Comments on: John Redwood on the Queen’s Speech Debate http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:24:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Greg http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11270 Greg Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:24:10 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11270 John, This argument for many of us goes well beyond costs and to my best belief there are no reliable figures yet available to accurately quantify the expense involved in operating an English Parliament. Moreover, you appear to assume that there would be more politicians and bureaucrats. Sufficient work has not been done on this but my belief is that you do not see a trade-off between the costs of operating a rump UK Parliament and those involved in a fully-fledged English Parliament. The costs of the UK Parliament would presumably be met by levies on the Scots,Welsh and N.Irish Parliaments and not just by England. The current House of Commons will revert to its original use as the Parliament of England. An English Parliament will focus on English needs and stop the incessant obsessions about all things Scottish. English MP's of all parties have done nothing to remedy the inequities of devolution in the last 10 years and the Scots people have enjoyed benefits denied to us in England. An English Grand Committee without executive powers will be no solution. If the Grand Committee vehicle is so effective, one has to question why it is not used in both Scotland and Wales. I readily accept that the Conservatives are attempting to focus a solution to the English Question but I believe that as a party you lack the courage to really grapple with the problem due mainly to a concern that it "will threaten the Union". What will really boost the happiness of the English people is to have a government which fights for their equality with other parts of the UK and recognises that such grievaances go beyond party political concerns. John,
This argument for many of us goes well beyond costs and to my best belief there are no reliable figures yet available to accurately quantify the expense involved in operating an English Parliament. Moreover, you appear to assume that there would be more politicians and bureaucrats. Sufficient work has not been done on this but my belief is that you do not see a trade-off between the costs of operating a rump UK Parliament and those involved in a fully-fledged English Parliament. The costs of the UK Parliament would presumably be met by levies on the Scots,Welsh and N.Irish Parliaments and not just by England. The current House of Commons will revert to its original use as the Parliament of England.
An English Parliament will focus on English needs and stop the incessant obsessions about all things Scottish. English MP’s of all parties have done nothing to remedy the inequities of devolution in the last 10 years and the Scots people have enjoyed benefits denied to us in England. An English Grand Committee without executive powers will be no solution. If the Grand Committee vehicle is so effective, one has to question why it is not used in both Scotland and Wales. I readily accept that the Conservatives are attempting to focus a solution to the English Question but I believe that as a party you lack the courage to really grapple with the problem due mainly to a concern that it “will threaten the Union”. What will really boost the happiness of the English people is to have a government which fights for their equality with other parts of the UK and recognises that such grievaances go beyond party political concerns.

]]> By: Greg http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11250 Greg Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:57:10 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11250 John, encouraging words from you on the "English Question". Why not follow your argument to its inevitable conclusion and give your support to an English Parliament within a federal UK structure? All other solutions are window dressing. We will save money from radically reducing the UK administration to the few areas that will not be devolved and the people of England will at last have fair and full representation. If its good enough for the Scots, why should it not be good enough for the English? Reply: Because the Scottish parliament and all the extra government involved is part of Scotland's problem. Their overmighty public sector lies behind the sluggish growth, higher unemployment and lower incomes than we enjoy in London and the South-east.Why on earth do you want more politicians and bureaucrats? When did they ever boost the happiness and average work incomes of people, other than by lowering taxes and doing less? John, encouraging words from you on the “English Question”. Why not follow your argument to its inevitable conclusion and give your support to an English Parliament within a federal UK structure? All other solutions are window dressing. We will save money from radically reducing the UK administration to the few areas that will not be devolved and the people of England will at last have fair and full representation. If its good enough for the Scots, why should it not be good enough for the English?

Reply: Because the Scottish parliament and all the extra government involved is part of Scotland’s problem. Their overmighty public sector lies behind the sluggish growth, higher unemployment and lower incomes than we enjoy in London and the South-east.Why on earth do you want more politicians and bureaucrats? When did they ever boost the happiness and average work incomes of people, other than by lowering taxes and doing less?

]]> By: Brian Tomkinson http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11153 Brian Tomkinson Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:35:59 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11153 I thought you made an excellent contribution to the Queen's speech debate yesterday. Thoughtful, knowledgeable and well presented - such a pity that there were so few there to hear it, particularly on the government benches where I think there were just two Labour MPs! I thought you made an excellent contribution to the Queen’s speech debate yesterday. Thoughtful, knowledgeable and well presented - such a pity that there were so few there to hear it, particularly on the government benches where I think there were just two Labour MPs!

]]> By: Andy Smith http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11151 Andy Smith Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:15:19 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2007/11/07/john-redwood-on-the-queens-speech-debate/#comment-11151 You are absolutely right to highlight the issues of democracy and the Union. Despite the Prime Minister's proclamations in favour of 'Britishness', in reality his policies are both anti-English and anti-Union. By refusing to address the democratic deficit in England created by devolution to Scotland and Wales, and by refusing to grant a UK-wide referendum on the EU's so-called Reform Treaty, Mr Brown is proving himself to be even more unpatriotic and undemocratic, and indeed anti-democratic, than his predecessor Mr Blair. Conservatives should hammer home the message that the Labour Party is anti-British to its core, and there is no greater evidence of this than its supine attitude towards Brussels. New Labour's 'Britishness' is nothing more than spin. The Conservative Party has a historic duty to defend the Union - the UK that is, not the European variety! - and to ensure full democratic rights throughout our Kingdom. Voters must be assured that Conservatives are totally committed to the best interests of the British family of nations. You are absolutely right to highlight the issues of democracy and the Union. Despite the Prime Minister’s proclamations in favour of ‘Britishness’, in reality his policies are both anti-English and anti-Union. By refusing to address the democratic deficit in England created by devolution to Scotland and Wales, and by refusing to grant a UK-wide referendum on the EU’s so-called Reform Treaty, Mr Brown is proving himself to be even more unpatriotic and undemocratic, and indeed anti-democratic, than his predecessor Mr Blair.
Conservatives should hammer home the message that the Labour Party is anti-British to its core, and there is no greater evidence of this than its supine attitude towards Brussels. New Labour’s ‘Britishness’ is nothing more than spin. The Conservative Party has a historic duty to defend the Union - the UK that is, not the European variety! - and to ensure full democratic rights throughout our Kingdom. Voters must be assured that Conservatives are totally committed to the best interests of the British family of nations.

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