England - English Politics

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Overview

English politics is a generally low-key affair, a situation bought about by the oppresively undemocratic way the UK is governed. Devolution was introduced under the Labour government but only for Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland had its own devolved government in the 1930's but this is currently suspended as a result of the troubles. Contrary to popular belief and government propoganda, the people that sit in the Parliament at Westminster do not constitute an English government - it is without any doubt the British government. Politics in England mainly revolve around securing meaningful devolution for England to put it on an equal footing with the rest of the UK. As a whole, English nationalism is on the up with the English flag visible almost everywhere except for on government buildings.

Devolution

Devolution is the process of handing down powers from central government to a local government. In the case of the UK, this has meant the devolution of powers from the British government to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Powers had already been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly prior to the Scottish and Welsh settlement but this is currently suspended. Every part of the UK except England has a devolved government. Specifically, these are:

•  The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
•  The Welsh Assembly, Cardiff
•  The Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont
•  The States of Jersey, St Helier
•  The States of Guernsey, St Peter Port
•  The States of Alderney, Alderney
•  Chief Pleas, Sark
•  The High Court of Tynwald, Douglas, Isle of Man

England is now the only country in the UK and the EU without any direct political representation. The main driving force behind the campaign to introduce devolution to England is the Campaign for an English Parliament (CEP). The CEP are campaigning only for the right of the English people to vote in a referendum on whether they want an English Parliament, not the imposition of an English Parliament. If the people vote no in a fair and democratic referendum then that's another issue - the problem is, they've never been asked and the government is too scared to do so. It is this that the CEP have a problem with.

Political Parties

There are basically three camps in English politics - those who want devolution , those who want independence and those who want regionalisation. There is no doubt that England would survive and prosper if it was independent from the UK but there is little appetite for it amongst the general public. The main political party supporting English devolution is the English Democrats Party (EDP). The EDP have had some success in local and European elections but have so far failed to return a member of parliament. They were respresented recently by TV and newspaper celebrity Gary Bushell. There are no political parties of note that support English independence, nor are there likely to be for some time. The main three parties in the UK support the balkanisation of England. Regional Assemblies are unwanted by the majority of people in England but are supported by the main political parties as they offer a simple way of preventing democracy in England whilst appearing to promote it. The regions imposed on England reflect the regional map of the UK produced by the EU although all three of the main political parties strenuously deny that regional assemblies are influenced by the EU at all.