Setting up an English Parliament to decide matters that relate solely to England (English electorate).
England has been a unified country for more than 1000 years. England and Wales were united by the Acts of Union (1536-43), which gave Welsh representatives the right to attend the English Parliament. The Union of Scotland with England and Wales in 1707 saw the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The Act of Union with Ireland in 1801 created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The United Kingdom cultivated an inclusive identity that was symbolised by the institutions of the Union Flag, Parliament and the Monarchy.
With the demise of the British Empire, after World War II British identity meant less than it once had. The glue that bound the Union together became weaker and in Scotland and Wales the expression of national identity and a desire for self-government became stronger. The SNP had its first MP elected in 1945 and Plaid Cymru in 1966.
Referendums were held in 1979 in relation to devolution in Scotland and Wales, but devolution was not passed in either nation. Following the Labour Party's return to Government in 1997, White Papers were published again setting out proposals for devolution. Referendums were again held in Scotland and Wales in 1997 and won, very narrowly in the case of Wales. As part of its Peace Process, Northern Ireland was given an Assembly with devolved powers, including the right to enact primary legislation.
The parliamentary problems resulting from devolution were most famously described by Tam Dalyell, Labour MP for the Scottish constituency of West Lothian, in 1977 during the House of Commons debate on the referendums then proposed. He asked: 'For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate... at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on English politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?' He illustrated his point by pointing out the absurdity of a Westminster Member of Parliament for West Lothian being able to vote on matters affecting Blackburn, Lancashire but not Blackburn, West Lothian in his own constituency. This has become known as the West Lothian Question and current arrangements still do not satisfactorily answer it.
In addition English legislation, determined by The House of Commons, unlike that devolved to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, is also subject to consideration and amendment by the House of Lords, whose members include many who do not have the credentials to represent English interests. This situation has been described as 'The English Question'.
An essential part of the solutions to the problems outlined above is an English Parliament with a mandate to represent the interests of the whole of England. A parliament and executive will allow the people of England to allocate resources in a way that best meets their needs. A constitutional convention, as was used for Scottish and Welsh devolution, will advise on the details of this.
The devolution of powers over English legislation to an English Parliament will ensure that all parts of the United Kingdom receive equal treatment. It will provide a full answer to the West Lothian and English Questions, satisfy the growing sense of unfairness in England, and resolve the constitutional anomalies that have unbalanced the Union. It will be a major step in constitutional development but it has not yet been endorsed by any of the three traditional political parties.
The Westminster Parliament will continue to be concerned with issues such as the constitution, foreign policy, defence, international development, security, taxation and social security, company law, employment legislation, energy, transport and human rights and responsibilities. In the longer term it is envisaged that the activities and scope of each of the devolved administrations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be similar with the Westminster Parliament only having a direct say in those matters best decided on a UK basis.
This policy has strong electoral support with 60% of people in England being in favour and only 20% against. Interestingly people in Scotland are also supportive by a margin of 41% to 23%.
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