Leader: Change is coming – and not just for Scotland

HAS the long-predicted English backlash against Scotland begun? On the evidence of polling released today, it may well have.

Voters in England believe Scottish devolution has made the way Britain is governed worse. They think they get a raw deal financially, with Scotland getting more than its fair share of public spending and England losing out.

Perhaps as a result of this, people in England are finally beginning to feel more English than British. In that respect they are following the Scots, for those north of the Border have long felt more Scottish than British, even if they are comfortable with their joint identity. The question that arises from this change in attitude is what impact this will have on the independence debate upon which we are embarked.

It is perhaps significant that English voters now back what has been called “devo-max” for Scotland – what others might call fiscal autonomy. Given the English think Scotland gets a bad deal, that is understandable, and logical: a Scotland with increased powers should raise a substantial proportion of the money Holyrood spends. To this extent, we agree with this view.

However, there is a problem in terms of the English attitude to devolution south of the Border, with some backing the idea of English votes on English issues at Westminster, but other supporting a fully-fledged English parliament. It is in this area where the problems arise. The English parliament idea was floated at the weekend by senior Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes, only to be slapped down yesterday by his party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Mr Clegg was right to do so. An English parliament would dominate the whole of the UK, as long as it exists. Equally, MPs voting on “English” matters only is difficult, as it runs into problems of identifying exactly what is an England-only measure and creates two classes of MP.

What all this suggests is that future constitutional change cannot be limited to the Celtic fringes. To date, devolution has been reactive, piecemeal and ad hoc, rather than part of a wider reform of administration in the UK. That has only fuelled the SNP’s desire for more power north of the Border, and made English voters feel left out of the constitutional debate.

Unfortunately, many voters now feel cynical about politicians in general, so the market for constitutional big ideas is fairly limited. There is certainly scant evidence of much popular support in England for federalism – the most logical solution for unionists, but which would mean dividing England up and which was tentatively tried by Labour and rejected by voters. The more radical option of an elected English parliament is not particularly popular either. However, it is clear from this poll that the status quo is no longer an option.

It would be a sensible for the big beasts in Britain’s three main parties to seize the constitutional initiative. Just calling for a No vote on Scottish independence will no longer do.