Comments on: England awakens http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2006/02/18/381/ English, Rationalist and Liberal Conservative Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:23:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: James G http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2006/02/18/381/#comment-3060 Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:04:47 +0000 http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2006/02/18/381/#comment-3060 MatGB, I had a look, and forgive me for being cynical, but do you think those propositions would ever be picked up in this country the way the current party system is set up? The proposal to limit government is anathema to the mainstream of power in almost all political parties in this country (true, the Tories have a libertarian tendency, but look, there was a 2/3s mandate for someone who wants to ban chocolate orange sweets at the till in WH Smith.) If there is one thing that the majority of the political classes in this country believe, it is that more government is a good thing. A constitutional movement (as well as a devolved England) will only come about through the grass roots and not through party politics. And it appears, right now, that party politics is the only game in town and aims to keep it that way. Gav, I think you are spot on. If there is anything in politics that peeves me more than head-chopper appeasement or Socialism, it is the Scottish Raj. MatGB,
I had a look, and forgive me for being cynical, but do you think those propositions would ever be picked up in this country the way the current party system is set up?

The proposal to limit government is anathema to the mainstream of power in almost all political parties in this country (true, the Tories have a libertarian tendency, but look, there was a 2/3s mandate for someone who wants to ban chocolate orange sweets at the till in WH Smith.)

If there is one thing that the majority of the political classes in this country believe, it is that more government is a good thing.

A constitutional movement (as well as a devolved England) will only come about through the grass roots and not through party politics. And it appears, right now, that party politics is the only game in town and aims to keep it that way.

Gav,
I think you are spot on. If there is anything in politics that peeves me more than head-chopper appeasement or Socialism, it is the Scottish Raj.

]]> by: MatGB http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2006/02/18/381/#comment-3053 Sun, 19 Feb 2006 22:53:41 +0000 http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2006/02/18/381/#comment-3053 Essential analysis is correct. Status quo is not an option. However, while Independence would solve things, it's not something I want. Yet a fully federal system with England as 85% within one doesn't actually improve governance (it's still remote, unlike Cardiff/Edinburgh) and threatens stability of UK govt. Middle ground; much further decentralism, with and English element as well. Details to be thrashed out within a new constitutional settlement for the nation as a whole, being worked on <a href="http://bishophill.blogspot.com/2006/02/british-constitution.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://strange_stuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/new-british-constitution.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> as a start. You in? *goes to use site search facility for one of your older posts* Essential analysis is correct. Status quo is not an option. However, while Independence would solve things, it’s not something I want. Yet a fully federal system with England as 85% within one doesn’t actually improve governance (it’s still remote, unlike Cardiff/Edinburgh) and threatens stability of UK govt.

Middle ground; much further decentralism, with and English element as well. Details to be thrashed out within a new constitutional settlement for the nation as a whole, being worked on here and here as a start.

You in?

*goes to use site search facility for one of your older posts*

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