Gareth Young (Lewes, CEP): John Redwood and Simon Hughes both objected to the Government's new attempt to establish "regional accountability" in England last week. Mr Redwood had this to say:
Worse still is the government's threat of a further assault on England. Whilst they are delaying and struggling to work out the detail, Harman yesterday confirmed that they want to establish "regional accountability" around the artificial EU regions proposed for England.
And Mr Hughes this:
I am not against the proposed Regional Select Committees, but they are no answer to the English question. I am clear that we have not addressed the English question in Parliament, and it will not go away, nor should it. We need to work out how we can have proper accountability and scrutiny of England-only business, just as there is now better scrutiny in other places of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland business.
Both men are in favour of a 'parliament within a parliament' model of governing England: the English Grand Committee (which was in the news this weekend) in which English MPs will meet on certain days to discuss 'English-only' business. This model answers the West Lothian Question. But it does not answer the English Question.
The English Question (problem) is not answered by banning Scots from voting on English matters and giving proper scrutiny to English issues. The English Question is about democracy, governance and national identity; it is about asking the English how they wish to be governed and acting upon their recommendations. Clearly both Redwood and Hughes are right to pour scorn upon New Labour's undemocratic balkanisation of England, it is not an attempt at better governance, it's yet more gerrymandering, and it will be deeply unpopular. The people of England do not share Gordon Brown's vision of a Britain of nations and regions where Scotland and Wales are the nations and England is the regions. But the fact that Redwood and Hughes are correct in criticising the government does not alter the fact that their preferred solutions are also no answer to the English Question.
Comments
NR's Q: If I am right, would the new English “grand committee” with its Tory majority be able to impose Tory measures on Labour ministers?
MR's A: No because the government and not the new English grand committee would still retain control of the parliamentary timetable; the right to initiate legislation and sole access to the civil service
So what use is the English grand committee then? No use whatsoever! It would not even be able to set it's own agenda!
ENGLISH PARLIAMENT NOW! NOT IN A FEW MONTHS; NOW!!!
Della, I'd add, 'not fit to rule any of our nations'
The West Lothian Question is not answered by an English Grand Committee, it can only be answered through a devolved governance in much the same fashion as Scottish Devolution, only for England. Or by a repeal of the Act of Union.
There are many issues that whilst on the surface may only effect England but which actually have far reaching consequences for the other nations within the union ... where would these sit in a grand committee, would Scottish MP's for example be excluded from voting on UK wide issues as they appear on the surface to be English only?
If you are in any doubt as to the stupidity of our elected leaders then check out Sir Malc's answers to Nick Robinson's questions.
The fact they (the government) are still floundering with the English Question, some 10 years after devolution, shows how little they regarded England in the first place.
In fact, they paid us no regard whatsoever. And still they ponce around the world, lecturing the Middle East. They know no shame.
Not fit for government. Not fit to rule England.
Sorry, wrong link.
This is the correct one
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