What Might an English Parliament Look Like?

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Posted By: admin 28/11/2016

Introduction

Dear Member,

The Workers of England Union campaigns for an English government that publishes clearly stated policies for England. Pressuring political parties to include England-specific commitments in their manifestos has been challenging. However, our efforts are gaining recognition, and several MPs now support calls for an English Parliament.

Political Support for an English Parliament

Leading advocates include:

• Labour Party: Frank Field, Tristram Hunt (PDF), Chuka Umunna, John Denham
• Conservative Party: John Redwood, David Davis, Lord Salisbury
• Other Groups: Robin Tilbrook (English Democrats), Paul Nuttall (UKIP)

Only Accountable MPs Can Protect Our Employment Rights

We believe that only through accountable, England-specific representation can we safeguard workers’ rights. Please join us in making the case for an English Parliament.

Regards,

Stephen Morris
General Secretary
Workers of England Union

Constitution Unit Consultation

The Constitution Unit has launched a consultation on the design options for an English Parliament. Your detailed responses will guide their research and are not treated as a simple opinion poll.

Please take this opportunity to fill in the Constitution Unit’s survey:
What might an English Parliament look like? (Blog Post)

Best regards,

Eddie
Campaign Director
Campaign for an English Parliament

What Might an English Parliament Look Like?

Posted on November 24, 2016 by The Constitution Unit

The Constitution Unit has begun a new project examining the design options for an English Parliament. Once dismissed as unrealistic, support has grown, and key questions about structure, powers and financing now deserve serious consideration. In this post, Jack Sheldon and Prof. Meg Russell outline these questions and invite detailed responses in a consultation open until 27 January 2017.

Background

Calls for an English Parliament date back decades but have often been dismissed due to England’s population dominance within the UK. As the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly gained legislative and tax-raising powers, debates over “England-only” legislation (the West Lothian Question) intensified. The Conservative government introduced “English Votes for English Laws” (EVEL) in 2015, but its long-term viability remains uncertain.

Factors driving renewed interest include:

• Greater powers for devolved institutions in Scotland and Wales
• Debate over the UK’s future relationship with the EU post-Brexit
• Growth in English national identity and its political implications

Key Design Questions

Our project will explore (and seeks your views on) questions such as:

• Purpose: Should an English Parliament bind the UK together or facilitate English independence?
• Composition: Elected separately or drawn from English MPs with a dual mandate?
• Powers: Equivalent to the Scottish Parliament or limited to specific fields?
• Size & Structure: Number of members, unicameral or bicameral?
• Electoral System: First-past-the-post or an alternative voting system?
• Location: Westminster or a new regional seat?
• Government: Separate English government and First Minister?
• Financing: A new funding model beyond the Barnett formula?
• Relation to Regions: Interaction with city-regions and regional devolution?
• Implications for Westminster: UK Parliament size, possible bicameral reform, Whitehall changes?

Consultation Details

We invite detailed responses from experts in electoral systems, federalism, subnational government and public finance. This is not a popularity poll; your considered input will shape our analysis. Complete the consultation here (closes 27 January 2017).

About the Authors

Jack Sheldon is a Research Assistant at the Constitution Unit, editing the Unit’s newsletter and blog, and leading work on the English Parliament project.

Prof. Meg Russell is Director of the Constitution Unit.

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