Posted on 16 August 2008 by David
Below is the text of a post of mine published on the OurKingdom site last week. It stimulated a lively debate, which has led me to think further about the fundamental issues involved. I discuss these below after the copy of the OurKingdom post:
Giving only Scotland a say on independence negates the existence of Britain
[...]
Filed under: England, Scotland, Scottish Claim of Right, Scottish independence, United Kingdom, Wales, constitutional reform, federal UK, nationalism, parliament, politics, referendum, sovereignty | 4 Comments »
Posted on 18 July 2008 by David
Here’s how I see the asymmetric devolution settlement brought in by New Labour in 1998. This may not be terribly original; but it could serve as a useful guide to the cynical politics that has brought us to our present pass.
Scotland-side, there’s the view that devolution, rather than being merely a nationalistic movement for greater [...]
Filed under: Conservative Party, David Cameron, England, English independence, First Past the Post, Labour Party, PR, Scotland, Scottish independence, Wales, Welsh independence, constitutional reform, devolution, parliament, politics, proportional representation, sovereignty | 8 Comments »
Posted on 9 June 2008 by David
The Sunday Times reported yesterday that Frank Field has urged Gordon Brown to hold an immediate UK-wide referendum on the future of the Union. The Labour MP is quoted as saying, “Unless Gordon Brown wrongfoots [Alex Salmond] by addressing the English question and by holding a UK-wide referendum before he has the chance to build [...]
Filed under: England, English independence, Frank Field, Gordon Brown, Labour Party, Scotland, Scottish Claim of Right, Scottish independence, United Kingdom, constitutional convention, constitutional reform, parliament, politics, referendum, sovereignty, the English Question | 2 Comments »
Posted on 1 June 2008 by David
Just signed the Downing Street petition for a referendum on English independence I came across today. This actually calls for a referendum on English independence irrespective of whether the Scots are offered a referendum on independence for Scotland, or if they go ahead and have one anyway whether the British government, or the Scottish First Minister for England, [...]
Filed under: Britain, Downing Street petition, England, English independence, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Scottish independence, Wales, Welsh independence, constitutional reform, devolution, federal UK, nationalism, parliament, politics, referendum, sovereignty, unionism | 3 Comments »
Posted on 30 May 2008 by David
This is the first of a new mini-series in which I’ll be putting the argument for a referendum on new constitutional arrangements between the nations of the UK, which should be offered to all those nations not just one or two (e.g. Scotland and Wales).
Below is a copy of a comment I made the other [...]
Filed under: Britain, Cornish independence, Cornwall, England, English independence, Gordon Brown, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Scottish independence, Wales, Welsh independence, constitutional reform, devolution, federal UK, nationalism, politics, referendum, unionism | 2 Comments »
Posted on 11 May 2008 by David
At some point in the next few years (maybe as early as 2010; or 2011, 2012 or later), the people of Scotland will be offered a referendum on whether to become an independent country. In my view, it’s highly likely they’ll vote ‘yes’.
At the same time as this Scottish vote, the people of England (and, [...]
Filed under: Cornish independence, Cornwall, England, English independence, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Scottish independence, Wales, Welsh independence, referendum | 6 Comments »
