Labour MP Backs an English Parliament

Yesterday, Chuka Umunna, Labour MP, backed the establishment of an English Parliament, affirming the long-standing campaign of the Workers of England Union for a fair deal for England and its workforce.

Workers of England Union: Advocating for Fairness

Since its formation, the Workers of England Union has tirelessly campaigned for:

• An English Parliament
• An English First Minister and dedicated government departments
• Abolition of the unfair Barnett formula
• Equality for the English taxpayer alongside Scottish and Welsh taxpayers

Despite criticism from some Trade Unions affiliated with Labour, the Union’s stance remains that these reforms would bring genuine equality to England’s workforce within the United Kingdom.

Growing Support within the Labour Party

Increasingly, Labour MPs recognise the need for both an “English Labour Party” branch and a separate English Parliament to ensure England has equal standing with Scotland and Wales. Chuka Umunna is the latest to lend his voice to this cause, echoing the Workers of England Union’s long-held position.

The question now arises: where does this leave other unions like Unite, which have previously opposed the very idea of an English Parliament while continuing to fund the Labour Party?

Chuka Umunna’s Federal Vision

In a keynote speech to the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington DC, Umunna warned that:

“What we are witnessing – as Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University has said – is the end of British electoral politics as we know it. The first break came in the 1970s with Northern Ireland; the second break is now with Scotland, driven by questions of national belonging and cultural identity.”

He argues that the solution lies in embracing people’s natural desire for greater autonomy within their nations while preserving the benefits of a united UK through a more federal structure.

Key Proposals for a Federal UK

Chuka Umunna proposes:

• An English Parliament to sit alongside bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• A federal Labour Party recognising each nation’s unique character
• A Constitutional Convention composed of all political and civil society elements to settle these constitutional issues this Parliament

Such reforms, he asserts, would strengthen the UK by ensuring no nation feels left out and by giving each a proper voice, all under a robust UK Parliament.

Next Steps: Constitutional Renewal

The establishment of a Constitutional Convention would mirror the pride placed on constitutional matters in other democracies, offering radical but necessary change for the UK:

“It would be constructive of our renewal – government of the people, by the people, for the people perhaps.”

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