The Campaign for an English Parliament

1. The Campaign for an English Parliament A not for profit company, incorporated in July 1998, limited by guarantee and not linked with any political party

2. The Aims, Policy and Principles of the CEP The Campaign for an English Parliament seeks to establish: a parliament for all the people of England legally entitled to vote a parliament with powers equal to those of the Scottish Parliament

3. England/Wales and Scotland • 1603 Union of Crowns with accession of Scottish Stuart dynasty • 1707 Act of Union

4. 1707 Act of Union of England/Wales with Scotland • Article III:  That the United Kingdom of Great Britain be represented by one Parliament • Article IV:  That all the subjects of the United Kingdom of Great Britain shall have full communication of all other rights, privileges, and advantages which do or may belong to the subjects of either kingdom • Article VI:  That all parts of the United Kingdom shall have the same allowances, encouragements and drawbacks,

5. English History is not the same as British History • Modern British history does not exist until after the Act of Union in 1707. • All historical events that relate to England before then areENGLISH HISTORY • It is a denial of England and its past to refer to it as British history

6. England is not the same as Britain • Britain is an island that consists of the countries and nations of England, Scotland and Wales. • The people of allthreecountries are British and should be treated with equal respect.

7. Does England even exist? The Encyclopaedia Britannica 2004 describes England thus: • England no longer officially exists as a governmental or political unit—unlike Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which all have varying degrees of self-government in domestic affairs. • (Unlike Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), it is rare for institutions to operate for England alone. • The only country & nation in Europe without a national government!

8. Conflation of England & Britain • The British media, many ordinary people, commentators and journalists either ignorantly or deliberately confuse or conflate England with Britain. • The Scots find this offensive and so do we!

9. The Claim of Right for Scotland 1988: “Scotland’s parliament: Scotland’s right”. A claim of right for Scotland-We acknowledge the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs“ (based on the sovereign right of self-determination for nations & peoples proclaimed in the UN Charter)

10. Who signed the Claim of Right? • Gordon Brown now Prime Minister of the UK • Michael Martin now speaker in the UK Parliament • George Galloway now an “English” MP • The Claim of Right was also signed by 58 of Scotland's 72 MPs, including every Scottish Labour MP--with the sole exception of Tam Dalyell, 7 of Scotland's 8 MEPS, 59 out of 65 Scottish Regional, District and Island Councils, Numerous political parties, churches and Scottish organisations.

11. One Parliament?1707 Act (Art III)  That the United Kingdom of Great Britain be represented by one Parliament The Devolution Acts of 1998 • Scotland-national Parliament & Executive (government) for domestic matters • Wales-National Assembly of Wales for domestic matters • Northern Ireland- Assembly for domestic matters • Where does that leave England? Laws influenced/determined by non-representative MPs

12. Composition of UK Parliament (1) • 529 English Constituencies -average number of constituents: 95,960 • 59 Scottish Constituencies -average number of constituents: 86,728 • 40 WelshConstituencies -average number of constituents: 74,150 • 18 Northern Irish (NI)Constituencies -average number of constituents: 96,777 (Based on Office of National Statistics data Aug 2007)

13. Composition of UK Government (2)

14. The “Parliament of Great Britain”?- Same rights & privileges? • Two classes of MPs • Those that represent their constituents for domestic matters & those who do not • Two classes of citizen • Those who can elect two MPs-one to represent them in the UK Parliament and one to represent them in a national Parliament/Assembly • MPs from Scotland appointed as Ministers for English affairs are not responsible to anyone in the electorate, neither Scotland nor England.

15. Asymmetric Devolutionin Great Britain • “The Nations” • Scottish Parliament-Powers of primary legislation in domestic matters (Acts of the Scottish Parliament) • Welsh Assembly Government-Powers of secondary legislation (making regulations to UK Acts) in domestic matters increased in 2006 • “The Regions” • England divided-Direct rule from the UK Parliament

16. Autonomy in Domestic Affairs • Powers devolved to Scotland, Wales and NI • Education, health, social security, police, prisons & courts, transport, land use, financial assistance to industry, agriculture & fisheries, food standards, the arts, sport • Powers reserved to the UK Government • Foreign policy, immigration, defence, the UK Constitution, employment legislation,

17. Representation?Who speaks for England? Who negotiates for England in the EU? • (Wales and Scotland have strong bargaining powers that ensure their farmers etc are paid promptly) Who ensures that our maritime and land borders are respected? • (The British Government unilaterally moved the maritime border to the benefit of Scotland) Who ensures that we get a fair deal when our taxes are apportioned throughout the UK? • (The block vote and the Barnett formula ensure that we receive least benefit from our taxes)

