an interesting point about the General Election Leader debates, (2 posts, here and here).
As they rightly point out, these debates are being presented as affecting 'The UK', when actually many policies discussed at these debates will affect only England. This point is completely ignored by the Mainstream Media.
You will also almost certainly not be surprised to know that the BBC has created a Scottish History Portal. The Scots are clearly a proud people with a long, interesting, and eventful history. Judging by the English History Portal, we are slightly lacking in that regard (hat tip forengland).
As they rightly point out, these debates are being presented as affecting 'The UK', when actually many policies discussed at these debates will affect only England. This point is completely ignored by the Mainstream Media.
You will also almost certainly not be surprised to know that the BBC has created a Scottish History Portal. The Scots are clearly a proud people with a long, interesting, and eventful history. Judging by the English History Portal, we are slightly lacking in that regard (hat tip forengland).
Monday, 18 January 2010
Independent England, Independent Thought
This blog is not affiliated in anyway to any political party.
This is not only because no political party is currently advocating English Independence. It is also because I feel that the cause of national self-determination is essentially apolitical, and I do not wish to alienate any potential supporters of that cause with any political endorsements.
My own political views could be characterised as on the Libertarian side of Right-of-Centre thought, but is essentially irrelevant to the cause of English Independence and the principle of self-determination.
My goal is to attract supporters of all parties who identify themselves as English, and deplore the denial of English national and cultural identity within the United Kingdom. By doing so, I hope to advance the cause of English Independence and ensure addressing the injustices done to England are moved up the list of priorities in all political priorities.
The Campaign for an Independent England
Welcome to the campaign for an Independent England.
We believe that the best interests of England will be served by cession from the United Kingdom and the establishment of an independent English state. The devolution introduced since 1997 has created a democratic deficit that penalises the people living in England, and makes them pay for it. Even Scots and Welsh Nationalists have noted the disadvantage suffered by England. The English Democrats, a minor party with no MPs or councillors, obstensibly campaign for 'England', but their manifesto calls only for an English Parliament within a federal UK, which is manifestly not independence and a weaker position than that held by the SNP or Plaid Cymru in relation to Scotland or Wales.
We believe that the best interests of England will be served by cession from the United Kingdom and the establishment of an independent English state. The devolution introduced since 1997 has created a democratic deficit that penalises the people living in England, and makes them pay for it. Even Scots and Welsh Nationalists have noted the disadvantage suffered by England. The English Democrats, a minor party with no MPs or councillors, obstensibly campaign for 'England', but their manifesto calls only for an English Parliament within a federal UK, which is manifestly not independence and a weaker position than that held by the SNP or Plaid Cymru in relation to Scotland or Wales.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
