Should England have its own parliament?

[Breten (Ancient)]

As the Welsh and Northern Irish have assemblies, and Scotland has a parliament, does NSG think that the time has come for England to have its own parliament again?

I am not suggesting secession or breaking up the union, merely giving England a parliament equal to Scotland's (and perhaps giving Wales/NI) the same. I am of the opinion that asymmetrical devolution has been bad for the UK, and fairer, accountable, and equal devolution is the best way forward for the UK.

[North Suran]

The Westminster parliament is essentially the English parliament, which is why Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland received devolved assemblies in the first place. Of the 650 constituencies, 533 are English, 40 are Welsh, 59 are Scottish and 18 are Northern Irish. If literally every single non-English constituency united together, it would only account for a fraction of the parliament. So no, there's no need for one, and no real demand for one.

[Izarius]

I'm not from the UK, but the union should break up imo. Don't give too much importance to my opinion though.

[Breten (Ancient)]

The Westminster parliament is essentially the English parliament, which is why Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland received devolved assemblies in the first place. Of the 650 constituencies, 533 are English, 40 are Welsh, 59 are Scottish and 18 are Northern Irish. If literally every single non-English constituency united together, it would only account for a fraction of the parliament. So no, there's no need for one, and no real demand for one.

Westminster is the UK Parliament, not the English Parliament - the English don't have one.

Most people support an English Parliament:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6264823.stm

England is disadvantaged because it doesn't have a voice. MSPs stick up for Scotland, AMs stick up for Wales, MLAs stick up for Northern Ireland, yet no-one is there for England. As you have mentioned, England already suffers from having a disproportionately small number of MPs, thus allowing certain issues which only affect England to be passed courtesy of Scottish votes.

[Lackadaisical2]

If I was living there I'd prefer no devolution at all.

[Breten (Ancient)]

I'm not from the UK, but the union should break up imo. Don't give too much importance to my opinion though.

Why should it, when the people don't want it to?

[Breten (Ancient)]

If I was living there I'd prefer no devolution at all.

We have gone down the road of devolution and there is no turning back now, so our only option is to guide the course it takes.

[Lackadaisical2]

If I was living there I'd prefer no devolution at all.

We have gone down the road of devolution and there is no turning back now

why not?

[North Suran]

The Westminster parliament is essentially the English parliament, which is why Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland received devolved assemblies in the first place. Of the 650 constituencies, 533 are English, 40 are Welsh, 59 are Scottish and 18 are Northern Irish. If literally every single non-English constituency united together, it would only account for a fraction of the parliament. So no, there's no need for one, and no real demand for one.

Westminster is the UK Parliament, not the English Parliament - the English don't have one.

That's why I said "essentially". Get a dictionary.

Most people support an English Parliament:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6264823.stm

A four year old poll doesn't say much about today. Furthermore, even if there is a demand for it, it is not a major political issue and none of the parties have adopted it as part of their platform.

England is disadvantaged because it doesn't have a voice. MSPs stick up for Scotland, AMs stick up for Wales, MLAs stick up for Northern Ireland, yet no-one is there for England.

The Westminster parliament is there for England.

As you have mentioned, England already suffers from having a disproportionately small number of MPs, thus allowing certain issues which only affect England to be passed courtesy of Scottish votes.

That's not what I said. At all. In fact, it is the complete opposite. I pointed out that a massive majority of the House of Commons is made up of English MPs. Even if the MPs for every other region of the UK unanimously voted against a bill, it would only take half of the English MPs to override them. England is not a victim, here.

[Breten (Ancient)]

Westminster is the UK Parliament, not the English Parliament - the English don't have one.

That's why I said "essentially". Get a dictionary.

Most people support an English Parliament:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6264823.stm

A four year old poll doesn't say much about today. Furthermore, even if there is a demand for it, it is not a major political issue and none of the parties have adopted it as part of their platform.

England is disadvantaged because it doesn't have a voice. MSPs stick up for Scotland, AMs stick up for Wales, MLAs stick up for Northern Ireland, yet no-one is there for England.

The Westminster parliament is there for England.

As you have mentioned, England already suffers from having a disproportionately small number of MPs, thus allowing certain issues which only affect England to be passed courtesy of Scottish votes.

That's not what I said. At all. In fact, it is the complete opposite. I pointed out that a massive majority of the House of Commons is made up of English MPs. Even if the MPs for every other region of the UK unanimously voted against a bill, it would only take half of the English MPs to override them. England is not a victim, here.