18. Effects- External Representation(1) • 1707 Act (Art IV) all rights, privileges, belong to the subjects of either kingdom • Council of the Isles/British-Irish Council • Scotland, Wales, NI, etc Even the Bailiwick of Jersey represented - notEngland

19. Effects- External Representation(2) • 1707 Act (Art IV) all rights, privileges, belong to the subjects of either kingdom • EU • Representation for Scotland and Wales within UK Government regarding formulation of EU policy • Result more beneficial hill farm subsidies for S & W • Effective national offices for Scotland & Wales. Ineffective regional offices for England. • Timely payment of farm subsidies for S & W. English farmers made bankrupt by DEFRA

20. Effects- Internal Representation • Division of tax revenue decided by the British Exchequer • headed by the MP for Edinburgh South West • with representation from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland • Who speaks for England? No one

21. Results –Funding from UK taxes £ per head of population from the UK government’s Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2009

22. The Block vote & the Barnett Formula • The “block” is a sum of money voted annually to Scotland, Wales and NI by the British Treasury • The Barnett formula, devised by Lord Barnett in the ’70s (& now discredited by him) is based on population NOT NEED*. • *(Joel Barnett’s evidence to the Lords Select Committee)

23. Legislation without Representation • The  "The Tweed Regulation Order 2007" has been made by the Scottish Executive   • Article 11 creates an offence and this offence applies to the River Till (which is entirely within England).  • The Order came into force Thursday 15th February 2007

24. Taxed?-Only in England! • Congestion charging in London and proposals for such taxes elsewhere in England are taxes (legal advice reported to have been given to the US Embassy) • The Workplace Parking Levy (England) Regulations: Statutory Instrument 2085 allow local authorities in England to demand ‘licence’ fees from employers if they allow employees to park on Company (private) premises.

25. Benefits to Scotland and Wales1707 Act (Art VI)  That all parts of the United Kingdom shall have the same allowances • The national governments of Scotland and Wales can afford for their nationals to receive, among many other benefits: Wales: Free nationwide travel for OAPs, free prescriptions, free new cancer and Alzheimer’s drugs available Scotland: No top-up fees, free personal care for the aged, free nationwide travel for OAPs, free new cancer and Alzheimer’s drugs available

26. Constitutional Problems • The West Lothian Question: • MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can, and do, debate and vote on English domestic matters that do not affect their constituents. • The English Question: • MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can be, and are, appointed to posts in UK government departments that are responsible for English domestic affairs. They have authority without responsibility

27. Answers? (1) Labour: 1. Elected Regional Assemblies. No answer and a dead duck 2. Don’t ask the question (Tony Blair) Liberal Democrats: 1. Elected Regional Assemblies. No answer and a dead duck. 2. English Constitutional Convention (already in existence)→British Constitutional Convention

28. Answers? (2) Conservative: 1. English Votes for English matters. Problematical 2. Ken Clarke’s Democracy Task Force (20 months old, not yet reported) 3. Malcolm Rifkind’s (formerly MP for & resident in East Lothian) East Lothian Answer. 4. Lord Strathclyde’s solution 5. John Redwood’s solution

29. English Votes for English Matters? • Does not answer “English Question”. Ministers could still be appointed for English affairs who are not accountable to the English electorate. • A procedural device that can easily be reversed. • House of Lords from across UK can revise English legislation • MPs Vote on British Party lines • Politicises the Speaker • No first Minister to speak for England

30. The East Lothian Answer (1) English Grand Committee made up of “English” MPs. • All 529 MPs or a selection depending on the UK government? • Decisions still theoretically subject to the will of the entire Commons but could be subject of “Sewel” motions. • No Executive powers. • Could not instigate legislation • Who would represent England internally and externally?

31. The East Lothian Answer (2) • No dedicated elections, denies the people of England the electoral opportunity to vote for an administration different from the UK • Subject to House of Lords scrutiny, unlike Scotland • For 10 years the vast majority of English Constituency MPs have failed to speak out against the discrimination suffered by the people of England following asymmetrical devolution and that credibility gap will be insurmountable.

