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The English Question - Eneida (17th May 2005 - 10:47:47) I think it's rather tedious and pointless to go on discussing things that happened in the last century. I'd much rather discuss the future and the battle for England is what many people think will be the next big political issue. It's beautifully explained by William Rees-Mogg in the article I mentioned in the last thread and I urge all of you, of whatever party, to read it because it will affect us all. What he's basically saying is that in 1997 Labour had a majority in England over the Conservatives of more than 3.5 million votes - in the 2005 election the Conservatives ended around 58,000 votes in England ahead of Labour. If the trend continues the Conservatives will be hundreds of thousands of votes ahead in England. So sooner or later Labour would be left with a majority of seats in Wales and Scotland but not in England. So the English Question boils down to "Do the English want to be ruled by the socialist inclined Welsh and Scottish or do they want their own Parliament". The question of Gordon Brown as PM would also come into the equation since he is a Scot representing a Scottish seat. We had this discussion on another website and the majority of people said "yes, we do and about time!!". I would be interested to know what you all think.

Re: The English Question - Dick (17th May 2005 - 19:15:19) "Rule Brittannia" Eneida, Rule Brittannia..

Re: The English Question - Eneida (18th May 2005 - 10:09:23) Dick, you sound a really nice person, even though I don't agree with some of your views. I seriously don't think there's such a thing as a "United Kingdom" anymore, especially now the others have some sort of self rule. Let's face it, the Welsh and Scottish have a go at the English whenever they can! So I really think England should have it's own Parliament and fly the Cross of St. George over it. At the very least, I don't think Welsh and Scottish MPs should be allowed to vote in Westminster on matters that just affect England. I know a lot of perfectly respectable people who share this view.

Re: The English Question - Dick (18th May 2005 - 19:39:02) Eneida, I also know a lot of people that share your view and i can quite understand it, but i think i am one of those who prefer Britain to remain Great and a Kingdom to remain United. When i watch England play against Scotland, I am the most pariotic Englishman you could ever meet, but for the sake of politics I think we should remain as one. I know they have their own Assemblies and they seem to work quite well, but when they were asked the question on a split from the UK, all said no. Britain should be governed by Brits..

Re: The English Question - Dick (19th May 2005 - 17:39:59) you're right Eneida, I am a nice person..

Re: The English Question - Alex Cameron (21st May 2005 - 11:22:18) Devolved partliaments are hilarious - they only serve to increase the distance between the people and those who actually make the decisions, whilst giving the false assumption that they empower those whose lives they govern. One more layer of bureaucracy which makes central government look leaner and meaner - it's a win-win for any politician. But ask yourself this - how easy is it for central to overrule the regional assembly?

Re: The English Question - Mike Grimes (21st May 2005 - 22:55:21) Dick, When Scotland play Poland who do you support? When England play Poland, who do the Scots support?

Re: The English Question - Eneida (22nd May 2005 - 08:07:09) I remember whom the Scots supported when England played Brazil in the last world cup. They were dancing the samba all over Edinburgh !!

Re: The English Question - Dick (22nd May 2005 - 11:30:37) Mike, I try to keep politics and sport apart, although it is much the same. You have two teams, One in Red and One in blue and the red team wins !!! But be reasonable Mike, if Scotland actually PLAYED football then i would have a problem !!!! Eneida, I thought the Samba was an ancient Scottish dance and that is partly why Hadrian built that long, high wall in order to keep it out of the rest of BRITAIN.

Re: The English Question - Eneida (22nd May 2005 - 12:42:16) Oh, what a clever Dick......

Re: The English Question - Mike Grimes (22nd May 2005 - 22:47:32) Eneida, That is an interesting one, when England played Brazil in the last World cup, who did you support?

Re: The English Question - Eneida (23rd May 2005 - 08:05:48) Mike, There wasn't a problem at the last world cup because I was still officially a Brazilian citizen so it was, obviously, my duty to support Brazil. Now, of course, I've sworn allegiance to HM so I will support England whenever they play cricket against Brazil. I've read the citizen test and cricket was the only sport mentioned ;-)

Re: The English Question - S (23rd May 2005 - 10:23:06) Sorry is Cricket a sport? I didn't realise it was anything other than a mind numbing past time for people to cure insomnia. I support all the home counties in any sport.

Re: The English Question - S (23rd May 2005 - 10:43:25) and the home contries aswell

Re: The English Question - Alex Cameron (23rd May 2005 - 10:58:33) Eneida - Did you have to go through one of those ridiculous citizenship ceremonies that Blunkett introduced?

Re: The English Question - Eneida (23rd May 2005 - 12:08:03) I'm not sure, Alex. All I had to do was go to Petersfield were everybody was very friendly. It was just me and 2 American men. We had some music, the Dambusters overture for some inexplicable reason! (which was a little bit unfortunate because one of the Americans was called Heinz Wurst) then we all had to read the oath of allegiance, then we sung God Save the Queen and toasted becoming a citizen with orange juice and Duchy of Cornwall biscuits. HCC also gave us all a very lovely engraved glass paper weight. So it was all very civilized and very English - I don't think it could have been anything to do with Blunkett ;-)

Re: The English Question - Alex Cameron (23rd May 2005 - 14:10:08) Wouldn't a passport in the post and a letter been better value for money? Not that i would want to denegrate your experience, but doesn't it seem slightly silly? I've never sworn allegiance to the crown....

Re: The English Question - Dick (23rd May 2005 - 19:06:15) Eneida, was it all very English or all very British. I too have never sworn allegiance to the crown.. Iv'e probably sworn at someone in the past though, does that count.....

Re: The English Question - Eneida (24th May 2005 - 07:59:07) It might sound slightly silly, but it certainly didn't feel it, although I agree that since I've lived in England most of my life a passport in the post would have been fine. However, swearing allegiance was always part of it, but in the past you had to do it in front of a commissioner for oaths. I suppose they were trying to show that becoming a British (OK Dick, I give up!) citizen should be a special occasion and I agree with that. What about everyone having to swear allegiance to the crown (instead of just generally swearing) when they reach 18?? I think that would be a splendid idea!!

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