Feb 19 2007
Iain Dale sees a conspiracy where there is none
Iain says I have changed my mind on an English Parliament in my latest Independent interview.
Not so Iain. "English votes for English issues" is shorthand for the proposal you first read on this site – Westminster MPs from English seats meet as the English Parliament some of the time, and meet with the rest of the MPs as the Union Parliament the rest of the time.
That puts the English parliament where it should be – at Westminster – and saves the taxpayers another load of salaries for extra representatives.
8 Responses to “Iain Dale sees a conspiracy where there is none”
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
No so John. If English votes for English issues
Will this part time English Parliament be devolved from the Lords as the Welsh Scottish and Northern Irish Assemblies are? It’s a simple question, why will no one answer it?.
So what do the MPs representing the other nations do on them days?
Do they meet in their own parliaments or do they have the day off?
I take it also that MPs not representing English constituencies cannot be a Minister that only deals with English Matters.
Dual mandate MPs are fine as long as all MPs and all the nations of the UK are treated this way.
Don’t give clues about the problems for him. I like it. Nice and messy. A dog’s dinner to replace a dog’s dinner. Lovely.
It’s getting so much easier now to convince people that complete independence is the best option.
It doesn’t matter which Party wins the next election, the UK is doomed. Doomed, I tell you. And the most ironic thing is, it will be completely the fault of the Unionists. LOL God bless ‘em.
Who will take the seat of the Prime Minister should he be either Welsh, Scottish or Irish?
Who will take the place of the Transport Minister if ditto… .
Or:
Will the “English” have a First Minister?
Will there be an “English” Transport Minister?
Ambiguity all along the line.
Sorry but you must put your thinking cap on once more, the only just and equitable solution is a completely separate, devolved English Parliament.
Don’t worry about the Union the Scots will scotch that.
John, you are contradicting yourself. You kept dismissing the creation of an English Parliament as an unneccesary expense, yet many of us in the English movement have also believed it should be at Westminster so how could it be an extra expense, if anything removing non-English MPs from the chamber and offices would reduce running costs and free up space!
Your solution does not address the problem of there not being a proper English Executive in the same way the Executive operates in Scotland. It does raise the spectre of a Conservative dominated English Parliament, rejecting policies being driven by a Labour Elected Union wide administration. It doesn’t address the problem of the absence of a first Minister for England and it doesn’t offer the people of England a debate on the issue and a referendum.
It is clear all unionist parties are content to deny the people of England the same consultation rights that have been afforded to Scotland and Wales. Labour promised a referendum on regionalisation, but after only one (rejection by 79%) they gave up on the rest, yet are still planning to destroy England as a nation state, with the apparent quiet acceptance of the Conservatives.
If the Conservatives gave one iota about democracy, or disagreed with the break-up of England as a nation state, one would have thought at the very least Conservatives would be defending the rights of the people of England to have a voice. The fact you continue to discourage a public debate, won’t engage with the English Constitutional Convention and cannot see how wrong and anti-democratic this behaviour is gives none of us any hope that the Conservatives will be any better for England than Labour.
Iain Dale is simply pointing out the deliberate attempt to mislead people into thinking that you have now accepted the justness of an English Parliament, when in fact you are doing no such thing.
I cannot believe the stick you are getting over this eminently sensible idea. No new bereaucracy, no new expensive palace, no hoard of new politicians to put their noses in yet another trough, and best of all the West Lothian question dealt with.
All you need to add is that the Welsh and Scottish assembly buildings will be converted into bingo halls and the policy will be complete.
Keep it up John, I’ll be happy to point out to your constituents come the next general election, the fact that you are happy for them to remain second class citizens within the UK, with their country split into 9 euro regions whilst still carrying the huge burden of the Barnett formula. Stand up for your constituents and England, Sign Frank Fields Early Day Motion 670, or face the consequences at the ballot box.