English voters face ‘democratic deficit’ without devolved parliament – MP

[RuamRudy]

English voters who do not have a devolved national parliament face a “democratic deficit”, a Conservative MP has warned.

 

Andrew Rosindell... told the Commons that English people suffer with a “rather diminished democratic voice”.

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/andrew-rosindell-northern-ireland-edward-leigh-english-scotland-b1226643.html

 

[RayC]

9 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

English voters who do not have a devolved national parliament face a “democratic deficit”, a Conservative MP has warned.

 

Andrew Rosindell... told the Commons that English people suffer with a “rather diminished democratic voice”.

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/andrew-rosindell-northern-ireland-edward-leigh-english-scotland-b1226643.html

 

 

What would be the point of an English parliament? There isn't really a "democratic deficit", as 85% of Westminster MPs represent English constituencies.

 

An English Assembly would simply be an (almost) exact replica of Westminster.

[RuamRudy]

16 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

What would be the point of an English parliament? There isn't really a "democratic deficit", as 85% of Westminster MPs represent English constituencies.

 

An English Assembly would simply be an (almost) exact replica of Westminster.

 

Or it could spin off the smaller stuff from Westminster to allow it to work at a national / International level with an English assembly focusing on domestic English issues. 

 

100% of the time in the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish parliaments is spent on those countries' affairs. England is not afforded the same level of focus from Westminster. 

[RayC]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Or it could spin off the smaller stuff from Westminster to allow it to work at a national / International level with an English assembly focusing on domestic English issues. 

 

100% of the time in the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish parliaments is spent on those countries' affairs. England is not afforded the same level of focus from Westminster. 

 

I'm not sure what specific national English - as opposed to regional English - issues there might be.

 

In any event, there is already devolution to the metropolitan and county councils in England. There might be a case for transferring more responsibility and powers to these entities but I do see the need for an English parliament.