The Witanagemot Club - bloggers for an English parliament

Spotlight

The issue of the moment

What do we do now? Posted by Toque (2008/6/30)

A leading Conservative politician in Britain and former shadow home secretary has broken ranks with the political and media establishment to launch a campaign linking government plans to extend the time suspects can be held without charge to a wider erosion of rights and liberties. In a sweeping essay, openDemocracy's founder (and OurKingdom editor) Anthony Barnett assesses what is at stake and sees this moment as a historic test of democratic commitment for liberals and radicals.

Recent Links Added

Has David Cairns answered the West Lothian Question? (Telegraph) (Tue, 08-Jul-2008)
Plaid blames Treasury’s ‘tight’ settlement for policy delays (Western... (Tue, 08-Jul-2008)
What are we fighting for? Libertarians and nationalists must make com... (Tue, 08-Jul-2008)
Inconsitent Tories (Leanne Wood) (Tue, 08-Jul-2008)
NHS 'run like a supermarket war' (BBC) (Tue, 08-Jul-2008)
Scales tip against 'patently unfair' Barnett formula (Herald) (Mon, 07-Jul-2008)
An unworkable solution (Life, the Universe and Everything) (Mon, 07-Jul-2008)
“English votes for English laws” and the West Lothian Question (A Rig... (Mon, 07-Jul-2008)
CEP: Contrary to their party policy, 20per cent of Tory Parliamentary... (Mon, 07-Jul-2008)
Half of all patients fear free NHS set to end (Herald) (Mon, 07-Jul-2008)
The All Wales Convention lines up (Our Kingdom) (Mon, 07-Jul-2008)
MPS MUST BACK REFORM IF THE UNION IS TO BE SAVED (Express) (Sun, 06-Jul-2008)
Look, Mr McChap - you’re part of Britain, so just get over it (Times) (Sun, 06-Jul-2008)
Barnett Formula faces threat from new inquiry (Telegraph) (Fri, 04-Jul-2008)
Fear and Lothian (New Statesman) (Fri, 04-Jul-2008)
West Lothian Question Needs a Clear Answer (Telegraph) (Fri, 04-Jul-2008)
CEP: The giant aircraft carriers: Is England again losing out to Scot... (Fri, 04-Jul-2008)
Scottish Independence - Would It Be Good For Britain (Eileithyia) (Fri, 04-Jul-2008)
The West Lothian Answer (Thunder Dragon) (Thu, 03-Jul-2008)
The undemocratic task force (Obsolete) (Thu, 03-Jul-2008)
'English votes on English laws' (KCL Cons) (Thu, 03-Jul-2008)
Tories' plans will be test of Union (Scotsman) (Thu, 03-Jul-2008)
Hokey cokey votes on English laws (Guardian) (Wed, 02-Jul-2008)
Forget West Lothian (Daily Mail) (Wed, 02-Jul-2008)
'Scot-free' votes are alright by us (Guardian) (Wed, 02-Jul-2008)

Nations and Regions

John Prescott MP, Hansard, September 2002:

"Regional assemblies represent a new tier of political accountability."

Gordon Brown MP, in a speech, to the University of Manchester Science and Technology Institute, Jan 2001:

"...where Britain becomes as it should be - a Britain of nations and regions..."

George Robertson MP, Scotland on Sunday, Aug 1995:

"The answer to the West Lothian question is the fact that our constitutional plans are not confined to Scotland and Wales. It will also embrace regional government in England, and that's a firm commitment too."

Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, in a speech to the ESRC Devolution and Constitutional Change Programme, March 2006:

"One of the purposes of devolution was to ensure fairness to the nations of the UK."

bloggers for an English parliament

The Witanagemot Club, Please Register Here