Comments on: No signs of the advertised democracy for the Commons: further attack on England http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:47:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Grand Committee is no answer to English Question « OurKingdom http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-10275 Grand Committee is no answer to English Question « OurKingdom Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:33:08 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-10275 [...] new attempt to establish “regional accountability” in England last week. Mr Redwood had this to say: Worse still is the government’s threat of a further assault on England. Whilst they are [...] [...] new attempt to establish “regional accountability” in England last week. Mr Redwood had this to say: Worse still is the government’s threat of a further assault on England. Whilst they are [...]

]]> By: Don Beadle http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-10059 Don Beadle Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:42:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-10059 An English Grand Committee would be toothless as would not govern England. It would only discuss and vote on legislation formulated and administered by ministers of the UK government, some of whom might represent Scottish or Wesh constituencies. It might be a compromise alternative to an English Parliament only if it were empowered to elect an English Executive to which the Uk Government had devolved powers similar to those devolved to Scotland. Reply: I want English votes on English issues so we can have an English executive to match the Scottish one An English Grand Committee would be toothless as would not govern England. It would only discuss and vote on legislation formulated and administered by ministers of the UK government, some of whom might represent Scottish or Wesh constituencies.
It might be a compromise alternative to an English Parliament only if it were empowered to elect an English Executive to which the Uk Government had devolved powers similar to those devolved to Scotland.

Reply: I want English votes on English issues so we can have an English executive to match the Scottish one

]]> By: T. Yke http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-10009 T. Yke Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:42:55 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-10009 There is funny but true story about Harriet Harman. Just after she was put in charge of the constitutional unit, there was a discussion on Question Time, about devolution and the anomolies it had created. She had no idea what we are all talking about and said, "What anomolies." That woman is (badly informed) (Text edited) and would crack under questioning. I am ashamed to have her represent females in politics. Off with her head ! Reply: I take this to be a call for her resignation. Unfortunately her lack of understanding of devolution is the official government line which she is paid to retail to the rest of us. There is funny but true story about Harriet Harman. Just after she was put in charge of the constitutional unit, there was a discussion on Question Time, about devolution and the anomolies it had created. She had no idea what we are all talking about and said, “What anomolies.”
That woman is (badly informed) (Text edited) and would crack under questioning.
I am ashamed to have her represent females in politics. Off with her head !

Reply: I take this to be a call for her resignation. Unfortunately her lack of understanding of devolution is the official government line which she is paid to retail to the rest of us.

]]> By: Colin Baker http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9640 Colin Baker Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:21:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9640 England will have its own parliament. That is not a threat but a future that the people of England are now beginning to consider, and will demand. Hopefully, if it occurs early enough then the Union can be saved. However, withdrawel from the EU is a forgone conclusion; and the longer it is dragged out the more acrimonious it is going to be. England will have its own parliament. That is not a threat but a future that the people of England are now beginning to consider, and will demand. Hopefully, if it occurs early enough then the Union can be saved. However, withdrawel from the EU is a forgone conclusion; and the longer it is dragged out the more acrimonious it is going to be.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9624 Cliff Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:33:22 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9624 Regionalisation just makes me angry. I remember here in Wokingham a couple of years or so ago receiving another "Consultation Document" regarding the unelected SERA plans to impose more and more housing on Wokingham. I have not spoken to anyone that supports the idea of a Regional level of government. It seems crazy to me, for a government to get rid of county councils because of too much bureaucracy, then replace it with more bureaucracy....At least we had a vote for the political make up of the old Berkshire County Council. I accept more homes are needed if we continue with Labour's open door policy, but I do not want Wokingham to become a suburb of Greater Reading. I also found the aforementioned "consultation" document cleverly worded so that one could not say no thanks to further development. Each option was just a choice as to where development would take place. There was not a " No development" option on the form. This means in my cynical view that, the SERA could have said a majority wanted a particular site developed, where as, had they asked if we wanted no development at all on any of the proposed sites, I suspect that would have been the overwhelming winner. Sometimes I feel that we in the southeast are being "punished" for not being Labour friendly in the past. We pay more tax and get less for it compared to many of the Labour heartlands up t'north. There can never be true democracy in parliament while we have the party system. The system does not allow free voting on the issues and many MPs seem to put their party line first before the needs and views of the local people. Recent cabinet ministers on protests to save their local NHS facilities, which they had voted to close while towing the party line comes to mind. The party system allows a PM with a large majority to put through unpopular legislation. Some MPs seem to me to put the party and their job or future job ahead of their principles or the needs of their electorate. Reply: I like your idea of more free votes for MPs. In order to get justice for England we need a result at a General Election which does not give such a strong majority to pro regional parties, the Labour and Lib Dem parties. Our democracy works best when the governing party has a small majority and has to work hard to win each vote. For 11 years we have had Parliaments where an very large majority of MPs want more EU government and more unelected regional government, when the people of England are against this. Regionalisation just makes me angry. I remember here in Wokingham a couple of years or so ago receiving another “Consultation Document” regarding the unelected SERA plans to impose more and more housing on Wokingham.
I have not spoken to anyone that supports the idea of a Regional level of government. It seems crazy to me, for a government to get rid of county councils because of too much bureaucracy, then replace it with more bureaucracy….At least we had a vote for the political make up of the old Berkshire County Council.
I accept more homes are needed if we continue with Labour’s open door policy, but I do not want Wokingham to become a suburb of Greater Reading.
I also found the aforementioned “consultation” document cleverly worded so that one could not say no thanks to further development. Each option was just a choice as to where development would take place. There was not a ” No development” option on the form. This means in my cynical view that, the SERA could have said a majority wanted a particular site developed, where as, had they asked if we wanted no development at all on any of the proposed sites, I suspect that would have been the overwhelming winner.

