Poll finds support for English parliament
The majority of people in the UK want the union of England, Scotland and Wales to continue – although support for a separate English parliament is growing.
A new poll for BBC Two’s Newsnight to mark the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union joining England and Scotland finds widespread support for the status quo.
Almost three-quarters of the English (73 per cent), 56 per cent of Scots and 69 per cent of Welsh believe the union should continue as it is.
At the same time, however, 61 per cent of English people, 51 per cent of Scottish and 48 per cent of Welsh people believe the English should have their own parliament.
This proposal is currently being considered by the Conservatives – David Cameron has promised to look into the idea that only English MPs should be able to vote on laws that only affect England, such as top-up fees or foundation hospitals.
But today Tony Blair rejected the idea as “completely unworkable” and “completely unnecessary”, telling reporters at his monthly press conference: “There is a UK parliament – there should be one class of UK MPs.
“It is a completely unworkable situation with two different classes of MPs and once people actually understand that the English are 85 per cent of the population, that their MPs are in the overwhelming majority in the parliament, I think a lot of these issues fall away.”
Gordon Brown has warned the English votes plan could lead to the “Balkanisation of Britain” and would only fuel nationalist sentiment. Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell has also warned that nationalism in either country could be “deeply damaging”.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) are currently doing well in the polls ahead of May’s Holyrood elections, and recent surveys have suggested as many as half of all Scots would support the party’s call for an independent Scotland.
SNP leader Alex Salmond has promised to hold a referendum on independence if his party wins May’s Holyrood elections, and has accused Labour and the Tories of “Natbashing” simply to win votes.
However, the Newsnight poll suggests only 32 per cent of Scots are in favour of independence, along with 16 per cent of English and 19 per cent of Welsh.
Mr Blair said an independence referendum would “create a situation of enormous uncertainty and instability”, adding that separating England and Scotland would be an “incredibly regressive and reactionary step”.
“In commerce, in trade, in security and above all in shared values, the union of England and Scotland continues to be good for England, good for Scotland and right for the future of Britain and so we should celebrate today with pride,” he said.
Today marks the 300th anniversary of the day the Treaty of Union was ratified by the Scottish parliament, although the legislation formally joining England and Scotland did not take effect until May 1st that year.
The next 12 months will see a series of small celebrations to mark the event, and today Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander and leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw will unveil a commemorative £2 coin.
However, shadow Scotland secretary David Mundell said last night: “It’s no good saying on one day you want to promote the union and then only being prepared to come up with a £2 coin to mark the event on the next.”
But the prime minister said: “I think the most important thing is not fireworks but argument and giving a coherent reason as to why the union of England and Scotland is good for today’s world and the future, and it is, it is tremendously beneficial.”
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