
A major new series from Imprint Academic on the use of randomisation in education, politics and other public policy areas. Special discount prices for OurKingdom and openDemocracy readers.
Part of the openDemocracy Network
Sortition and public policyLabour After BrownFrom Milibland to Johnson land?: Jeremy Gilbert argues for Labour without neo-liberalism. Magical thinking on Britishness: Anthony Barnett critiques Liam Byrne on fraternity. Rule of law at risk: Geoffrey Bindman calls for a turn away from the marketisation of government. A new Bill of Rights for Britain?: Guy Aitchison analyses Parliament's proposed new Bill of Rights. Miliband - by our rights we will know you: Claire O'Brien puts forward a new progressive vision for Labour. NOT A DAY LONGER
England Awakes?England, Britain and multiculturalism: an OurKingdom exchange A mild awakening?, England's turn? by David Goodhart Navigation |
Is Labour flirting with English pauses?Tom Griffin (London, The Green Ribbon): As Gareth Young reports below Ken Clarke's Democracy Task Force has come up with a new answer to the West Lothian Question The current devolution settlement contains long-term risks to the Union. The Democracy Task Force recommends to David Cameron a modified version of ‘English Votes for English Laws’, incorporating English-only Committee and Report stages but a vote of all MPs at Second and Third Reading. We believe that this proposal can remove the main source of English grievance at the current devolution settlement without some of the risks to political stability that critics have seen in proposals for a completely English procedure. (Answering the West Lothian Question)
Gareth is none too happy with this "crude technical" solution, but how have others reacted? Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert has not endorsed the detail of the plan, but has pledged that a future Conservative Government would address the West Lothian question as a matter of urgency.
"A more critical Labour response came from Wrexham MP Ian Lucas: Paul Kingsnorth is unimpressed with that argument: Do no English kids attend Welsh universities? If so, why can't English MPs impose tuition fees on his country? No answer. Instead, we are treated to the claim that "there are no 'English-only' laws in the UK", which is an "integrated state". Really? In that case, there presumably can't be "Welsh-only" and "Scottish-only" laws either. Best get rid of that Welsh assembly, then. Conservative reaction has been equally mixed. Sir Malcolm Rifkind suggests the Task Force proposal won't solve the problem it is intended to address. Over at the Spectator Coffee House blog, Fraser Nelson argues that the Tories should stick to their earlier English Votes for English Laws policy, an option that may still be open given Nick Herbert's stance.He said that under Mr Clarke's plans controversial laws, such as the fox-hunting ban and the introduction of tuition fees, would still be pushed through by Scots MPs. Post new comment |
Just Posted
Just Commented
OK is reading
They say about OK"the ever-stimulating OpenDemocracy"
Ekklesia "See OurKingdom to keep up" South Belfast Diary "...an essential guide to understanding the dynamic constitutional situation..." Peter Oborne "...becoming a daily read for me." Iain Dale "To make sense of it all, check out OurKingdom..." Matthew d'Ancona "Worth a look...it is, however, recommended by Matthew d'Ancona." The Wardman Wire "Fast becoming the best political website around" Tom Waterhouse, CEP "...attracting energy from a range of contributors." thenextwave "...looks very promising..." The England Project "The excellent new OurKingdom blog from OpenDemocracy..." The Green Ribbon "On the internet, I keep in touch with openDemocracy, a website on global current affairs, and its useful offshoot, OurKingdom" Andreas Whittam-Smith "thanks to the fine folk at OurKingdom, (who manage to communicate a variety of perspectives in the way that only a decent group blog can)" Nostalgia For the Future |