Regions

Philip Hosking (Cornwall, The Cornish Democrat): With the closure of Goonhilly Earth Station, are the Cornish ever going to look to the stars again?

As a recognized level 1 European region with devolved government that could be something we decide for ourselves. Introducing one possible option - NEREUS - a network of European Regions working hand in hand on the development and use of space technologies in Europe. The European Regions are heavily involved at both ends of the space chain, from infrastructures to applications.

Jon Bright (London, OK): It's been interesting to watch the writing coming out of the House of Lords blog, which is managing to quickly dispel my initial cynicism about the project (as someone naturally inclined to be cynical about people described as "Lords"). Despite the launch of the (admittedly very flash looking) Politics Home, I think it's this very simple Wordpress blog that has been the most interesting recent addition to the British "blogosphere." They're producing a good frequency of posts about a range of topics, from a number of different people, in a personal, open style - even responding seriously to their commenters. And the subject matter - both what Lords think, and what it is like to be one, couldn't be more perfectly suited to the blog format.

Gareth Young (Lewes, CEP): During Prime Minister's Question Time on 21st November 2007 Gordon Brown misled Parliament when he claimed that the Barnett Formula was based on need. His error was highlighted at the press briefing afterwards, but just two weeks ago he did it again:

This is a response to this post by Michael Knowles, which in itself was a response to this original piece by Peter Facey.

Peter Facey (London, Unlock Democracy): Michael - thank you for replying to my article. In your reply you accuse me of raising Aunt Sallys - but your reply does exactly that as well. You accuse me of wanting to Balkanise England (I would like to know on what you base this insight into my heart); as someone who has worked in the Balkans I can assure you that's not my intention. If you want to accuse me of anything of a geographical nature then make it wanting to turn our Country into a English version of Switzerland: decentralised and with real influence for citizens.

Michael Knowles (Cheshire, Campaign for an English Parliament): I have been asked to respond to Peter Facey's contribution of January 30th, entitled ‘Regions, Parliaments and The Future of England'. A very convenient coincidence. On February 19th we meet to present evidence to the Justice Committee of MPs inquiry into the outcomes of the 1998 devolution legislation, specifically the English Question.

Peter Facey (London, Unlock Democracy): There is a real danger that the debate about English devolution is becoming sterile, with the debate crystallising into two irreconcilable camps.

On the one side you have individuals who put all their emphasis on an English Parliament, and regard any talk of decentralisation below this level at best premature and at worst a plot to break up England - not to mention something that has already been rejected by the public.

Phil Davis (Birmingham, CFER): Four years on from the North East's rejection of a regional elected assembly, those of us who back devolution for England via the eight English regions see a shift in the political landscape. With Gordon Brown actively seeking debate on constitutional renewal and a Lords reform white paper expected this year, new opportunities arise to drive forward the English regions as democratic building blocks for a new UK constitutional settlement. Above all, this settlement needs to strengthen the Union, while bringing a genuine increase in democratic control to local communities.

Moderator: Cross posted from Normal Mouth's blog.

Normal Mouth (Rhondda, blogger): The recent Varney Review on Tax Policy in Northern Ireland has been greeted in Wales like flatulence in a lift: the emission of something unwelcome prompting the nationalist leaning commentariat to pretend it hasn't happened. Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price, however, is not one to suffer in silence.

Stuart Weir (Cambridge, Democratic Audit): Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of current debates on democracy is that intelligent and committed people still talk about local government as though it still exists. Even council members themselves, as represented on the Councillors Commission, make this mistake. They have just produced a report for the DCLG (a newspeak creation that combines in one Department two non-entities, "community" and "local government") on how to encourage able people to serve on their local authorities. The commission chaired by Jane Roberts, who was a successful Labour leader in Camden, does a decent job of re-arranging the deck chairs on a ship that has long since sunk.

Christine Constable (Norwich, ECC): There has been a keen amount of debate on ‘regionalism' recently on OurKingdom - some people against the idea full stop, some against it if it would undermine claims to an English parliament, some for it as a tool of social or economic progress. To those that are for, I would simply ask, why regionalisation?

Jon Bright (London, OK): Interesting article here by Ordovicius on the Wardman Wire, who analyses three factors which are significant in Welsh voting patterns: a lack of concerted and systematic opinion polling, a tendency of voters to roughly divide into three geographical areas (an argument advanced by Richard Wyn Jones) and the sense that most voters feel they are voting for a 'local', or anti-establishment party. Worth a read.

Gareth Young (Lewes, CEP): It seems that the renewed furore over the Barnett Formula and the West Lothian Question has emboldened regionalists who are now popping out of the woodwork to reassert their claims, despite the fact that the Barnett Formula doesn't actually have any bearing on funding disparities within England and the WLQ wouldn't be answered by regional assemblies. Most notable are Phil Davis in the Guardian and Sue Stirling on these very pages. I was shocked to see that Phil signed off his Guardian article by informing us that he 'chairs the Campaign for the English Regions'. Shocked because I thought we'd buried that particular organisation when we were victorious in the North East referendum, so I emailed Phil who told me:

Peter Davidson (Alderley Edge): Groups implacably opposed to any notion of English Regional devolution repeatedly focus on the overwhelming rejection of an elected assembly for North East England during the November 2004 referendum. This result has assumed iconic significance amongst English Parliament supporters, but it overlooks a body of compelling objective polling data concerning this contentious and emotional topic.

Moderator: Sue Stirling's previous article provoked some heated discussion and debate - this her a response.

Sue Stirling (Newcastle, ippr north): It's always nice to see a blog piece inspire so much debate and while I can't possibly answer all questions I would like to focus on a few key points, especially the economic conditions within England. There is an unacceptably wide gap in wealth between the North and the rest of the country, broadly speaking.

Sue Stirling (Newcastle, ippr north): Politically, the extent to which England truly has distinct regions is a sensitive and debatable issue. Many claim the current division of the country into nine regions is an artificial construct that has little in common with history or identity. From an economic viewpoint, however, regions are important, regardless of how you divide them up. The realities of the modern global economy mean that regions face an international battle to attract capital and human resources and that they have to compete just as hard as nation states.

Peter Facey (Lib-Dem Conf, Brighton, UnlockDemocracy): Well that strange British tradition of party activists gathering at seaside towns to put the world to rights is well underway. This week its Brighton and the Lib Dems. The media  is reporting that the Lib Dems are in melt down and that Ming is now wearing open neck shirts.

What has not been reported is that yesterday the Lib Dems passed a policy paper on the future of local and regional government in England. It called for local councils, many of which they control and where they have an influential role in the UK, to raise 75% of their income themselves rather than the paltry 25% at present that makes them so dependent on central government. It also called for local authorities to have the right to call down more powers, with the presumption being that local councils can have any powers they request unless there is a very good reason not to.  And though they supported a single tier local government, unlike the government they have said that it would have to be subject to local referendums.

Gavin Yates (Edinburgh, GYmedia) The Smith Institute, often cited as Gordon Brown’s favoured think-tank has released a paper gaining publicity today calling for the end of the Barnett Formula. Lord Sewel, the former Scottish Office minister who wrote the report says that a new formula is needed that is based upon need rather than population.