Sometimes I feel that we in the southeast are being “punished” for not being Labour friendly in the past. We pay more tax and get less for it compared to many of the Labour heartlands up t’north.

There can never be true democracy in parliament while we have the party system. The system does not allow free voting on the issues and many MPs seem to put their party line first before the needs and views of the local people. Recent cabinet ministers on protests to save their local NHS facilities, which they had voted to close while towing the party line comes to mind.
The party system allows a PM with a large majority to put through unpopular legislation.
Some MPs seem to me to put the party and their job or future job ahead of their principles or the needs of their electorate.

Reply: I like your idea of more free votes for MPs. In order to get justice for England we need a result at a General Election which does not give such a strong majority to pro regional parties, the Labour and Lib Dem parties. Our democracy works best when the governing party has a small majority and has to work hard to win each vote. For 11 years we have had Parliaments where an very large majority of MPs want more EU government and more unelected regional government, when the people of England are against this.

]]> By: E.Justice http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9580 E.Justice Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:45:04 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9580 Mr. Redwood, Thank you for speaking out for England, I think you must be the only Englishman in the Conservative Party,because Mr. Cameron does not appear to be fond of the English,and as for the others the silence is deafening. Time is running out for England if Labour gets going with their Regional Ministers,the break up of England will happen in a big way. Can the rest of your party not see your votes are all with England since Devolution. Push for an English Parliament it is the only way. Sincerely Eleanor Justice Mr. Redwood,
Thank you for speaking out for England, I think you must be the only Englishman in the Conservative Party,because Mr. Cameron does not appear to be fond of the English,and as for the others the silence is deafening.
Time is running out for England if Labour gets going with their Regional Ministers,the break up of England will happen in a big way.
Can the rest of your party not see your votes are all with England since Devolution.
Push for an English Parliament it is the only way.
Sincerely
Eleanor Justice

]]> By: Della Petch http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9560 Della Petch Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:18:37 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9560 It is becoming an intolerable situation. One thing that the last 10 years are teaching us, is that democracy doesn't work. The back handed way in which the RAs were imposed on us, is evidence enough, but we have a PM who has signed a pledge to always put Scotland's wants first and foremost, but who has also skewed the Parliamentary system so much that he is not ruling England without ever being expected to be elected to do so. How can this be right? We also find ourselves in a situation where the opposition parties will not speak out in our defence, because they are also playing for Scottish votes and anything that might seem like defence of England over Scotland is seen as pandering to Little Englanders (a phrase your own leader used in Scotland). How can this be right? England is not best served by the British establishment. It has to go. One way or another. It is becoming an intolerable situation. One thing that the last 10 years are teaching us, is that democracy doesn’t work. The back handed way in which the RAs were imposed on us, is evidence enough, but we have a PM who has signed a pledge to always put Scotland’s wants first and foremost, but who has also skewed the Parliamentary system so much that he is not ruling England without ever being expected to be elected to do so.
How can this be right?
We also find ourselves in a situation where the opposition parties will not speak out in our defence, because they are also playing for Scottish votes and anything that might seem like defence of England over Scotland is seen as pandering to Little Englanders (a phrase your own leader used in Scotland).
How can this be right?
England is not best served by the British establishment. It has to go. One way or another.

]]> By: Patrick Harris http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9559 Patrick Harris Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:13:44 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9559 Unfortunately John, we still haven't heard the official Tory answer to the above questions, please don't repeat that "Grand Committee" rhubarb, England is a nation just like Scotland and Wales we are not a bloody Golf Club. Reply: The official answer in the last election was "English votes for English issues" and may well be again. I appreciate this does not go far enough to satisfy people who want English independence, but it does provide some balance to our present unbalanced constitution and avoids extra cost for yet more politiicans, bureaucrats and expensive buildings. Unfortunately John, we still haven’t heard the official Tory answer to the above questions, please don’t repeat that “Grand Committee” rhubarb, England is a nation just like Scotland and Wales we are not a bloody Golf Club.

Reply: The official answer in the last election was “English votes for English issues” and may well be again. I appreciate this does not go far enough to satisfy people who want English independence, but it does provide some balance to our present unbalanced constitution and avoids extra cost for yet more politiicans, bureaucrats and expensive buildings.

]]> By: tally http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9558 tally Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:05:18 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9558 I have come to hate the word "English regions". It is an insult to English people. The late Robin Cook was quite up front about it when he said "England is not a country, you're just regions". The best thing to do when Harriet Harridan next broaches this subject is shout "No Mandate". That should shut the (lady) (text adjusted )up. I have come to hate the word “English regions”. It is an insult to English people. The late Robin Cook was quite up front about it when he said “England is not a country, you’re just regions”.
The best thing to do when Harriet Harridan next broaches this subject is shout “No Mandate”. That should shut the (lady) (text adjusted )up.

]]> By: CEP News Blog » Blog Archive » Faint Hearts http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9549 CEP News Blog » Blog Archive » Faint Hearts Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:16:07 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/10/26/no-signs-of-the-advertised-democracy-for-the-commons-further-attack-on-england/#comment-9549 [...] John Redwood: Worse still is the government's threat of a further assault on England. Whilst they are dealying and struggling to work out the detail, Harman yesterday confirmed that they want to establish regional accountability [...] John Redwood: Worse still is the government’s threat of a further assault on England. Whilst they are dealying and struggling to work out the detail, Harman yesterday confirmed that they want to establish regional accountability

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