The English Government.

[Audley Strange]

We hear a bit here about the coming referendum on devolution, much of the resistance of which, here at least comes from our fellows down south. This makes me wonder why as I can't see how Scotland leaving the union would be detrimental to England.

This made me realise, England has no Government of it's own. So I think Scottish referendum or not, it's about they did.

[Rum]

What is more Scottish MPs get to vote in the UK parliament on matters affecting England only whereas English MPs don't get to vote in the Scottish assembly. The so called West Lothian Question..

[Audley Strange]

Exactly. I think that's a shocking state of affairs. An English Assembly at least. I don't see why we can't actually have 4 domestic Governments with a fifth made up from those for economic policy and defence and the like. Like a small Federal Government.

[Clinton Huxley]

Exactly. I think that's a shocking state of affairs. An English Assembly at least. I don't see why we can't actually have 4 domestic Governments with a fifth made up from those for economic policy and defence and the like. Like a small Federal Government.

I've always thought this was the most sensible way to go.

[Audley Strange]

It does seem radically simple, doesn't it. I wonder why it has never been implemented. Seems to me would save a lot of trouble.

[Brian Peacock]

What about regional assemblies across the union, with a region by region tax and spending remit, under a national federal republic?

[MrJonno]

Basically England doesn't have a separate culture to that of the rest of the UK unlike say Scotland. Individual cities do to some extent but 'English' culture is basically morris dancing and cricket which most the population isn't involved with. When 90% of British citizens are 'English' trying to artificially trying to create one is just a waste of money

[Brian Peacock]

That may be so MrJonno, but people do have a regional identity; the Midlanders, Yorkies, Cornishians, Fenlanders, Lakelanders, Northumbrionians etc etc. England/s national culture may be rather porous and bland, but even though its a small country with a relatively mobile workforce I think people still feel tied to 'their' areas - adopted or otherwise. Even in Scotland, the people of the Western Islands and Highlands feel separate from the Borders or the grey-faced folk of Aberdeenshire. I think dividing the nation into relatively autonomous regional governments, or Cantons perhaps(?), feeding an overall federal core could be way to devolve power even across the union - within the framework of a constitutional republic of course.

[Pappa]

What about regional assemblies across the union, with a region by region tax and spending remit, under a national federal republic?

I think that would be an excellent idea.

[Pappa]

What about regional assemblies across the union, with a region by region tax and spending remit, under a national federal republic?

I think that would be an excellent idea.

Though, I think we should keep the House of Lords. As absurdly anachronistic and silly as they are, they're still one of the most sensible things we have.

[PsychoSerenity]

What about regional assemblies across the union, with a region by region tax and spending remit, under a national federal republic?

I think that would be an excellent idea.

I don't know, there's one thing I particularly worry about here - though perhaps this might actually help solve it, if it was managed at a national level - and that's the increasing disparity between rich areas and poor areas. It's the thing that pushes the biggest cities to grow the fastest, and eventually even creates ghettos of poor areas within the cities.

[Thinking Aloud]

the grey-faced folk of Aberdeenshire.

[Pappa]

What about regional assemblies across the union, with a region by region tax and spending remit, under a national federal republic?

I think that would be an excellent idea.

I don't know, there's one thing I particularly worry about here - though perhaps this might actually help solve it, if it was managed at a national level - and that's the increasing disparity between rich areas and poor areas. It's the thing that pushes the biggest cities to grow the fastest, and eventually even creates ghettos of poor areas within the cities.

If the regions had more autonomy, they'd have more power to fix their own problems in a way that suited them best.

[Rum]

It is all smoke and mirrors in any case. The Tories have made a bid deal over 'localism', but just to take one example - education, they have granted much more 'independence' to schools so that they can (at first sight) make more decisions independently of Local Councils (which used to control all schools with a few exceptions). In reality the end result is that they are all now controlled from Michael Gove's offoce.

[John_fi_Skye]

MORE FUCKING POLITICIANS???!!!!