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Devolution needs a UK-wide strategy to avoid English resentment, say MPs Devolution needs a UK-wide strategy to avoid English resentment, say MPs
(6 months later)
A cross-party committee of MPs has warned ministers that resentment amongst English voters will worsen unless they set up a convention to look at expanding devolution across the UK.A cross-party committee of MPs has warned ministers that resentment amongst English voters will worsen unless they set up a convention to look at expanding devolution across the UK.
The political and constitutional reform select committee said a constitutional convention was also needed to develop a comprehensive, UK-wide strategy on devolution after the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.The political and constitutional reform select committee said a constitutional convention was also needed to develop a comprehensive, UK-wide strategy on devolution after the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.
Until now, devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was being carried out piecemeal and without any overarching vision about the future of the UK: that risked leaving the union fragmented and disorganised.Until now, devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was being carried out piecemeal and without any overarching vision about the future of the UK: that risked leaving the union fragmented and disorganised.
In a report to be published on Thursday, the MPs say there is growing unhappiness in England about the lack of local devolution and the failure of successive governments to consider the impact of Scottish and Welsh devolution on Westminster and on England's needs.In a report to be published on Thursday, the MPs say there is growing unhappiness in England about the lack of local devolution and the failure of successive governments to consider the impact of Scottish and Welsh devolution on Westminster and on England's needs.
That trend identified by a government-appointed commission which called for greater influence for English MPs over England-only legislation. The McKay commission cited polling evidence from the Institute for Public Policy Research, which found that 62% of English voters felt the government was failing to work in their interests.That trend identified by a government-appointed commission which called for greater influence for English MPs over England-only legislation. The McKay commission cited polling evidence from the Institute for Public Policy Research, which found that 62% of English voters felt the government was failing to work in their interests.
Graham Allen, the committee's chairman, said he had encountered that resentment in his own Nottingham constituency.Graham Allen, the committee's chairman, said he had encountered that resentment in his own Nottingham constituency.
"A little well intentioned tinkering with Westminster parliamentary procedure is not enough," Allen said, referring to the McKay commission."A little well intentioned tinkering with Westminster parliamentary procedure is not enough," Allen said, referring to the McKay commission.
"England needs to come to the devolution party too and as we approach the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015 there couldn't be a better time to generate public interest throughout the union, not just in our constitutional heritage but in settling the democratic future of the United Kingdom.""England needs to come to the devolution party too and as we approach the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015 there couldn't be a better time to generate public interest throughout the union, not just in our constitutional heritage but in settling the democratic future of the United Kingdom."
The committee hopes to add impetus to emerging discussions within the Tory party and Downing Street about setting up a UK-wide devolution convention after the September 2014 referendum on Scottish independence.The committee hopes to add impetus to emerging discussions within the Tory party and Downing Street about setting up a UK-wide devolution convention after the September 2014 referendum on Scottish independence.
David Cameron is said to be interested in the idea, which has been gathering support amongst Scottish and Welsh Tories. Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, said earlier this week that her party now accepted the need for much greater devolution to Scotland, she said the Tories would work with Labour on agreeing new proposals.David Cameron is said to be interested in the idea, which has been gathering support amongst Scottish and Welsh Tories. Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, said earlier this week that her party now accepted the need for much greater devolution to Scotland, she said the Tories would work with Labour on agreeing new proposals.
Labour is also considering greater devolution to Scotland and within the UK in policy reviews being carried out by both the Scottish and UK parties. The Liberal Democrats are working on similar proposals, which is expected to see greater agreement between the UK parties for Scotland and Wales to get greater local powers over taxation and policy.Labour is also considering greater devolution to Scotland and within the UK in policy reviews being carried out by both the Scottish and UK parties. The Liberal Democrats are working on similar proposals, which is expected to see greater agreement between the UK parties for Scotland and Wales to get greater local powers over taxation and policy.
The select committee report, Do we need a constitutional convention for the UK? said it understood why devolution to different parts of the UK was "bespoke", tailored to fit each country or area's needs. But it needed to be coordinated, it said, and extended within England to local and regional level.The select committee report, Do we need a constitutional convention for the UK? said it understood why devolution to different parts of the UK was "bespoke", tailored to fit each country or area's needs. But it needed to be coordinated, it said, and extended within England to local and regional level.
"A strong lasting democratic settlement for the UK must be built upon two principles those of devolution and union. That is to say, a broad acceptance of the role and powers of the union, allied to a respect for different but agreed forms of devolution for the nations that make up the union," it said."A strong lasting democratic settlement for the UK must be built upon two principles those of devolution and union. That is to say, a broad acceptance of the role and powers of the union, allied to a respect for different but agreed forms of devolution for the nations that make up the union," it said.
"This way, everyone in the union will see that devolution is not an expedient but a founding democratic principle to be applied to all parts of the union in the future.""This way, everyone in the union will see that devolution is not an expedient but a founding democratic principle to be applied to all parts of the union in the future."
It then warned: "Failure to respond in a timely way to the natural desires of people to run their own affairs has been a contributory factor to antagonism towards Whitehall and Westminster. Devolution has, and must continue to tackle that problem.It then warned: "Failure to respond in a timely way to the natural desires of people to run their own affairs has been a contributory factor to antagonism towards Whitehall and Westminster. Devolution has, and must continue to tackle that problem.
"The failure to answer the English question, and the reality that the largest nation in the union is still micromanaged from Whitehall, has and will continue to cause tension with the rest of the union.""The failure to answer the English question, and the reality that the largest nation in the union is still micromanaged from Whitehall, has and will continue to cause tension with the rest of the union."
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