Summary
After a year in which further devolution for Wales moved up the agenda, Labour MP for Wrexham Ian Lucas explains why he thinks devolution for England could help strengthen the United Kingdom SOON after Labour's 1997 landslide, the decision was rightly made to press for devolved forms of government for Wales and Scotland. At the height of its power, Labour showed its democratic instincts by giving away power and autonomy. At the same time, it was decided that we should not make the case for devolution in the regions of England. This was a mistake which has determined the context for devolution across the United Kingdom ever since.
Since then, devolution debates have played into the hands of separatists who see devolved powers as a precursor to the formal break-up of the United Kingdom. For the Labour Party, devolution since 1997 has been a road with an unknown destination. We have failed to agree on the aims of devolution, and failed to initiate a debate about it.See the full content of this document
Extract
Devolution for England
We need to make the case for devolution and against those who wish to separate our peoples. We must win this case on the grounds of efficiency - establishing that devolved government improves the quality of life for the people o...
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