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Who Speaks for England? guest post by Toque
Who Speaks for England?
John Redwood (Wokingham, Conservative):
May we have an early debate on who speaks for England and who should make decisions for England in an increasingly devolved United Kingdom?
George Young (Leader of the House of Commons, House of Commons; North West Hampshire, Conservative):
I understand my right hon. Friend’s concern. We announced on Tuesday the establishment of the West Lothian commission, which will look at a range of options. For example, with issues that affect only England and Wales, one option would be that only English and Welsh MPs voted on such matters. In my view, that would be an appropriate rebalancing of the constitution to take account of the fact that in Scotland they have their own Parliament in which issues are resolved on which English MPs cannot vote. It seems somewhat perverse that Scottish MPs can vote on those very same issues when they apply only to England.
Do you see what George Young has done there? John Redwood has asked him a specific question, but instead of providing a straight Yes or No answer he obfuscates, avoids the question and moves on.
The West Lothian Commission is not about answering the question of who speaks for England. The West Lothian Commission is a collection of technocrats tasked with investigating changes to Parliamentary procedure in regard to MPs’ voting privileges. It is not within its remit to recommend a Secretary of State for England, an English parliament elected on a mandate from the people of England, an English government, a First Minister for England or anything or anyone who might conceivably be understood to speak for England. It is not about finding a voice for England (though it would at least be a form of recognition of England).
The previous Government seemed to be of the belief that the UK Government spoke for England. George Howarth, a Government minister back in 1998 stated that “The Government as a whole speak for England”.
That statement was met with an incredulous one word reply from Eric Forth: “Really?”. Not an unreasonable response given that the Government of the time was top heavy with Scottish MPs.
Clearly the Government as a whole does not speak for England, and nor can it speak for England, but it is interesting to note that The Memorandum of Understanding does categorically state that individual UK Ministers do represent the interests of England:
This Memorandum sets out the understanding of, on the one hand, the United Kingdom Government, and on the other, the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers, and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee (“the devolved administrations”) of the principles that will underlie relations between them. The UK Government represents the UK interest in matters which are not devolved in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Policy responsibility for these non-devolved areas is within the exclusive responsibility of the relevant UK Ministers and Departments. It is recognised by these Ministers and Departments that, within the UK Government, the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for ensuring that the interests of those parts of the UK in non-devolved matters are properly represented and considered. Other UK Ministers and their departments represent the interests of England in all matters.
In other words, in the absence of devolution to England, and in the absence of a Secretary of State for England, it is up to individual Government ministers and their departments to ‘speak for England’. In reality some of them can’t even bring themselves to say the word England, let alone speak for it; and none of them even know what the interests of England are because the Government as a whole dare not ask us.
Redwood’s question to Young follows from his blog article on Scottish and English Nationalism in which he says that David Cameron ‘can take comfort from the fact that he can deny the English a vote on the Scottish question’. In my opinion the English should have no say at all in the Scottish question because that it is a matter for the Scottish people. However, if the Scottish people choose Independence or Devolution-Max, David Cameron will find himself unable to ‘deny the English’ any longer.
Redwood goes on to speculate upon what it is that English nationalists want:
The dream ticket for a modern English nationalist is a decision by Scotland to leave the UK, followed by the ending of membership of the EU because the member, the UK, no longer exists.
That may be true of English nationalists within the Conservative Party, but they are not what I would call modern English nationalists. I am an English nationalist because I believe that the nation (in this case the people of England) is entitled to its own state, and is entitled – is sovereign – to determine the basis of its government. Implicit in this is the understanding that ultimately it is the nation – the people – that are sovereign, not the state. And whilst I may find Scottish independence and an exit from the EU a democratic improvement on where we are now, that scenario is by no means a dream ticket. Do we want an English parliament on the basis that the other nations of the UK have all buggered off leaving the British parliament as an English parliament, full of the same cretins who previously took comfort in denying the English, but who now call themselves English? No, I want an English parliament to come about as a result of a popular vote in England, an affirmation of nationhood, democracy and popular sovereignty.
My dream ticket is for the people of England to demand their say and for the Government to listen to them. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request. If that ever happens then I will feel that I have won, even if the people don’t vote for an English parliament of some sort. If the British State were to submit itself to the judgement of the people of England we will have entered a new era, a post imperial era in which all the people of Britain, not just the Scots, are entitled, but not obliged, to be independent or in a Union of their choosing.
Who speaks for England? The people of England speak for England, but we have not spoken, yet.
English Parliament Opinion Polls
English Parliament Opinion Polls
Ipsos-Mori for British Future | January 2012
Question: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have had their own parliament or assembly for some years. Members vote on some issues that affect only their respective countries, for example, on issues about health and education. Issues affecting England can be voted on by all MPs sitting in Westminster. This means that English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on issues that are only of relevance to England. Which one of the following do you think should happen?
Result:
We should keep things as they are (Status Quo): 21%
We should set up a new English Parliament to decide on England-only issues: 52%
We should do away with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Parliaments and make all decisions in the UK Parliament at Westminster (End Devolution): 14%
Don’t know: 13%
Further information: British Future report | Data
ICM for Power2010 | April 2010
Question: England should have its own parliament with similar powers to those of the Scottish Parliament.
Result:
Strongly agree: 43%
Slightly agree: 25%
Neither agree nor disagree: 10%
Slightly disagree: 8%
Strongly disagree: 12%
Further information: 7 out of 10 back English Parliament | Data
YouGov for the Jury Team | September 2009
Question: Below is a list of policy ideas. Imagine each one was put to the country in a referendum. For each one please say whether you would vote in favour or against each proposal, or if you wouldn’t vote at all.
