Foulkes urges Britain to become federal nation

Published on Saturday 19 January 2008 18:02

BRITAIN should be turned into a federal nation in order to end the country's constitutional war, one of Scottish Labour's most senior figures has declared.

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said it was time to consider a separate English chamber in London so all four nations of the UK have their own forum under a sovereign UK Parliament.

He said this would lead to a "sensible, stable and proper" solution to the "constitutional conundrum" thrown up by Scottish and Welsh devolution.

Lord Foulkes's call is at odds with the Labour party's official opposition to any more constitutional change in the UK.

UK ministers have expressed their opposition to the creation of a federal system. Justice Secretary Jack Straw declared last year that it would "break the Union altogether".

However, Foulkes says such a move would create a "just" answer to those English people who believe they should have their own parliament. He argues an English forum would finally answer the West Lothian Question, which asked why Scots MPs should be able to vote on English-only affairs at Westminster, but not the other way around.

Writing in Scotland on Sunday today, he states: "The four countries of the UK have more in common with each other – culturally, historically, geographically and in many other ways – than many federations around the world."

His Labour colleagues have dismissed federalism because they believe England makes up too big a part of the UK to make it a stable prospect.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, which backs federalism, said: "A Federal solution it the most coherent and sensible long-term way of sustaining the UK."

A Conservative party spokesman said: "If George Foulkes wants to get involved in the discussion about how to answer the West Lothian Question, then we welcome him to the club."