Is devolution within the British Parliament a good thing?

[hippykiller]

Recent changes to the constitutional structure of the United Kingdom have the potential to profoundly alter Great Britain's future. A signal development is the 1999 signing of the Belfast Agreement, which re-established a devolved parliament in Northern Ireland. Together with the new Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, this accord is a milestone in the process of decentralizing the British state. In his campaign for election as prime minister, New Labour leader Tony Blair boldly promised to create regional governments for Britain. The constitutional changes enacted under his leadership now suggest the outlines of a federal state. Taken together, the new Scottish and Welsh institutions, the hard-fought settlement in Northern Ireland, fledgling development authorities for the English regions, and an elected mayor for London, all point in this direction. While the process has thus far been orchestrated by the governing Labour Party, there is also a possibility that national independence movements could split the country into separate nations, or into a confederation of semi-sovereign nations. The changing balance of power in the British Isles is particularly significant when viewed within the context of the European Union. Traditionally a highly centralized state,...


so whats you view on all this?

 

[Gooble]

If Scotland/Wales/Northern Island/Counties/Cites want independence, then let them have it. I personally believe that it's far easier to implement effective government if they are in charge of small regions/numbers of people, the smaller the better.

If things work out for the people involved, then good for them, and if not then they'll just be integrated back in to a centralized governing body.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Uk Politics is the most singularly confusing thing I've have come across being a dull-witted American. But I don't see why obviously successful and able countries shouldn't be allowed their independence.

 

[Danny Ocean]

The problem comes when you realise that these supposed 'countries' are far too small to get by on their own as they would unified.

Still, say you decentralise them. If it still remains democratic, then it still means that the biggest country has the biggest say, and so nothing has really changed.

Also, the amount of bickering over funding (If it all comes from the same pot) would be monumental, no?

 

[Nmil-ek]

Could someone put this into lamens terms I dozed off.

 

[theSovietConnection]

I have to agree with Danny, they seem too small to effectively be their own nations.

 

[JanatUrlich]

Yeah, so long as Parliament remains sovereign by retaining the right to take that power back whenever it wishes.

PARLIAMENTARY SOVREIGNTY FTW!!

But yeah, I'm all for it. The Welsh Assembly is shit anyway. Just over 50% of the Welsh wanted it anyway when the referendum came around, so I can understand why it's so rubbish in comparison with the Scottish Parliament.

It just means that now England is in the shit, as Scottish and Welsh MP's can influence bills in Westminster and have them implemented, but then choose to disregard them when it applies to their country. I think that Scottish and Welsh MP's should not be able to sit in Parliament if they want their own Parliaments

/rant

 

[Player 2]

Could someone put this into lamens terms I dozed off.

The men who live with sheep and wear skirts want to rule themselves. Some people think this is a bad idea and want the men in top hats to rule over everybody.

 

[hippykiller]

I have to agree with Danny, they seem too small to effectively be their own nations.

now hold on one moment! look at The Republic Of Ireland. were small but we are now one of the most fastest growing country's in Europe. and the Republic would be even more successful if Ulster would join with the south.

 

[hippykiller]

Could someone put this into lamens terms I dozed off.

The men who live with sheep and wear skirts want to rule themselves. Some people think this is a bad idea and want the men in top hats to rule over everybody.

like the fucking Nazis. oh and it not just the Scots that want independence. the Irish in Ulster and the welsh want to be free as well.

 

[AngloDoom]

Could someone put this into lamens terms I dozed off.

The men who live with sheep and wear skirts want to rule themselves. Some people think this is a bad idea and want the men in top hats to rule over everybody.

like the fucking Nazis. oh and it not just the Scots that want independence. the Irish in Ulster and the welsh want to be free as well.

Damn those Nazis and their eventual aim of conquering Wales.

Also, jedstopher's simplification of the issue could be adapted into a 'Punch n' Judy' style show. And it should. Because it was cool.

 

[Serendipitay]

The entire English youth is devolving. They've (a lot/most of them) turned in to disgusting beings that crawl on each other at the age of 14, then they get pregnant by the age of 16-18, ridiculous..

A lot of the youth there seems to be missing a proper education, and goals in life. I'm not saying that all of the youth suffers from this, but I can well damn tell you that it's happning.

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

The UK is so small devolution is not needed. All it is is pandering to the groups who want independence. All it does is cost the taxpayer more money. It also raises issues such as the west loathian question..

Uk Politics is the most singularly confusing thing I've have come across being a dull-witted American. But I don't see why obviously successful and able countries shouldn't be allowed their independence.

They are not successful or able. Without the English taxpayer supporting them, these countries could not afford to even run themselves. They would collapse. They could not afford police, NHS, education etc. We are all that supports them.
Sorry if this offends anyone from Scotland, Ireland adn Wales but its true. Check out the stats. you are all areas who get far more tax money than you put in.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

It's a pretty sound idea that could take us in a good direction, it's just a shame that at the moment the Welsh party is incredibly weak and doesn't even have much respect from the Welsh.

 

[iain62a]

Devolution of Parliament is a good idea. Each region is much more autonomous that way.

One thing that I've never understood is why England don't have their own devolved parliament that decides English affairs.

At the moment all they have is the houses of parliament, which governs the whole of Britain.

 

[DannyBoy451]

Devolution of Parliament is a good idea. Each region is much more autonomous that way.

One thing that I've never understood is why England don't have their own devolved parliament that decides English affairs.

At the moment all they have is the houses of parliament, which governs the whole of Britain.

You seem to be forgetting one simple thing:

Essentially, Britain IS England.

 

[TheAwkwardSnail]

Devolution is a great idea, but independence is not. Giving Scotland and Wales more power to govern themselves is a great idea, but as already stated, they aren't big enough to handle themselves independently.

What about a devolved England? What if the British parliament was England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland deciding on landwide policies, and then each governed their own country individually, instead of what seems to be us English holding all the power.

I suppose this would be similar to the federal system in the US, UK laws and policies, then national laws and policies.