A devolved English Parliament, giving separate decision-making powers to representatives for voters in England similar to the representation given by the Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, is currently an issue in British politics. The Campaign for an English Parliament is a pressure group that are lobbying for this. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my [birth]right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAfW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) is a devolved assembly (not a full legislature) with power to make regulations in Wales, and also is responsible for most UK government departments in Wales. ... For the national legislative body adjourned in 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly is a six flowered linen or flax plant, chosen for the plants historical economic importance to the region. ... The politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. ...

History

Main article: Parliament of England

The first English Parliament arose during the thirteenth century, comprising members of the nobility and clergy, and representatives from shires and boroughs. It developed a bicameral arrangement with an upper House of Lords for the nobility and clergy, and a lower House of Commons for the shires and boroughs. The powers of the parliament were fairly great: the king could not institute a new law or tax without its consent. The Parliament of England can trace its roots back to the early medieval period. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... For information on the fictional Shire of J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, see Shire (Middle-earth) A shire is an administrative area of Great Britain. ... A borough is a local government administrative subdivision used in the Canadian province of Quebec, in some states of the United States, and formerly in New Zealand. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ...

The Laws in Wales Acts passed in 1536 and 1543, incorporating Wales into England. Previously, not all members were English by birth (notably Simon de Montfort), or had solely English concerns, but now, members could be elected by, and for, people who were not English. The parliament convened in 1542 had twenty-seven elected Welsh members in the House of Commons. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and the norms of English administration introduced in order to create a single state and a single legal jurisdiction, which is frequently referred to as England... Events February 2 - Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founds Buenos Aires, Argentina. ... // Events February 21 - Battle of Wayna Daga - A combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeat the armies of Adal led by Ahmed Gragn. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... The English are an ethnic group originating in the lowlands of Great Britain and are descendent primarily from the Anglo-Saxons, the Celts with minor influences from the Scandanavians and other groups. ... From the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (1208 – August 4, 1265) was the principal leader of the baronial opposition to King Henry III of England. ... A map of Europe in the 1430s, near the end of the Hundred Years War The Hundred Years War is the name modern historians have given to what was actually a series of related conflicts, fought over a 116-year period, between England and France, and later Burgundy; beginning in... Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ...

The English Parliament was dissolved (and the Parliament of Scotland with it) by Treaty of Union in 1707, and replaced with the Parliament of Great Britain. The Parliament of Scotland, was the legislature for the independent Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Act of Union 1707 creating a Parliament of Great Britain. ... Walter Thomas Monningtons 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the law that formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain. ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal April 25 - Allied army is defeated by Bourbonic army at Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...

Devolution and the West Lothian question

Main article: West Lothian Question

Following the first elections to the newly created Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly in 1999 England was left as the only nation in the United Kingdom with no separate representative body, although the Northern Ireland Assembly has been subject to periods of suspension. The West Lothian question was a question posed by Tam Dalyell, MP for the Scottish constituency of West Lothian during a debate over Scottish devolution in the 1970s. ... For the national legislative body adjourned in 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following a 1997 referendum in which a small majority of voters (but not the electorate) voted in favour of the Labour Governments plans for devolution. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly is a six flowered linen or flax plant, chosen for the plants historical economic importance to the region. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my [birth]right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked... One of the most influential doctrines in history is that all humans are divided into groups called nations. ...

The West Lothian question which was posed by the Scottish MP Tam Dalyell in the 1970s is wide open: The West Lothian question was a question posed by Tam Dalyell, MP for the Scottish constituency of West Lothian during a debate over Scottish devolution in the 1970s. ... Sir Thomas Dalyell of the Binns, 11th Baronet (born August 9, 1932), more commonly known as Tam Dalyell (pronounced ), is a British politician and was a Labour member of the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005. ...

If power over Scottish affairs is devolved to a Scottish Parliament, how can it be right that MPs representing Scottish constituencies in the Parliament of the United Kingdom still have the power to vote on equivalent issues affecting England and other parts of the UK, but not Scotland?

Since the Welsh Assembly has no primary legislative powers, the introduction of an English Parliament would mean that the Assembly would gain legislative competence and become a Welsh Parliament. Of the mainstream political parties in Wales, only Plaid Cymru (which wants outright independence) and the Liberal Democrats support this. Scotland and Northern Ireland already have separate legal systems and laws, so the delegation of legislative authority does not cause any such issues. The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my [birth]right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked... Plaid, in full Plaid Cymru (pronounced IPA: ) – The Party of Wales, is the principal nationalist political party in Wales. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. ...

It is interesting to note that the Labour Party have avoided this question because any diminution of the influence of Welsh and Scottish MPs in English affairs could lead to a Labour government having minority support when voting on issues which only affect England. The Labour Party has since its formation in the early 20th century been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom (see British politics). ...

Simon Hughes, one of the unsuccesful candidates in the recent Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2006 is on record as being in favour of an English Parliament. Simon Hughes. ... Chris Huhne, Menzies Campbell and Simon Hughes at the London Hustings in Friends Meeting House on 23rd February The 2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election was won by Menzies Campbell. ...

Proposals

Consequently, some have advocated a new English Parliament, entirely separate from the British parliament, to counteract what they see as a democratic imbalance. Provision for such body existed in Tony Benn's defeated Commonwealth of Britain Bill. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Tony Benn about to join March 2005 anti-war demo in London The Right Honourable Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn (born April 3, 1925), known as Tony Benn, formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, is a British politician on the left of the Labour Party. ... The Commonwealth of Britain Bill was introduced by Tony Benn, who was then a Labour MP in the House of Commons, first in 1991. ...

Alternatively, some would have this parliament take the form of an English Grand Committee in the United Kingdom House of Commons rather than as a new body with separate elections, while some see it as replacing the House of Commons, with a reformed House of Lords being the sole UK chamber. The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ...

Activity

There are currently several groups working to raise this issue of a Devolved English Parliament, including the Campaign for an English Parliament and the English Constitutional Convention. Also, the English Democrats Party supports the creation of an English parliament, although they have achieved limited success at the polls as of 2006. See also List of Parliaments of England External link Campaign for an English Parliament English Constitutional Convention Categories: English politics | England | Politics of England | Politics of the UK | United Kingdom | European politics | English independence ... A pressure group lobbying for a Devolved English Parliament. ... The English Democrats Party, previously the English National Party, is the largest and best established English nationalist political party in England, with representation throughout England, which seeks the establishment of a Parliament for England with at least the same powers as those granted to the Scottish Parliament. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

English Regions

The current Labour government favours devolution to nine regions within England, claiming that it is too populous (with over 80% of the UK's population) to be governed as a subnational entity. Consideration has yet to be given to what powers these regions will eventually wield, and what impact this will have on the role of local and national government. The Labour Party has since its formation in the early 20th century been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... The BOGUS regions, also known as BOGUS FASCIST SCOTTISH Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity in England. ... Subnational entity is a generic term for an administrative region within a country — on an arbitrary level below that of the sovereign state — typically with a local government encompassing multiple municipalities, counties, or provinces with a certain degree of autonomy in a varying number of matters. ... The United Kingdom is divided into four parts, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ... Central government or the national government (or, in federal states, the federal government) is the government at the level of the nation state. ...

The first regional assembly was established for Greater London on 2000-07-03, after a referendum which showed a majority of 72% in support. But Greater London is seen as a special case, and such a high level of public support is atypical. In all other regions, notably the South West England and South East England, there is little interest. Growing support for the assemblies was thought to be present in the north of England, but a referendum to establish a regional assembly for North East England on 2004-11-04 was defeated by a majority of 78% against. Further referenda in the other regions, notably those planned for Yorkshire and the Humber and North West England have been abandoned. For more coverage on London, visit the London Portal. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... South West England is one of the regions of England. ... South East England is one of the official regions of England. ... The three northern regions. ... North East England is one of the regions of England. ... It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... Yorkshire and The Humber is one of the regions of England. ... North West England is one of the regions of England. ...

See also

• English nationalism
• List of Parliaments of England
• Commonwealth of Britain Bill

English nationalism is the name given to a political movement of English people seeking the re-establishment of an independent sovereign state of England, via the dissolution of the United Kingdom, or self-government for England via a devolved English parliament. ... This is a list of Parliaments of England from the reign of Henry VII to 1707. ... The Commonwealth of Britain Bill was introduced by Tony Benn, who was then a Labour MP in the House of Commons, first in 1991. ...

External links

• Campaign for an English Parliament
• English Constitutional Convention
• English Democrats Party website