Leaving "Westminister" who else would?
Discussion
duncancallum said:
Out of a matter interest is it just scotland that want shut of them?
Would a referendum in Cornwall, Lancashire, Yorkshire or even Norfolk run to the heated levels and to the high level of voter participation as the Scottish referendum?
I don't think there would be interest because it's mainly a tribal thing. People see themselves as Scottish and not the same as the English/London, Westminster is not their team. If 300 years ago the words England, Scotland and Wales were written out of books and the whole lot referred to as Britain you probably wouldn't have what's going on tomorrow because 'Scotland' would be thought of in the same way you think of Persia and Prussia.Would a referendum in Cornwall, Lancashire, Yorkshire or even Norfolk run to the heated levels and to the high level of voter participation as the Scottish referendum?
Esseesse said:
Fittster said:
The Irish were happy to go.
Westminster = England.Irish do not see themselves as English.
Maybe we could partition scotland into two, so both yes and no voters could be satisfied.
duncancallum said:
Out of a matter interest is it just scotland that want shut of them?
Would a referendum in Cornwall, Lancashire, Yorkshire or even Norfolk run to the heated levels and to the high level of voter participation as the Scottish referendum?
Them? You mean politicians? No, as they're very useful when things go wrong because we can blame them, just like the Scots will in a few years if they vote yes tomorrow. Would a referendum in Cornwall, Lancashire, Yorkshire or even Norfolk run to the heated levels and to the high level of voter participation as the Scottish referendum?
HTH.
The Westminster stigma isn't really about patriotism or tribalism, rather because that the leaders who make decisions on our behalf have no real understanding, experience or interest in the lives ordinary people live. The common factor is that decisions are not made in the interests of the people these leaders supposedly represent.
I despair every time I see a party candidate shortlist from any of the mainstream parties, particularly in a safe or winnable seat. Nearly always either career politicians or increasingly a level of nepotism I'd expect to see somewhere in the Indian sub continent.
I despair every time I see a party candidate shortlist from any of the mainstream parties, particularly in a safe or winnable seat. Nearly always either career politicians or increasingly a level of nepotism I'd expect to see somewhere in the Indian sub continent.
The north east of England had a referendum a few years ago on whether we wanted a regional assembly. It got voted down pretty convincingly.
I can see some merit in an English parliament but not in slicing it up into EU digestible regions with another layer of politicians and civil servants milking it.
I can see some merit in an English parliament but not in slicing it up into EU digestible regions with another layer of politicians and civil servants milking it.
RedTrident said:
The Westminster stigma isn't really about patriotism or tribalism, rather because that the leaders who make decisions on our behalf have no real understanding, experience or interest in the lives ordinary people live. The common factor is that decisions are not made in the interests of the people these leaders supposedly represent.
I despair every time I see a party candidate shortlist from any of the mainstream parties, particularly in a safe or winnable seat. Nearly always either career politicians or increasingly a level of nepotism I'd expect to see somewhere in the Indian sub continent.
This certainly reflects the views of a lot of people. However it is a complete distortion of reality. The idea that politicians don't understand the public, don't try to represent them, are there to line their pockets by riding the gravy train, and all the other usual stuff is a ridiculous, infantile parody. It's much easier to blame politicians rather than accept that there are a lot of problems that are hard or impossible to address. You can't magic an industrial base into existence. You can't wave a wand and stop crime.I despair every time I see a party candidate shortlist from any of the mainstream parties, particularly in a safe or winnable seat. Nearly always either career politicians or increasingly a level of nepotism I'd expect to see somewhere in the Indian sub continent.
Those who vote Yes on the basis that a Scottish government will do better are in for a big disappointment. You can change your system of government, but the problems they'll be seeking to address will remain exactly as they were before. They won't have been handed a big magic wand. They'll be faced with the same problems and the same policy options.
ATG said:
RedTrident said:
The Westminster stigma isn't really about patriotism or tribalism, rather because that the leaders who make decisions on our behalf have no real understanding, experience or interest in the lives ordinary people live. The common factor is that decisions are not made in the interests of the people these leaders supposedly represent.
I despair every time I see a party candidate shortlist from any of the mainstream parties, particularly in a safe or winnable seat. Nearly always either career politicians or increasingly a level of nepotism I'd expect to see somewhere in the Indian sub continent.
This certainly reflects the views of a lot of people. However it is a complete distortion of reality. I despair every time I see a party candidate shortlist from any of the mainstream parties, particularly in a safe or winnable seat. Nearly always either career politicians or increasingly a level of nepotism I'd expect to see somewhere in the Indian sub continent.
dudleybloke said:
I'd like an independent Black Country! 
Would be interesting to see whether a Black Country government encouraging heavy industry would benefit the region more than a Westminster government that iseems determined to destroy industry in the name of environmentalism.It's one of the reasons why I am sort of understanding the Scottish Yes vote, I've seen the West Mids/ Black Country decimated in recent years with the closure of factories because the UK is no longer competitive due to high taxes and wages.
If a local 'ruling' government had control,I wonder if things would have ended up differently due to the differing priorities with that of a London based government?
I don't see any future in an English parliament. Mainly because I don't think England has any cohesive identity, it's really just a collection of disparate regions. I feel more at home in Norway or Germany (for example) than in many Southern parts of England.
The NE assembly was rejected because it was seen as a talking shop full of more 3rd rate local politicians.
Personally I'd like to see a regional government model, along the lines of that in Germany. I live in NW England and I would vote for that first, 2nd choice would be a separate and independent Northern England, and maybe 3rd an English parliament but I'd be quite lukewarm on it.
Something has to change, we can't go on like this, with or without an independent Scotland.
The NE assembly was rejected because it was seen as a talking shop full of more 3rd rate local politicians.
Personally I'd like to see a regional government model, along the lines of that in Germany. I live in NW England and I would vote for that first, 2nd choice would be a separate and independent Northern England, and maybe 3rd an English parliament but I'd be quite lukewarm on it.
Something has to change, we can't go on like this, with or without an independent Scotland.
I'd love to know what "this" specifically is? All that is going on in Scotland is one politician trying to rest power from another set of politicians for his own aggrandisement, by peddling a pack of lies and half truths.
The truth is, the way to a better life is through yourself not by changing one government for another or one system for another the outcome will still be the same.
Whoever is in power and wherever they reside the fundamental factors remain the same.
The truth is, the way to a better life is through yourself not by changing one government for another or one system for another the outcome will still be the same.
Whoever is in power and wherever they reside the fundamental factors remain the same.
RedTrident said:
Its not at all a distortion of reality. Our political leaders are being drawn from a smaller and smaller demographic group. You only have to look at the Cabinet to see evidence of this.
Compared to when? You claim it is getting "worse". Tell me when it was "better". I must say I think the benefit of supposed diversity is little more than window dressing. The idea that an old Etonian is incapable of empathising with someone from a different background is pretty silly.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff