Don’t forget English grievances over devolution, David Cameron told
David Cameron has come under pressure to give as much time to dealing with “English grievances” over devolution as he has on the independence referendum.
The intervention by Labour MP Frank Field was met with support from the Tory back-benches as he challenged the Prime Minister on perceived constitutional inequalities caused by devolution. It came as Mr Cameron accused the SNP of running away from a referendum as he was also pressed by Nationalist Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil on what he meant last week on more powers for Scotland.
And earlier in Scottish questions there was pressure on the government to make sure that if Scotland breaks away from the Union that it takes a Barnett Formula share of debt, which is bigger than its population share. The point raised by Tory Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns was dismissed by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore who said he “did not envisage Scotland voting for independence”.
Mr Field, MP for Birkenhead, asked Mr Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions: “Will you devote as much time to facing up to the grievances the English feel from the proposals of devolution as you will be giving to considering new proposals of devolution for Scotland?”
But Mr Cameron said: “I want to appeal to my fellow Englishmen to say, ‘This has been a great partnership for Scotland and a great partnership for England too’.”
Western Isles MP Mr MacNeil then told Mr Cameron: “Last week in Edinburgh you said there were more powers on the table for Scotland, but couldn’t name any. Can you name one power you have on your mind in this latest U-turn?”
But Mr Cameron hit back: “I didn’t think the Scottish National Party favoured devolution; I thought you favoured separation. Yet as soon as you’re offered a referendum that gives you the chance to put that in front of the Scottish people, you start running away.”
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Comments
There are 15 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Flakey
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 12:33 AMScotland is Scottish until Westminster wants something from us, then we are suddenly British.
samcoldstream
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 01:12 PMPoliticians are obviously aware that the United Kingdom is slowly but surely shifting towards a Federal form of government, and for entirely selfish reasons, none of these self -serving politicos want anything to do with it. The Lib-Dem Party in particular has a federal constitution, and for over 100 years since Gladstone's time has promoted a Federal Constitution for the UK, yet, whenever elections come around it is the policy they dare not speak?
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:28 AMOK, it wouldn't let me post it all at once, so I broke it down; read it from # 8 onto #.12.
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:26 AM...Scotland MUST vote for independence, that way England too can force a new political structure into place too. Westminster will resist it, but you have the full backing of the E.U. just now., so take full advantage of the E.U. while you've got it. I hope you're all surviving doon there. allymax.
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:25 AMEngland would be under worse devolved government from the Federal Westminster, and Wales, and N.Ireland wouldn't know the difference, they've suffered so much. ..Believe me neighbour, if you think it's bad from Westminster just now, wait until they get us into a federation of states they control omnipotently !
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:24 AMGod forbid we in Scotland, and you in England ever, ever get that political sovereign structure; Scotland would be signing away its sovereignty.
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:24 AMWestminster are trying to force a Federal states of Britain on us.
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:21 AM#, Independence for England; I hope and pray Scotland votes for independence too; but that won't alleviate your problems in England. .
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:19 AMPending Moderation
allymax
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 12:16 AMPending Moderation
Independence for England
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:53 PMLet's hope that Scotland votes for full independence in 2014 and doesn't bottle it and vote NO. Many English people would be very happy and the English Question would be a lot less pressing without Scotland.
Brond
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:03 AMAt the end of January the Scotsman reported that David Cameron believed further powers were inconsistent with staying in the union - now he seems to support perhaps looking at - maybe - some powers which might be doable. I'd say that's either a flip-flop or a muddle.
Hector the Lessor
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:54 AMYou gotta separate the English grievances on devolution from the English grievances on the London Establishment. Nothing worse than two folk having an argument with a common ground for complaint but no real interest in the other guy's point of view.
douglas-home rule
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:51 AM"Offered a referendum"???? When was that? The Britnats have been desperate that Scots not have a say on their own future. If England is to have a fair deal, then federalism would be an answer, but Westminster is against giving up its political and economic hegemony. If we are to get a Barnett share of debt, then we should get a Barnett share of assets, because when the defence and other contracts were getting dished out, we didnt get our share.
BillDunblane
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:54 AMWe should just sit back and watch them. Like ferrets in a sack. Gotta make ye smile. ;D
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