English 'lose out to rest of UK'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8077709.stm

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England is missing out on EU funding at the expense of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the chairman of the English Democrats has argued.

Robin Tilbrook said England was paying billions of pounds into the EU, but very little was coming back - which he said made his party "Eurosceptic".

The UK's political system meant the English were not represented, he added.

Mr Tilbrook said: "That's why we say we ought to have a party that is putting England first."

Good reception

The English Democrats are campaigning for a parliament and first minister for England to redress what it says is the democratic imbalance caused by devolution.

Mr Tilbrook said a failure by the UK government to speak up for England meant that English people were being short changed.

"What we're saying is that the politicians that we've got ought to be more answerable to the people for whom they're actually taking decisions," he added.

"Quite a lot of extra money is being spent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and not in England -- even where the area of England in question might be poorer than most."

Mr Tilbrook said that English Democrats canvassers had had a good reception from voters, and added that the European Parliament campaign had helped the party identify supporters whom it would target at the next general election.