The Cynic’s Guide To Devolution

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 [...]

Campaign For a National Referendum (2): Downing Street Referendum Petition

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, [...]

Campaign For a National Referendum (1): A Lifeline For Gordon Brown

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 [...]

No way back for Britain: federation or independence are the only options

Another way to address the question of the constitutional options that should be put to all the nations of the UK at the same time as a Scottish referendum on independence for Scotland (see previous post) is to say that we should all have a vote, not just on independence for our respective countries, but [...]

Should England have a referendum on independence?

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, [...]