Honest, George Monbiot (for it is he...) says you don't have to be an English nationalist (BBC translation = narrow minded fascist scumbag, silly) to be for an English Parliament. Now this is important, because George's opinion matters to (self appointed) intellectual thinkers in Islington (even though he now lives in Wales and has gone native) and they may have noticed the democratic deficit that exists in England where Scottish MPs can vote on English affairs without any exposure to English votes. Now this was bloody obvious to us people who think of ourselves as English but invisible in Islington. (hope you are keeping up here, proper Islington media folk would never say they were English, yuk) so we have to be happy that George has vocalised what we already knew!
Hard to believe?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/19/letters-devolution
The promised land? Only if we keep up the pressure and demand a proper democratic solution to the English question.
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Why does Tesco hate the English?
Given that so many of Tesco's customers are, err, English, it seems odd that Tesco is implementing a final solution to eliminate the cross of St George from their products?
I received the followng email fron Robin Tilbrook:
"FEAR AND LOATHING OF ENGLAND AT TESCO...
After an illuminating telephone conversation with some bolshy Scottish woman at Tesco Customer Care Centre, yesterday, I have received some disquieting news.
I was informed, that due to specific, constant and deafening requests by their English customers, the existing, very few own brand references to English products in Tesco stores are to be dumped – and replaced with the ‘British’ moniker.
I really do have to say that the conversation was one of the most surreal I have ever had – even by Tesco standards.
I thought I should ring them to discuss ‘CountryLife-Gate’ – and that company’s shameless rebranding of English butter to British butter. I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk (yet again) to Tesco about their branding policy.
I told the Tesco lady that I was looking for another butter to buy with ‘English’ written on the pack – and couldn’t help noticing that Tesco own brand butter did indeed say ‘English Butter’, but unfortunately, the accompanying flag was not the flag of St George but was the flag of the Union.....
I then tried to expand the discussion, sort of telling her that I would like to buy English stuff in Tesco, but there are precious few products in Tesco with the English ident on – and how I thought it was about time they expanded their English range – and as a start, they could change the flag on the Tesco English Butter pack to make it consistent.
“But we are changing it to make it more consistent”
“Well that’s bloody great!”
“Yes, in the very near future, our butter will be labelled as British butter – and of course we will keep the Union flag to make it all consistent”....
“WHAT?”...
She repeated it – and then added “In fact all the remaining products with England of English on them are to be rebranded as British”.
“WHY?”
“Because all our customers in England want their products labelled as British – while all our customers in Scotland, Wales and Ireland want their produce labelled as Scottish, Welsh and Irish”....
“Well who decided that then?”
“Our customer focus groups”
“So let me get this straight – customers in England have specifically demanded that the very few English branded products that Tesco sells must be rebranded to British – because, presumably they find it all too upsetting? “So why haven’t the Scots etc demanded that their products are to be labelled as British also?
“Well they don’t see themselves as British – they see themselves as Scottish – it’s the same with the Welsh and the Irish”...
“How very convenient..... So what you are saying is that the few remaining English products are soon to be bulldozed from the shelves in favour of British ones”....
She did indeed confirm that rogue products like Tesco own brand English Butter and Mild Cheshire Cheese are to be axed for a more apparently palatable British version.
She then read out a communiqué from Head Office –
“Regarding product branding, this is what our Customer Forum has asked us to do”
‘As most English inhabitants look on themselves as being British first – therefore, a Union flag is used to identify the region. NOTE: Regional information is printed on the pack to indicate which area within the region it comes from’.
There then followed a deep and meaningful discussion. The Scots lady said that every time she came south of the border she couldn’t move for union flags – because apparently, all English people are revelling in their British ident... While in her own country she and all her fellow compatriots were Scots first, second and third.
The whole conversation ended in a vexatious row. She just couldn’t grasp how insulted I felt to have my country rebranded as both a ‘region’ and as default Britain’. There is now a definite shift in strategy. They are now quoting ‘Focus Groups’ from the region of England as justification to rebrand to a British ident – and it’s all coming to a Tesco near you."