No no no. There are no English MPs, only British MPs. I don't know what part of this you don't get. The Westminster Parliament is there for the UK, not for England. An English Parliament is becoming a greater issue, as it is England which bears a disproportionate amount of the cuts, English students which suffer the rise in tuition fees, and English forests which are being sold. British MPs have not helped England.

[North Suran]

No no no. There are no English MPs, only British MPs.

Except there are English MPs - the MPs for the English constituencies.

The Westminster Parliament is there for the UK, not for England.

Until the creation of the Scottish Parliament, the House of Commons was the de facto English parliament. The English complaining about under-representation is laughable; England is the largest region in the UK, houses the central British government and possesses the most constituencies. Its akin to early 20th century Prussia complaining that it was under-represented in the German Empire.

[Chumblywumbly]

The Westminster parliament is there for England... Even if the MPs for every other region of the UK unanimously voted against a bill, it would only take half of the English MPs to override them. England is not a victim, here.

Westminster is there for the UK and some of the legislation that passes through it only affects England. I'm sure you're well aware of the West Lothian question; the fact that MPs from Scotland, NI and Wales can help pass legislation that only affects English constituents. Though there are plenty more English MPs compared to ones from Scotland, NI and Wales, said MPs are drawn from across party lines. The last government made a great deal of this, pushing through foundation hospitals, tuition fee hikes, etc.; policies that would not have passed if only English MPs voted.

If not a separate English parliament, what's you solution? Excluding non-English MPs from legislative debates and votes (in effect creating an English parliament within Westminster)? Devolving more power to Holyrood, Stormont and Cardiff?

Or something else?

[Breten (Ancient)]

No no no. There are no English MPs, only British MPs.

Except there are English MPs - the MPs for the English constituencies.

The Westminster Parliament is there for the UK, not for England.

Until the creation of the Scottish Parliament, the House of Commons was the de facto English parliament. The English complaining about under-representation is laughable; England is the largest region in the UK, houses the central British government and possesses the most constituencies. Its akin to early 20th century Prussia complaining that it was under-represented in the German Empire.

Again, you aren't grasping basic concepts. England is not a region, England is a nation, much like Wales or Scotland (I'll leave NI out of it because that's a whole other issue).

[North Suran]

The Westminster parliament is there for England... Even if the MPs for every other region of the UK unanimously voted against a bill, it would only take half of the English MPs to override them. England is not a victim, here.

Westminster is there for the UK and some of the legislation that passes through it only affects England. I'm sure you're well aware of the West Lothian question; the fact that MPs from Scotland, NI and Wales can help pass legislation that only affects English constituents. Though there are plenty more English MPs compared to ones from Scotland, NI and Wales, said MPs are drawn from across party lines. The last government made a great deal of this, pushing through foundation hospitals, tuition fee hikes, etc.; policies that would not have passed if only English MPs voted.

If not a separate English parliament, what's you solution? Excluding non-English MPs from legislative debates and votes (in effect creating an English parliament within Westminster)? Devolving more power to Holyrood, Stormont and Cardiff?

Or something else?

The West Lothian Question is just an inherent problem of devolution, which cannot easily be solved. At any rate, I think the status quo is acceptable, and most proposed solutions are only can exacerbate the issue and make things worse.

[North Suran]

Except there are English MPs - the MPs for the English constituencies.


Until the creation of the Scottish Parliament, the House of Commons was the de facto English parliament. The English complaining about under-representation is laughable; England is the largest region in the UK, houses the central British government and possesses the most constituencies. Its akin to early 20th century Prussia complaining that it was under-represented in the German Empire.

Again, you aren't grasping basic concepts. England is not a region, England is a nation, much like Wales or Scotland (I'll leave NI out of it because that's a whole other issue).

What the fuck does that have to do with anything that I just said?

I think you aren't grasping basic concepts - like relevancy.

[Breten (Ancient)]

Westminster is there for the UK and some of the legislation that passes through it only affects England. I'm sure you're well aware of the West Lothian question; the fact that MPs from Scotland, NI and Wales can help pass legislation that only affects English constituents. Though there are plenty more English MPs compared to ones from Scotland, NI and Wales, said MPs are drawn from across party lines. The last government made a great deal of this, pushing through foundation hospitals, tuition fee hikes, etc.; policies that would not have passed if only English MPs voted.

If not a separate English parliament, what's you solution? Excluding non-English MPs from legislative debates and votes (in effect creating an English parliament within Westminster)? Devolving more power to Holyrood, Stormont and Cardiff?

Or something else?

The West Lothian Question is just an inherent problem of devolution, which cannot easily be solved. At any rate, I think the status quo is acceptable, and most proposed solutions are only can exacerbate the issue and make things worse.