32. Some Quotes from English Constituency MPs • Kingston upon Hull: I am a red-blooded Welshman • Witney: “I have plenty of Scottish blood in my veins” and “Sour little Englanders”. • Twickenham: “The threat to harmonious social relations in Britain comes from : white supremacists, English nationalists, Islamic fundamentalists”. • Blackburn: described the English as "potentially very aggressive, very violent" • Norwich North: proudly pictured displaying the flag of his nation, Scotland • NE Hants: stated in a private conversation that his 1st identity was Scottish, • Egbaston: (2005) claimed the rise of Englishness is a threat to democracy.

33. Lord Strathclyde’s solution • House of Commons→ English flavour • House of Lords→ UK flavour • Scottish and Welsh Committees in House of Lords to scrutinise Scottish and Welsh legislation. • A step in the right direction? Has he contributed to the Democracy Task Force?

34. John Redwood’s solution • All MPs should be dual hatted and attend part of the week in their native assemblies for internal matters and part of the week at Westminster • All 129 MSPs, 60 WAMs and 108 MLAs to be let go? • Separate elections to be abolished?

35. What Next? • Existing Conservative Party policy does not address all the problems • We do not know what the Democracy Task Force will report. We do not even know who has contributed, neither does John Redwood. • We have no knowledge of how influential the thinking of Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Lord Strathclyde or John Redwood are on party policy, • So let us now consider an English Parliament

36. An English Parliament? Would Guarantee The People of England: A Strong Voice in UK Affairs & Its Future Protection of Freedom, Liberty & Rights Safeguarding of the Country’s Heritage & Culture Preservation of the Shires & Local Traditions Separate Control for National & Local Issues A Say in the Allocation of UK Funding Responsibility for Deprived Areas A voice in Fishing, Farming and Energy Liability for Education, Transport & Health Support for Leisure, Sport and Tourism

37. WHY NOT?-The Excuses! • England has 85% of the UK population; an English Parliament (EP) would lead to imbalance: If the UK was in balance before devolution it certainly is not now! • An EP would only be slightly smaller than the UK Parliament: This does not detract from the reserved powers the UK Parliament would retain. • There is no desire for an EP: WRONG!

38. UK Polls 2001 (published 2003)-UK GovernmentMORI23% in England voted for an English Parliament (16% in UK) 2002-CEP, National Opinion Poll (NOP) telephone survey of 999 people showed 47% for an EP The Jimmy Young show (St George's day) telephone poll of 14,556 people showed 94% in favour 2006-ICM 68%

39. UK polls continued 2006– ECC, MORI41% in England voted for an English Parliament 2007 – BBC, 61% 2007– CEP ICM,67% NB 44% of Scots voted for the Scottish Parliament (“the settled will of the Scottish people”) 25% of the Welsh voted for a Welsh Assembly

40. Legitimate Objections? Another layer of bureaucracy/politicians! No. Much reduced UK parliament would only deal with reserved matters. Size of an EP and representation to UK parliament to be subject of debate in the English Constitutional Convention Too Costly-Look at what the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly cost! See above! Disbandment of Regional Assemblies frees up buildings and funds! (£360 million per annum)

41. W(h)ither the Union? (1) • Increasing resentment in England is being used by SNP politicians to force independence either acknowledged or creeping. • It will take a politician of very high calibre to call for a new Constitution of equal partners to preserve the Union. • The English Constitutional Convention should be used to debate the future of England

42. W(h)ither the Union? (2) • Negotiations for independence between a British PM (MP for Kirkaldy & Cowdenbeath) and the Scottish first minister? • Division of assets and liabilities, repayment of Scottish portion of national debt? • Maritime border already unofficially moved to favour Scotland EEZ? • Justice must be done and be seen to be done • But who will speak for England?

43. Creeping Scottish Power • Alex Salmond wants to negotiate further concessions from the UK government headed by the MP of a Scottish constituency who will not want to upset those who vote for him! • The British Treasury (headed by the MP of a Scottish constituency who will not want to upset those who vote for him) has already handed back money Scotland was unable to spend in previous years • Who speaks out for English interests? English constituency MPs? What about the £2million clawed back by Gordon Brown’s last act as Chancellor from the English Health Service? Barnett formula only acts in one direction!

44. ENGLAND THE LAST BRITISH COLONY?

45. Date for your Diaries • Saturday 26th April 2008 • The Campaign for an English Parliament is hosting the second conference on the “Future of England” in the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London John Redwood has provisionally agreed to speak

46. Tel:07071-220234 Em: admin@thecep.org.uk Web: www.thecep.org.uk Office 1, Margarethe House, Eismann Way, Corby, Northants., NN17 5ZB