Well you know I'm a big customer of Tesco and I say bypass the Scottish Mafia and go straight to the top, by writing to:
Sir Terence Leahy
Chief Executive of Tesco
P.O. Box 44
Delamare Road
Cheshunt
Herts
England EN8 9SL
and mention how you are insulted by the assertion that all English people are British first and point out that English customers might be worth a tad more on the bottom line than the his Scots and Welsh customers. you might also add some reference to the opinion polls:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6264823.stm
And generally threaten to withdraw your custom.
Please copy me in on anything you send.
Thanks
Stephen.
I received the followng email fron Robin Tilbrook:
"FEAR AND LOATHING OF ENGLAND AT TESCO...
After an illuminating telephone conversation with some bolshy Scottish woman at Tesco Customer Care Centre, yesterday, I have received some disquieting news.
I was informed, that due to specific, constant and deafening requests by their English customers, the existing, very few own brand references to English products in Tesco stores are to be dumped – and replaced with the ‘British’ moniker.
I really do have to say that the conversation was one of the most surreal I have ever had – even by Tesco standards.
I thought I should ring them to discuss ‘CountryLife-Gate’ – and that company’s shameless rebranding of English butter to British butter. I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk (yet again) to Tesco about their branding policy.
I told the Tesco lady that I was looking for another butter to buy with ‘English’ written on the pack – and couldn’t help noticing that Tesco own brand butter did indeed say ‘English Butter’, but unfortunately, the accompanying flag was not the flag of St George but was the flag of the Union.....
I then tried to expand the discussion, sort of telling her that I would like to buy English stuff in Tesco, but there are precious few products in Tesco with the English ident on – and how I thought it was about time they expanded their English range – and as a start, they could change the flag on the Tesco English Butter pack to make it consistent.
“But we are changing it to make it more consistent”
“Well that’s bloody great!”
“Yes, in the very near future, our butter will be labelled as British butter – and of course we will keep the Union flag to make it all consistent”....
“WHAT?”...
She repeated it – and then added “In fact all the remaining products with England of English on them are to be rebranded as British”.
“WHY?”
“Because all our customers in England want their products labelled as British – while all our customers in Scotland, Wales and Ireland want their produce labelled as Scottish, Welsh and Irish”....
“Well who decided that then?”
“Our customer focus groups”
“So let me get this straight – customers in England have specifically demanded that the very few English branded products that Tesco sells must be rebranded to British – because, presumably they find it all too upsetting? “So why haven’t the Scots etc demanded that their products are to be labelled as British also?
“Well they don’t see themselves as British – they see themselves as Scottish – it’s the same with the Welsh and the Irish”...
“How very convenient..... So what you are saying is that the few remaining English products are soon to be bulldozed from the shelves in favour of British ones”....
She did indeed confirm that rogue products like Tesco own brand English Butter and Mild Cheshire Cheese are to be axed for a more apparently palatable British version.
She then read out a communiqué from Head Office –
“Regarding product branding, this is what our Customer Forum has asked us to do”
‘As most English inhabitants look on themselves as being British first – therefore, a Union flag is used to identify the region. NOTE: Regional information is printed on the pack to indicate which area within the region it comes from’.
There then followed a deep and meaningful discussion. The Scots lady said that every time she came south of the border she couldn’t move for union flags – because apparently, all English people are revelling in their British ident... While in her own country she and all her fellow compatriots were Scots first, second and third.
The whole conversation ended in a vexatious row. She just couldn’t grasp how insulted I felt to have my country rebranded as both a ‘region’ and as default Britain’. There is now a definite shift in strategy. They are now quoting ‘Focus Groups’ from the region of England as justification to rebrand to a British ident – and it’s all coming to a Tesco near you."
Well you know I'm a big customer of Tesco and I say bypass the Scottish Mafia and go straight to the top, by writing to:
Sir Terence Leahy
Chief Executive of Tesco
P.O. Box 44
Delamare Road
Cheshunt
Herts
England EN8 9SL
and mention how you are insulted by the assertion that all English people are British first and point out that English customers might be worth a tad more on the bottom line than the his Scots and Welsh customers. you might also add some reference to the opinion polls:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6264823.stm
And generally threaten to withdraw your custom.
Please copy me in on anything you send.
Thanks
Stephen.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Labour's fortunes depend on the union.
That's the argument in The Guardian today. Not surprisngly, The Guardian's writer is more concerned about the fate of 39 Labour MPs who are sent to Westminster by Scottish voters than the need for some proper democracy in England - though the position of England as Europe's only country without it's own parliament these days is recognised.
