Thursday 23 April 2009

Sunday 5 April 2009

Supersized Unitary Authorities

Following the overwhelming 'NO' from the people of the North-East in the referendum on elected Regional Assemblies, the government promised to abandon the idea. They nevertheless continued to install them and even appointed a minister to each. But they have, for once fulfilled their promise and, as of yesterdayay, the S.E. Regional Assembly was dissolved. Good news? Far from it. As 'part of their plans to streamline regional working arrangements, its Sub-National Review', from today there will be a new S.E. Partnership Board. This will have planning, housing, transport responsibilites, and will ensure that Brussels is kept informed about the the regions' interest. This is no change except by name, it is an unelected body. More ominously, while there are many distractions, the government has announced that 44 English district and county councils will be replaced by 7, ( although 9 were also reported), 'supersized' authorites. I am hoping, being April 1st, it's a joke, but I fear not. We are on our way to the break- up of England into 9 EU Regions.
Nationalism seems to be given more space in the media this week ,even if it is swamped with international summit news. Bojo has decided that London will have not only a St. George's Day, but a St. George's week. At last he has found something to give the English a boost. Meanwhile the Plaid Cymru has joined the party season and their leader has raised the issue of Wales having a more powerful Assembly. He has also criticised Westminster for bailing out the financial institutions instead of targeting 'real' industries and jobs. To add to the nationalism fervour, Holyrood MSP's have attended the Welsh meeting and have voiced the view that both Scotland and Wales can become full nation states. But apart from some rather spasmodic celebrations of St. George's Day throughout England, ( not helped by the heads of the government's refusal to recognise England as a nation), no mention of England's representatives looking after English interests. Because we don't have any representation by an English Nationalist Party, why not? Finally, a petition to No10 asking for the signatories to the Scottish claim of Right to renounce their their pledge that the interests of the Scottish people shall be paramount has been turned down. It finishes, after a lot of blather, with -
'There is no question of any participant in the Scottish Constitutional Convention, whether or not they are now a member of the Government, having a conflict of interest.'
And we all beleive what the politicians tell us, don't we?

Friday 3 April 2009

EU Regions

Although the planned break-up of England by Brussels into 9 Regions is not usually discussed as an issue alongside that of an English Parliament, it is nevertheless very pertinent.
The announcement on April 1st about the S.E. of England Regional Assembly being dissolved was not the good news it should have been. It was replaced with the S.E.E Partnership Board. At the same time, the government replaced 44 District and County Councils with 7 'supersized' or Unitary Authorities. However the governments spins this announcement, it is nothing less than a thinly disguised move towards the previously planned 9 Regional Assemblies, which are as the EU wants England to be. If this continues, our hopes for an English Parliament will be ended.