Scottish independence: English parliament calls

DEMANDS for an English parliament must be addressed before Scotland decides whether to leave the UK, according to campaigners.

Eddie Bone: UK will cease to exist if Scots go it alone. Picture: Contributed

They have called for a federal system with devolved administrations in all four home nations.

Eddie Bone, director of the Campaign for an English Parliament, is concerned that England is being left in limbo while Scots debate the future of the Union.

“If we don’t solve the English question first, the unionist argument will fall down quickly,” he said.

“The UK will cease to exist if Scotland votes to leave. Who will represent the English?”

Mr Bone wants British politicians to commit to a federal system giving devolved legislatures to all nations of the UK. The move would answer the so-called West Lothian Question of Scottish MPs being able to vote on issues affecting only England and Wales. He said dealing with the issue was important to unionists, but also to a potential independent Scotland.

“The unionists need to be very firm and give evidence that there will be a federal system across the whole UK,” Mr Bone said. “And Scotland wouldn’t want an unstable country next door if it became independent. It would want something stable.”

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