Tristram Hunt's CIF article is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/23/glasgoweast.labour
Being CIF you can add your own comment to the debate.
PS, sorry for not posting for so long - been busy at this making a living thing.
Tristram Hunt's CIF article is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/23/glasgoweast.labour
Being CIF you can add your own comment to the debate.
PS, sorry for not posting for so long - been busy at this making a living thing.
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Preserving an English identity
As St Georges day approaches, it is good to see the importance of preserving our unique identity in a globalised world being discussed - at least in some of the less PC media.
Paul Kingsnorth makes the case for the link between our local landscapes and our idenity in this article in The Daily Telegraph here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/04/19/ftengland19.xml
Though I fear his list of reasons why our identity is being lost does not mention the main culprits - the EU and our political classes who do their bidding in imposing the Europe of the Regions - but a step in the right direction anyway.
Paul Kingsnorth makes the case for the link between our local landscapes and our idenity in this article in The Daily Telegraph here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/04/19/ftengland19.xml
Though I fear his list of reasons why our identity is being lost does not mention the main culprits - the EU and our political classes who do their bidding in imposing the Europe of the Regions - but a step in the right direction anyway.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Gordon Brown promotes English Regions (again)
Apparently Gordon Brown is planning a campaign to save the union - he must like flogging dead horses, naturally this is bad news for England:
From The Sunday TimesMarch 30, 2008
Gordon Brown to launch Save the Union campaign
Britain's prime minister is preparing to marshall the great and good to fight the threat of Scottish independence
Jason Allardyce and Jonathan Oliver
GORDON Brown is to launch an unprecedented “Save the Union” campaign because he fears the march of Scottish nationalism is becoming unstoppable.
The prime minister told a strategy meeting of ministers at Downing Street that the United Kingdom could only be held together if pro-Union business leaders, academics and civic bodies acted now.
He also proposes to create a network of London-style mayors in English regions to appease mounting resentment against devolution south of the border.
From The Sunday TimesMarch 30, 2008
Gordon Brown to launch Save the Union campaign
Britain's prime minister is preparing to marshall the great and good to fight the threat of Scottish independence
Jason Allardyce and Jonathan Oliver
GORDON Brown is to launch an unprecedented “Save the Union” campaign because he fears the march of Scottish nationalism is becoming unstoppable.
The prime minister told a strategy meeting of ministers at Downing Street that the United Kingdom could only be held together if pro-Union business leaders, academics and civic bodies acted now.
He also proposes to create a network of London-style mayors in English regions to appease mounting resentment against devolution south of the border.
So Gordon thinks that what we really, really need in England, to counter "mounting resentment" about devolution is more Mayors in the "English regions"?
No thanks Gordon, what we really, really need is democratic parity with Scotland and Wales - that means an English parliament where England's MPs can make English laws without influence from Scottish and Welsh MPs who are not elected by English voters. This is called democratic accountability - and we don't have it here in England.
Mayors in the regions do not address England's "mounting resentment" - and can't while England is ruled according to unelected MP's whims and the Barnett formula's inequitable distribution of England's taxes.
The article is here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3647158.ece
There is a comments page that makes interesting reading - you know what to do.
Stephen.
Friday, 21 March 2008
It's a Miracle! - no council tax increase in Scotland!
Many of you have just had your English council tax demand - mine was an increase of 3.5% (ish). Whisper it quietly, there is a part of our sceptered isle where there is no increase in council tax at all.
Can you guess?
Scotland (for it is she) has no council tax increase, this is due to the largesse of the Barnett formula that allows English taxpayers to subsidise Scotland. Truly a miracle, if you're a Scot.
Of course this stinks to high heaven, which is why you won't be hearing about it on the BBC or C4 or the other organs of our 'free' democracy.
The Scotsman is quite happy to tell the story here:
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Council-tax-freeze-across-Scotland.3781358.jp
I'll be asking my MP why this injustice is allowed to happen - not sure I'll get a meaningful answer though, he's a Lib Dem, never a a party to lose too much sleep over justice for their English voters.
Make sure you write to your MP - it does make a difference.
Stephen
Can you guess?