PROPOSAL 11. Setting up an English Parliament to decide matters that affect only England.
Result:
I would vote YES 58%
I would vote NO 20%
Wouldn’t vote 8%
Don’t know 14%
Further information: Jury Team website | Data
Populus for the Times | April 2009
Question: Do you now support or oppose the idea of there also being an English Parliament, or if you don’t have a view either way please say.
Result:
Support an English Parliament 41%
Oppose an English Parliament 15%
Don’t Know 44%
Further information: Populus for the Times | Data
ICM for the Telegraph | December 2007
Question: There is now a Scottish Parliament, and devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland. Which of the following options would you prefer for England?
A: Laws for England should be made by the House of Commons, and all MPs from all of the UK should be able to vote on them, as now
B: Laws for England should be made by the House of Commons, but only English MPs should be able to vote on them
C: England should have its own parliament, while remaining part of the United Kingdom
D: England should become independent, separate from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
E: None of these
F: Don’t know
Result:
Status Quo (SQ) 32%
English Votes on English Laws (EVoEL) 25%
English Parliament [within the Union] (EP) 20%
England should become Independent (Ind) 15%
Don’t know (DK) 6%
None of these (None) 2%
Further information: Telegraph graphic | Data
ICM for the Campaign for an English Parliament | April 2007
Question: You may have seen or heard that a separate Scottish parliament, a Welsh assembly and a Northern Ireland assembly have been established. Do you think that England should or should not have its own parliament or assembly?
Result:
Should be an English parliament 67.32%
Should Not be an English parliament (SN) 24.25%
Don’t Know (DN) 8.43%
Further information: CEP Press Release | Data
YouGov for the Sunday Times | April 2007
Question: Thinking about the way England is governed in the light of devolution to Scotland and Wales, which of the following would be your preferred option.
A: A separate English parliament with similar powers to the Scottish Parliament
B: Stopping MPs from Scottish and Welsh seats from voting on matters that affect only England
C: Keeping the current arrangements as they are
D: None of the above
E: Don’t know
Result:
English parliament (EP) 21%
English Votes on English Laws (EVoEL) 51%
Status Quo (SQ) 12%
None of the above (None) 4%
Don’t know (DK) 12%
Further information: Data
Opinion Research Business for BBC Newsnight | January 2007
Question: In 1998 the creation of a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly gave these countries certain powers that were previously held by the UK parliament in Westminster. Do you think that an English Parliament should now be established?
Result:
Yes – should have an English Parliament 61%
No – should not have an English Parliament 32%
Don’t mind either way (Other) 1%
Don’t know enough about it (Other) 2%
No opinion (Other) 2%
Don’t Know (Other) 2%
Further information: BBC website | Data
ICM for the Daily Mail | January 2007
Question: There is now a Scottish Parliament, and devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland. Do you think there should or should not be a parliament for England only?
Result:
Should be an English parliament 51.42%
Should Not be an English parliament (SN) 41.22%
Don’t Know (DN) 7.36%
Further information: Daily Mail graphic | Data
ICM for the Sunday Telegraph | November 2006
Question: Would you be in favour or against the establishment of an English Parliament within the UK, with similar powers to those currently enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament?
Result:
In Favour of an English Parliament 58%
Against an English Parliament 31%
Don’t Know 11%
IPSOS MORI for the English Constitutional Convention | June 2006
Question: With all the constitutional changes going on in the way different parts of the UK are run, which are creating national Parliaments for Scotland and Wales, which of the following do you think would be best for England…
A: For England to be governed as it is now, with laws made by the UK Parliament even though this means that Scottish and Welsh MPs can vote on English-only issues
B: For England to be divided into Regions with each having its own Assembly
C: For England as a whole to have its own national Parliament with similar law-making powers to the Scottish Parliament
D: None
E: Don’t Know
Result:
Status Quo (SQ) 32%
Regional Assemblies (RA) 14%
English Parliament (EP) 41%
None 4%
Don’t know (DK) 9%
Further information: Ipsos MORI website | English Constitutional Convention press release
YouGov for the English Democrats | Feb 2004
Question: Which of the following options do you prefer?
A: The division of England into nine Regions, each having their own elected assemblies, which will have power to take some decisions but not to create new laws
B: A Parliament for England with the power to allow it to develop and implement policies which reflect the particular needs of the people of England
C: Scottish and Welsh members of the UK Parliament having their voting rights restricted to prevent them from voting on England-only issues
D: Continue with the status quo
E: Don’t know
Result: (figures on graph slightly out due to rounding error in data)
Regional Assemblies (RA) 11%
English Parliament (EP) 24%
English Votes on English Laws (EVoEL) 47%
Status Quo (SQ) 12%
Don’t know (DK) 7%
Further information: Data
NOP for the Campaign for an English Parliament | April 2002
Question: At the moment as well as the Parliament in Westminster, Scotland has its own Parliament, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own Assemblies. England however does not have either. It has been suggested that England should have either its own English Parliament, along with the Westminster Parliament or have nine English Regional Assemblies.
Which of these statements, if any, best sums up your opinion about this?
A. England should have its own English Parliament
B. England should be made up of nine Regional Assemblies (RA)
C. Don’t Know
Result:
English Parliament (EP) 47%
Regional Assemblies (RA) 28%
Don’t Knows 25%.
Further information: Data
English Warrior 