Priscilla Cullen: There isn't enough concern about asymmetrical devolution

Priscilla Cullen is Secretary to the Campaign for an English Parliament 

It is sometimes said that the English do not care about asymmetrical devolution.  The reason they appear not to care is because they have been kept in ignorance of the effects asymmetric devolution has upon them.  The British media and political parties have acted, either deliberately or through ignorance, in such a way as to obscure these issues in England.  The British television media, (unlike Scotland there are no television channels devoted to English affairs), do not explain, when reporting on devolved issues, the difference between the situation in England and that of Scotland. 

Scotland has national newspapers that do report on devolution issues.  England has none. The British newspapers also obscure the differences within the UK that asymmetrical devolution has caused.  Even the Daily Telegraph, no lover of this government, confuses Britain and England when referring to National Health Trusts.

The Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties issue separate manifestos for Scotland and Wales but do not do so for England.  The manifestos available in England address or refer to Britain or the UK.  The man in the street in Surrey can be expected to believe that the manifesto available to him is applicable to the whole of the UK.  Moreover neither is he aware that greater benefits are being offered to Scotland and Wales by these Parties than they offer to those of us in England although we all pay the same taxes.