English Regional Assemblies

[TheOstrich]

But imo even though more than 50 per cent favour an English Parliament and less than ten per cent want regional assemblies .........

http://ukipnw.org.uk/english-parliament-poll-welcomed/

There was a poll carried out by in August 2014 by Cardiff and Edinburgh Universities which indicated that 54% of folk believe the time is now right for England to have its own parliament. Although, as you know, I've been advocating a four-regional approach, I'm happy to go along with an English parliament to run English affairs if that's what the majority want, as long as it's not too unwieldy.

I'm perhaps more concerned that it would be a bastion for the "same old" party politics though, and I'd like to see us get away from that somehow. The question is how. Electoral reform is a must, and surely there's no better place to start with it than a newly-constituted English parliament. Let's be bold - what do you think?

[Suff]

OK OK I'll shut up. I will, however, watch the elections due in 7 months with great interest. I think you don't get my position, you have to live it, but I'll accept yours for now.

You mentioned that this is a great time to take democracy back from those in the bubble.

In reality, that is not going to happen. People may be up in arms right now, they may have been following politics for the frist time in their lives due to an event I'm not going to mention. But, in the end, they view politics as something they vote other people in to "make it work" for them.

Most people don't want to think for themselves about how the country needs to be run or to burden themselves too much about how to make it better. Most people just want work, money in the pocket and holidays. How they think that occurs is a mystery to me. But, honestly, the last thing they want is conspicuous democracy.

They'd have to work at it.........

As for devolved cities, regions areas, whatever? We have seen this over and over and over again. It is just an opportunity for more power mongers to settle themselves in more strata in the pile. Then they will start to generate power. Power comes from control and money. So they're going to stop stuff happening unless they get a say and they're going to grab as much money as they can.

It is one of the reasons I was violently opposed to the regional assemblies and, to the larger part, still am. Witness the half billion abomination in Hollyrood, home to the money consumers and power mongers of Scotland and an edifice to their hugemongeous ego's.

You really, really, want that for England??? I don't. But then I don't have a vote there either.

[Workingman]

Nobody is asking you to shut up especially when you make good points.

The hope that democracy can be taken back in some ways is just that: a hope. The reality is more likely as you describe, but with a few more being interested than before. Fortunately there are a few things coming up in the near future, by elections, the GE the much promised EU referendum, that might keep some people more interested than they once were.

You are also right about devolved cities, regions, areas or whatever; it is why the English do not want them, which leaves, erm, a parliament or assembly or whatever they call it. It is here where the English want a say. They want those who will deliver the "English solution" to look long and hard and not simply come up with a back-of-a-fag-packet idea which will need tweaking at every juncture.

Any solution has to be one that will work for all the English and not just one part of the country. To do that will take time. possibly years, that is why it has to be removed from any legislation concerning.the assemblies of the other three countries in the UK. There is no option for getting it wrong, which could (will) happen if they work with haste.

[Suff]

The problem is they did one thing with haste (or blind panic if you look at it that way) and have set a timetable of hast and conflicting priorities.

One way or antoher something is going to have to give and whichever one it is will have massive consequences at the next election. Effectively they have derailed almost all parlimentary business in the UK for the next 7 months.

There needs to be something but, honestly, we don't need a situation where the best regionally rise to the top and leave for the centre. This is what happens in the US and it can't benefit the UK. We've seen this in Scotland, time after time. I certainly don't want that for England. It would be a disaster.