Scotland (for it is she) has no council tax increase, this is due to the largesse of the Barnett formula that allows English taxpayers to subsidise Scotland. Truly a miracle, if you're a Scot.
Of course this stinks to high heaven, which is why you won't be hearing about it on the BBC or C4 or the other organs of our 'free' democracy.
The Scotsman is quite happy to tell the story here:
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Council-tax-freeze-across-Scotland.3781358.jp
I'll be asking my MP why this injustice is allowed to happen - not sure I'll get a meaningful answer though, he's a Lib Dem, never a a party to lose too much sleep over justice for their English voters.
Make sure you write to your MP - it does make a difference.
Stephen
Sunday, 9 March 2008
The Cost Of Being English.
The CEP have often raised the issue about the extra cost of being English in a Britain where England has no democratic control of its own affairs - unlike Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The mainstream media usually ignore this story (not rocking the establishment boat - as with the Euro referendum) but today the Sunday Times has an article setting out the real cost of being English in England.
You can read the full article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3511864.ece
But this section sums it up:
The latest figures on public spending per head show that in 2006-7 it was reckoned at £8,623 in Scotland; £8,139 in Wales; and just £7,121 in England. (The figures may seem modest, but they are for “identifiable spending” that differs between regions and do not include items such as defence that are deemed to be national.)
The Scots, with £1,500 more to spend per person, are lavishing services on their 5m population. Free care (up to £210 a week) for the elderly, free eye tests, dental checks and, in future, free prescriptions. Yet in England, it was announced last week that the prescription charge will rise to £7.10.
In Wales, which has £1,000 per person more to spend than England, the authorities last week announced plans for free hospital car parking. It infuriated taxpayers in England.
“It seems that in the UK, the poor relation is England,” said John Cherrett, a campaigner for pensioners in Dorset, where some hospitals charge £7 a day for parking. “Whatever way we look at it, public transport, drugs, pensions, whatever, England is a poor relation. We are the wealth-maker of the four parts of the UK and we lose out all along.”
In total the TaxPayers’ Alliance pressure group calculates that the “cost of being English” could amount to more than £7,000 a year – from £3,000 for university tuition fees to thousands more for care of the elderly, £25 for an eye test and £15 for each dental check-up.
What is the reason for this? Is it what it looks suspiciously like? - Labour looking after its heartlands in Scotland and Wales at the expense of the English? and is this why England's people are denied their own parliament - unlike Scotland and Wales?
Expect Labour to announce some headlining plan now that the issue is becoming mainstream but nothing less than a restoration of democracy to England will fix this one -an English parliament dealing with England's taxes and spending.
Stephen
The mainstream media usually ignore this story (not rocking the establishment boat - as with the Euro referendum) but today the Sunday Times has an article setting out the real cost of being English in England.
You can read the full article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3511864.ece
But this section sums it up:
The latest figures on public spending per head show that in 2006-7 it was reckoned at £8,623 in Scotland; £8,139 in Wales; and just £7,121 in England. (The figures may seem modest, but they are for “identifiable spending” that differs between regions and do not include items such as defence that are deemed to be national.)
The Scots, with £1,500 more to spend per person, are lavishing services on their 5m population. Free care (up to £210 a week) for the elderly, free eye tests, dental checks and, in future, free prescriptions. Yet in England, it was announced last week that the prescription charge will rise to £7.10.
In Wales, which has £1,000 per person more to spend than England, the authorities last week announced plans for free hospital car parking. It infuriated taxpayers in England.
“It seems that in the UK, the poor relation is England,” said John Cherrett, a campaigner for pensioners in Dorset, where some hospitals charge £7 a day for parking. “Whatever way we look at it, public transport, drugs, pensions, whatever, England is a poor relation. We are the wealth-maker of the four parts of the UK and we lose out all along.”
In total the TaxPayers’ Alliance pressure group calculates that the “cost of being English” could amount to more than £7,000 a year – from £3,000 for university tuition fees to thousands more for care of the elderly, £25 for an eye test and £15 for each dental check-up.
What is the reason for this? Is it what it looks suspiciously like? - Labour looking after its heartlands in Scotland and Wales at the expense of the English? and is this why England's people are denied their own parliament - unlike Scotland and Wales?
