The role of an English Parliament

'The role of an English Parliament, which is now firmly on the UK political agenda, will be to focus minds on England's future as a distinct nation. It will come about because Scotland and Wales enabled by devolution are now re-establishing and re-creating their own separate identities, legislation, and cultures within the United Kingdom and the European Union. The more the two of them become separate and distinct, the more England does too and the more this island returns to its roots as three historic nations.

This is the message sent to the CEP membership by its National Council as the three main political parties prepare for their annual conferences following on the TUC conference and the new political year of 2009-10 begins, to conclude within 9 months with the General Election.

'The National Council has fully endorsed the statement of one of its members, Gareth Young from Brighton in Sussex, about what the role and purpose of the Campaign is. 'Our task,' writes Mr Young, 'is to foster a strong and confident English culture in which all the people of England take pride, making it more likely that newcomers from whatever faith and background can have confidence in it too.' Mr Young was thinking of the stresses and strains of England's society as it deals with the current depression, the appalling increase in unemployment especially among those under 25 years of age, the lack and the cost of housing for young couples , the threats to England's beautiful natural heritage and the stresses created by the modern juxta-position of different cultures. 'An English parliament and proper recognition of our one nationhood is a cornerstone of this,' he stated.

In its message the National Council re-asserted two of its basic principles which are of incalculable importance in our times. 'By English the CEP means anyone and everyone who lives in England, for whom England is home and future, regardless of origin, ethnicity, religion and politics. We are one nation. And the CEP expects everyone to live by the principle, achieved over centuries of hard struggle and bitter experience, as the bedrock of our English way of life, that democracy allows, indeed encourages, dissent and debate, yet demands that we all submit to the rule of law as laid down for all by Parliament. England is one community, one people, in which everyone should regard their fellow Englishmen and women as their family, their neighbours, sharing the same fortunes and misfortunes, the same land and the same weather, the same air and the same shores -their common land, their common shores, their common present and future. No one group should strive for advantage. Everyone should value what is good throughout society. England expects, and rightly expects, that each one of us, no matter what our background or religion or politics might be, works for the common good of all. That is what an English Parliament is about'.

Contact:
Michael Knowles CEP Media Unit.
Tel: 01260 2711239 Email: michael-knowles@ tiscali.co. uk

We must not forget that it is the British that are denying England its political recognition, the British MPs we have sent to parliament to represent England, it is these who are to blame. Until we have our own English MPs not British MPs representing England nothing is going to change.

No written constitution or any other major constitutional changes should be seriously discussed until the people of the United Kingdom have been given a chance by referendum to decide whether they want to stay in or come out of the European Union because that is fundamental to any decisions we have to make, and it effects the very existence of the nation state.