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PMQs: David Cameron tells the English to drop their 'grievances' and celebrate Scotland's place in the UK – Telegraph Blogs

I'm Reading - 1 hour 31 min ago

David Cameron is sometimes accused of being a bit light on ideology, caricatured as shallow PR man much as Tony Blair was. That's unfair in several regards, not least when it comes to the Union.

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RIP England: We are witnessing the systematic destruction of our beloved institutions | Mail Online

I'm Reading - 4 hours 46 min ago

I don't think it would sound terribly controversial to say that England wasn't born yesterday. She has been lovingly nurtured over two millennia by sage men expressing their affection for this 'green and pleasant land' by building up institutions that don't just help England thrive -- they enable her to survive as England; they are England.

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The matter of Scotland | Inside Story

I'm Reading - 7 hours 17 min ago

A high-stakes constitutional tussle over the future of the United Kingdom is under way. The political transformation of Scotland since the 1950s will help to shape the outcome, says David Hayes

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Top Tory tells England to lay off Scots | Herald Scotland

I'm Reading - 7 hours 22 min ago

THE UK Education Secretary Michael Gove waded into the battle over independence yesterday, telling the English to lay off the Scots.

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The hope for England | The English Standard

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:10

Are these exiting times for those of us who are proud of our English identity and who wish to see the English nation assert itself?

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Rise in English nationalism has some serious implications for people of Wales - WalesOnline

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:05

A rising feeling of English identity and a need for its own politics could have serious implications for Wales, a leading academic has warned

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The Westlothian question – and answer! | PaulJ's bench……….

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:04

When New Labour signed up to the devolution project for Scotland and Wales, Tony Blair seemed to think he was creating a couple of super county councils which would always be Labour controlled and would kill local Nationalism stone dead.

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A federal UK would be fairer and more representative of voters’ wishes – LSMedia

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:03

Writing in the Guardian last night; Tim Montgomerie, editor of Conservative Home; calls for David Cameron to grasp the political bull that is Scottish independence by its metaphorical horns. Montgomerie argues that devolving further powers to Scotland while simultaneously creating an English Parliament, effectively federalizing the UK home nations, would greatly benefit the Conservatives and vanquish any argument Alex Salmond has for Scottish independence.

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New Statesman - Will Cameron answer the English question?

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 11:57

The promise of greater powers for Scotland means Cameron cannot avoid the issue of English devolution.

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THE FAT DUBLINER: Independence for Scotland may depend on economic realities

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 11:55

Scotland has featured prominently in the news over the last week. First it was the collapse of Glasgow Rangers FC. Later in the week British Prime Minister David Cameron was in Edinburgh to meet with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. The subject of an independent Scotland has been simmering for quite some time and Mr Cameron is leading opposition to it. There are positives and negatives associated with the desire for Scottish independence. They will, no doubt, be set out clearly when the Scottish people vote in the forthcoming referendum.

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Don't let ministers treat London as their cash cow

I'm Reading - Tue, 02/21/2012 - 11:00

On one of those bitterly cold nights last month I chaired a discussion on national identity at the launch of a new think tank at the Museum of London. The panel was a typical mixture of writers and pundits, the audience well-informed and opinionated. But what struck me most was something said by the least well-known panellist, a 22-year-old political researcher named Promise Campbell.

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To be or not to be – that is the only question worth asking | Labour Hame

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 20:30

The fact that nationalists have never supported a referendum on any form of devolution in the past should serve as a warning to Labour supporters of “Devo Max”, warns TOM HARRIS

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David Cameron is playing into the SNP’s hands, says Michael Forsyth - Scotsman

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 12:28

DAVID Cameron has played into Alex Salmond’s hands by promising more Holyrood powers if Scotland votes against independence in the forthcoming referendum, former Conservative Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth has warned.

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Express.co.uk: Argentina sets out to woo Scots

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 12:18

ARGENTINA is trying to drum up support from Scotland for its claim to the Falkland Islands.

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PM's speech was short on clarity but high on impact | Herald Scotland

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 11:18

I have never been altogether persuaded that David Cameron is good at making speeches. Of course, he's a better speaker than Ed Miliband, but then so is almost everyone, including the cast of The Artist and the dog that used to say "sausages" on That's Life.

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Click on Wales » THE REFORMED UNION: A British Federation

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 11:15

On the 5th May 2011 the Union received an electoral shock greater than any it had experienced since 1918 when republican Sinn Fein defeated the more polite Irish Nationalist Party. Sinn Fein’s victory soon ended the forced Union of 1801; the SNP’s triumph at the polls threatens the more willing Union of 1707. Ireland was always a restless partner, but should Scotland reassert her political independence, the Union would be null and void.

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Separate issue: Scots referendum debate lands on Terra Firma - Scotsman

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 11:11

Prof Munro said there was no clamour for an English parliament or regional assemblies – but he felt there was a case to give a vote to ex-pats who had been on the Scottish electoral roll within the last 15 years. Lord Wallace thought this could be “a huge exercise” in a practical sense.

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Why do we need an English Parliament? | England Watch

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 11:04

The Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly are comprised of members elected solely by their respective peoples. These three bodies have had various powers devolved to them by the UK government.

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Iain Martin » Devo-max means a minimised UK

I'm Reading - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 11:01

What is devo-max, or devo-plus, or ultra-lite indy? The calls for more powers to be conceded to the Scottish parliament are reported as though there is a consensus. There are as many explanations of what devo-max means as there are individuals supporting more devolution. No party in the Scottish parliament has plans worked up, not even the SNP. Some speculative think tank papers have been written in Scotland, but that’s about it.

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Have you ever heard of Collop Monday? by Andrew Webb

Toque blog - Mon, 02/20/2012 - 10:51

We all know about Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day – but there’s another food tradition the day before.

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