Sunday Telegraph - Union with Scotland in danger

The Telegraph has an article talking up the Union but with some interesting poll results from England, reflecting the results of flawed devolution for Scotland under Labour. Things will only get worse for the Union with the SNP in power in Scotland and a Scottish Labour cabal in power at Westminster.

What England needs is our own Parliament, free from the votes and interference of unaccountable Scottish MPs, in a new and democratic settlement that is fair to England.

The Telegraph article is here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/09/npoll109.xml

The Union with Scotland is dead

Says Simon Heffer in the Telegraph, recognising the fact that seems obvious to all but our current government and opposition parties. The tide of opinion is definitely turning but we still need to demand an English Parliament loud and clear.

The Telegraph article is here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=IMDRARH0SGDBVQFIQMGCFFOAVCBQUIV0?xml=/opinion/2007/11/14/do1401.xml&posted=true&_requestid=1055704

Stephen

Labours's flawed devolution is to blame

for English disquiet - say Tories, but they still won't grasp the nettle instead there is to be an English Grand Committee.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=ZMF3D2FSBVZMRQFIQMFCFFOAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/10/28/nscotland228.xml

Why not exclude Scottish MPs altogether - and have an English parliament?

Stephen

Alex Salmond's game plan

To play the English question for all it is worth - to the SNP.

Another article from the Observer.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2200679,00.html

Warms your heart to see we English are so useful to ambitious Scottish politicians, of all parties.

Stephen.

The Tories have a plan for the English question

but it isn't an English parliament, just English only votes on English matters rehashed.

The piece is in The Guardian here:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2200694,00.html


I don't know why the Tories can't just come out and say they will give England's people what they need to have real democracy in this country again - an English parliament. I'm sure this would be a vote winner (in England).

Stephen.

Advice for the English from Alex Salmond

who tells us to stop complaining and make our public services better - like in Scotland. The article is here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/28/nsnp128.xml

Well maybe we can, Alex, when we get control of England's services back from the Scots who currently dominate our government.

Stephen

Gordon ignores the people

He said he would listen to the people, but he won't - he'll sell us out to the corrupt EU dictatorship this week.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/10/17/do1704.xml

No change there then.

Stephen

The English Question?

With a possible election about to be called, Frank Field advises the Tories to play the "English Card" - but will they?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=STDU4EG4JVZZJQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/opinion/2007/09/29/do2905.xml

Stephen.

Brown: I will stand up for schools and hospitals

Unless they are in England, where his last act as Chancellor was to cut the NHS capital budget from £6.2 Billion to £4.2 Billion next year. Now, if we had an opposition you would think they would mention that?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2176175,00.html

Stephen.

Review our subsidy, says Scot Labour leader

the Barnett formula is a big electoral bribe - we already know that, but the new leader of Scottish Labour, Wendy Alexander, also says there is no appetite to create two classes of MP at Westminster:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/12/nscots112.xml

Perhaps we should write and tell her she is wrong?

Stephen.

Scottish Independence?

Alex Salmond has launched his plans and various Scottish newspapers have comment pieces. You can join the lively debate in Scotland On Sunday here:

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=51&id=1286982007#new

Or in The Herald here:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/holyrood/display.var.1617903.0.0.php

Always good fun to read the comments!

Stephen.

Scottish Independence - what do you think?

You can offer your opinion here at The Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=05SV2TPDZDJOFQFIQMFSFFWAVCBQ0IV0?view=BLOGDETAIL&grid=F11&blog=yourview&xml=/news/2007/08/14/view14c.xml&posted=true&_requestid=709849

Stephen.

Read all about it?

Or maybe not, if your French is as bad as mine. It being the new EU Constitution, sorry, EU Treaty, only available in French - our MPs will all be on holiday when the English translation comes out. If this Treaty is so good for England, why will we not get the referendum we were promised by all the main parties at the next election?

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/legal-and-constitutional/eu-treaty-only-available-in-french-$476585.htm

With friends like this....

Someone called George Galloway is telling the Scots the English are fed up with Scots MPs voting on English matters.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=why-vote-on-the-issues-that-do-not-concern-us---&method=full&objectid=19426624&siteid=66633-name_page.html

It takes all sorts I suppose.

Stephen

Barnett Formula review

We live in hope!

Apparently the House of Lords are to review the Barnett Formula.

http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1052922007

Don't hold your breath that this will result in any of our taxes coming back to England - not while Gordon is in number 10 and his fellow Scot in number 11.

Flying the union flag...

...but only in England?
Gordon Brown has ordered that the Union Jack should be flown on all government buildings every day - to help promote 'Britishness'. It will be interesting to see if the Union Jack appears on any flagpoles in Scotland or Wales as a result of his edict. I suspect that, as with most other things, only the English will have to be British.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=AF5HDILEA0V2VQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/news/2007/07/06/nplot206.xml
Stephen.

Gordon Brown - still not listening...

To demands for an English parliament but at least some of the media have changed their tune - as with Simon Heffer in the Daily Telegraph.

"English parliament must be in new constitution"

Link to the article is here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/07/04/do0401.xml

Stephen.

Tough luck if you're not Scottish

This article from the Daily Telegraph pretty much sums it up....England's people get a raw deal while subsidising every other part of the UK. Time to think the unthinkable and get rid of the subsidy junkies?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/06/14/do1402.xml

Don't forget to add your comment to the article and tell your MP where to stick the Barnett formula!

Surrey County Show - 28th May 2007

Calling all Surrey & Middx branch members....why not come and visit our CEP stand at the Surrey County Show, Guildford, on 28th May?

Manning this stand is now a regular annual event for us in this branch. We have a good time taking our case to the visitors at this big county fair and gathering support for the CEP. It would be great if you can show your face and introduce yourself to myself and Ian Campbell - and any other CEP members who are there on the day.

This is a big show with something to interest everyone and is a good day out in any event.

You can get all the details about the show on this link:

http://www.surreycountyshow.co.uk/county_show/show.html

See you there!

Stephen.

Saint George's day

Lots of comment and articles in Sunday's papers, this one catches the eye. The Telegraph asks "Should we be looking for a new England?". Well you can read the comments for yourself.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/04/19/ublview19b.xml

Stephen.

English Parliament - the petition

Given the success of the recent anti-Road Pricing petition (1.5 millon votes) please get along to the English Parliament petition and register your vote.

Please pass this on to all the like minded people you know.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/England/

Stephen.

Alex Salmond's English observation.

Over at The Scotsman, Alex Salmond makes a point that most English MPs bend over backwards to avoid: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=547502007

He said "I think a lot of people in England can see the advantages of being able to decide on things like foundation hospitals or top-up fees without being bossed around by Scottish Labour MPs, who seem intent on forcing unwanted policies down the throats of the people of England."

Well now, it might be constructive if some English MPs came to the same conclusion sooner rather than later. If you have a minute read some of the comments on this article - very enlightening about the electoral prospects of Labour in Scotland.

New CEP branch weblog!

Well, today, 17th March 2007, I'm pleased to launch the weblog of the Surrey & Middlesex CEP branch. I'm told this is the biggest branch (by membership) of the CEP, so let me have your feedback on my posts and let me know what I've missed.

Stephen Allinson