An English Parliament would fix the problem. As someone who lives in England, the status quo is not acceptable so something needs to be done.

[Banold]

I'm not from the UK, although I have family from both sides of the Irish conflict. However I tend to agree with the sentiments about the Westminister Parliament being biased with an english bent. There are some reasonable explanations for this, namely population and proportional representation.

England-51,446,000 people
Wales-2,999,300 People
Scotland-5,194,000 people
Northern Ireland -1,789,000 people

So it seems because the Parliament in Westminister is based on population that policy would have an English bent.

However, history and decisions about the good for the whole of the UK seem to be mostly favoring the English, while shafting or coming at the expense of other Great Britons. Never mind the Irish.

I believe that the monarchy should be done away with, Ireland made whole again, and Great Britain be split into 3.

This way everybody can govern themselves and what ever past evils that have been perpetrated by the Royals can be shelved and start to collect historical dust.

Maybe Great Britain can enter into some special trade/economic agreements after they were to dissolve, but also I'm inclined the EU could help Wales and Scotland protect themselves from English tyranny?

That seems to be part of the issue, right? Wales and Scotland feel threatened by English hegemony?

So yeah, England should have it's own parliament, but be it's own country too. If the UK follows the status quo, I'm not sure how efficacious the respective legislative bodies of Scotland & Wales are.

But what do I know, I'm just a Yank

[Breten (Ancient)]

Again, you aren't grasping basic concepts. England is not a region, England is a nation, much like Wales or Scotland (I'll leave NI out of it because that's a whole other issue).

What the fuck does that have to do with anything that I just said?

I think you aren't grasping basic concepts - like relevancy.

Read your post again. You said England is the largest region. England is a nation, not a region, which is one of the arguments for an English Parliament, so there's a lot of relevancy in there. Do try to keep up.

[North Suran]

An English Parliament would fix the problem. As someone who lives in England, the status quo is not acceptable so something needs to be done.

And yet you claim to be pro-Union.

[Breten (Ancient)]

An English Parliament would fix the problem. As someone who lives in England, the status quo is not acceptable so something needs to be done.

And yet you claim to be pro-Union.

Yes. Giving all four Home Nations equal devolution with tax raising powers is the best way of saving the Union in my opinion, and in the opinion of the Adam Smith Institute and the Campaign for an English Parliament (who aren't all unionists).

[North Suran]

What the fuck does that have to do with anything that I just said?

I think you aren't grasping basic concepts - like relevancy.

Read your post again. You said England is the largest region. England is a nation, not a region, which is one of the arguments for an English Parliament, so there's a lot of relevancy in there.

None of which is relevant to the reasons I gave against an English parliament.

Do try to keep up.

For someone who insists on making snide, condescending remarks, you are pretty fucking ignorant.

[North Suran]

And yet you claim to be pro-Union.

Yes. Giving all four Home Nations equal devolution with tax raising powers is the best way of saving the Union in my opinion,

Then your opinion is absurd. Rendering the UK Parliament toothless would be the final nail.

[Chumblywumbly]

Westminster is there for the UK and some of the legislation that passes through it only affects England. I'm sure you're well aware of the West Lothian question; the fact that MPs from Scotland, NI and Wales can help pass legislation that only affects English constituents. Though there are plenty more English MPs compared to ones from Scotland, NI and Wales, said MPs are drawn from across party lines. The last government made a great deal of this, pushing through foundation hospitals, tuition fee hikes, etc.; policies that would not have passed if only English MPs voted.

If not a separate English parliament, what's you solution? Excluding non-English MPs from legislative debates and votes (in effect creating an English parliament within Westminster)? Devolving more power to Holyrood, Stormont and Cardiff?
Or something else?

The West Lothian Question is just an inherent problem of devolution, which cannot easily be solved. At any rate, I think the status quo is acceptable, and most proposed solutions are only can exacerbate the issue and make things worse.

Playing Devil's advocate, how would an English parliament "make things worse"?

If legislative issues affecting only England were devolved to an English parliament (or multiple English parliaments, for that matter), would the WLq not simply disappear?

[Breten (Ancient)]

Read your post again. You said England is the largest region. England is a nation, not a region, which is one of the arguments for an English Parliament, so there's a lot of relevancy in there.

None of which is relevant to the reasons I gave against an English parliament.

Do try to keep up.

For someone who insists on making snide, condescending remarks, you are pretty fucking ignorant.

Again, read your post. You said England was the largest region - no it isn't. It is a nation, not a region. As I said, please try to keep up with what's being discussed or don't get involved.

[Pesda]

They already have one.