ConservativeHome's Platform

Christine Constable: When will Conservatives demonstrate their loyalty to the English?

Christine is Vice Chairman of the English Democrats and a leading sponsor of Justice for England.

We recently learnt that English nurses will not be receiving their pay rise in full on the 1st of April, but will receive it in two stages, in effect reducing its value - whilst we learn the Scottish Executive will honour the pay award to Scottish nurses in full on the 1st April.

The question has to be asked, for how much longer will politicians from all the main three parties continue to tolerate discriminatory treatment against the people of England?  Is petty political point scoring like this, really worth the price of alienating 85% of the UK population?

Here again, we see silence from all three parties, cognisant of the fact that all three parties are keen to woo the Scottish vote in their direction in advance of the May elections, they are clearly content to offer sweetners, which fly in the face of fairness and equality for the rest of the Union, namely the majority – the people of England.

Is it credible that Labour, Lib Dem and Tories can split themselves into three contradictory versions of their own parties, clamouring for free prescriptions in Wales, higher pay for nurses in Scotland, whilst denying the people of England the very same equal rights?

The silence of the main parties and the tacit toleration of anti-English discrimination, will inevitably be the spark that sets fire to the Union completely.  Unless the 85% of people who make up the Union begin to receive the proper respect and representation their interests deserve, none of the three parties can be surprised that the people of England will want to see the back of them.  Why would anyone vote for a party that routinely discriminates against the people who elect them? 

This slavish adherence to Scottish whims, which (let’s face it) have become ever more ambitious, unreasonable and unaffordable, is playing havoc with the tolerant and patient attitude of the English.

A long list of anti-English rhetoric from all three Scottishocentric leaders of the main three parties, plays increasingly badly with the English public who are fed up with hearing that life saving drugs available in Scotland will be denied to England, that English children will be burdened with £3,000 top up fees, (whilst the Scots and Welsh will not have such fees), that in England lower pay for teachers and nurses is acceptable (despite the cost of living being higher in the South) and that miserly help for English pensioners will continue unchallenged (when compared to the generous support given north of the border.)  We can just imagine the wailing and crying of “foul” had these injustices been perpetrated against the Scots – but no, for some reason the English are expected to shoulder these absurdities with complaint free stoicism.

Christine Constable: English Democrats and the SNP forming common ground?

Christine is Vice Chairman of the English Democrats.

The Newsnight debate "Disunited Kingdom" on Monday 17th January was top heavy with audience and speakers and sadly because of this many interesting points were not fully explored, although I was pleased I had at least one opportunity to put the English position.

My visit to Holyrood, interviews for Border Television and Newsnight brought me face to face with the SNP and I was pleased to say I found the whole atmosphere in Scotland one of cordiality and shared purpose.

From a personal point of view I have no desire to see an end to the Union, nor is it a policy of the English Democrats.  What Scotland and England share however, is a yearning desire to be who we are English and Scottish.

To increasing numbers of people their national identity is more important than to be simply known as British.  The term British has over the years been so devalued, that most people would struggle to be able to describe it or to know "how" it unites so many of the diverse ethnic and religious citizens it seeks to represent.

Christine Constable: City Regions, the West Lothian Question and the future of England

Christine Constable is Director of the English Constitutional Convention.

It was predictable timing that Ruth Kelly published her white paper on “city regions” two weeks ago, as Labour rush (yet again), into another disastrous policy to avoid answering the West Lothian question before they get booted out of office.  This time the model is even more bizarre, advocating Mayors you won’t have to vote for, an end to local government as we know it, and the giving of desperately needed public cash to bribe councils to do away with themselves.

This in the same week the English Constitutional Convention launched itself in the House of Commons, with the simple demand for a public debate on the future of English devolution.  Is this really such an outrageous request?

What do the people of England need to do to get their voice heard?  The government ignores a million people marching in Whitehall, MPs ignore the sack loads of letters calling for an English Parliament, politicians dismiss opinion poll after opinion poll confirming England wants equality with Scotland.  The POWER Commission reports that the people have lost faith in politicians and that most people consider the political system to be corrupt, dysfunctional and undemocratic, with politicians coming lower than estate agents in the trust stakes.

If Conservatives think that their “English Votes on English Legislation” will be the final word on English devolution they are very much mistaken. Any scheme of devolution for England will HAVE to have the consent of the people if it is to win support, without it this debate will run and run.

Is it too much for the Conservatives to bite the bullet and show leadership here?   Don’t the people of England have the democratic right to choose their own method of devolution?  Scotland had it, Wales had it – the precedent has been set.  Please don’t retort that a vote on English devolution will destroy the Union.  England was not to blame for devolution.  The English were never consulted.  The politicians made their constitutional bed - now they must “collectively” lie in it.  England wants to preserve her nationhood, democracy and right to self determination, just like Scotland – what democrat would deny England the same rights?

Related link: Priscilla Cullen writes that 'There isn't enough concern about asymmetrical devolution'.