Expect Labour to announce some headlining plan now that the issue is becoming mainstream but nothing less than a restoration of democracy to England will fix this one -an English parliament dealing with England's taxes and spending.
Stephen
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Scottish plan land grab at Berwick.
And who will speak up for England's interests when the Scottish parliament votes to take over bits of England? Hmm, why our Scottish Prime Minister of course! or maybe our Scottish Chancellor!
The article is not online but the text from the Sunday Post is here:
Scots plan to capture20 miles of England
By Campbell Gunn
A politician has called for the Scottish border to be moved 20 miles south.Liberal Democrat MSP Jeremy Purvis says current calls for Berwick to be transferred back to Scotland are not ambitious enough.
He wants to see the border moved 20 miles to take in a large area of Northumberland.Mr Purvis claims it could be done quite simply, with two statutory instruments, one each at Holyrood and Westminster.
One is already going through Westminster as the Government is set to abolish Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council.
So a simple order at Holyrood could see a massive land grab by Scotland go ahead.The move comes as a television poll for ITV's Tonight programme, carried out in Berwick, is expected to show a majority in the town in favour of a shift to Scotland.
Strong feeling
"There's a strong feeling that Berwick should be in Scotland" said Mr Purvis, who was born in the town. "Until recently, I had a gran in Berwick and another in Kelso, and they could see that there were better public services in Scotland."Mr Purvis continued, "Berwick as a borough council is going to be abolished and it would then be run from Morpeth, more than 30 miles away." All that would be required would be two statutory instruments, and one of them is already going through the House of Commons." "So it would only need a statutory instrument at Holyrood and then all that would be required would be an adjustment of the Borders Council area to take in part of England." "Scotland would then go down almost as far as Alnwick, as the Berwick Borough Council area extends 20 miles south into England.
Well, the benefits of devolution for Scotland are clear - when will England get a voice?
Stephen
The article is not online but the text from the Sunday Post is here:
Scots plan to capture20 miles of England
By Campbell Gunn
A politician has called for the Scottish border to be moved 20 miles south.Liberal Democrat MSP Jeremy Purvis says current calls for Berwick to be transferred back to Scotland are not ambitious enough.
He wants to see the border moved 20 miles to take in a large area of Northumberland.Mr Purvis claims it could be done quite simply, with two statutory instruments, one each at Holyrood and Westminster.
One is already going through Westminster as the Government is set to abolish Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council.
So a simple order at Holyrood could see a massive land grab by Scotland go ahead.The move comes as a television poll for ITV's Tonight programme, carried out in Berwick, is expected to show a majority in the town in favour of a shift to Scotland.
Strong feeling
"There's a strong feeling that Berwick should be in Scotland" said Mr Purvis, who was born in the town. "Until recently, I had a gran in Berwick and another in Kelso, and they could see that there were better public services in Scotland."Mr Purvis continued, "Berwick as a borough council is going to be abolished and it would then be run from Morpeth, more than 30 miles away." All that would be required would be two statutory instruments, and one of them is already going through the House of Commons." "So it would only need a statutory instrument at Holyrood and then all that would be required would be an adjustment of the Borders Council area to take in part of England." "Scotland would then go down almost as far as Alnwick, as the Berwick Borough Council area extends 20 miles south into England.
Well, the benefits of devolution for Scotland are clear - when will England get a voice?
Stephen
Monday, 21 January 2008
England excluded (no change there then) from UK devolution
Please follow the link below to see who is deciding the future direction of the UK's devolution process, here's a clue, they're all Scots.......and England is not on the agenda.
http://thecep.org.uk/news/?p=371
You could ask your MP why this is so?
http://thecep.org.uk/news/?p=371
You could ask your MP why this is so?
Thursday, 10 January 2008
2008 - the end of the Union?
According to Iain McWhirter in The Guardian it is.
His article is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2238275,00.html
This is a Comment is Free article so you can air your views.
Stephen.
His article is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2238275,00.html
This is a Comment is Free article so you can air your views.
Stephen.
Saturday, 29 September 2007
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.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=STDU4EG4JVZZJQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/opinion/2007/09/29/do2905.xml
Stephen.
Sunday, 29 July 2007
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
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/legal-and-constitutional/eu-treaty-only-available-in-french-$476585.htm
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
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.
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.
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