THE English Democrats Party was launched some three years ago to campaign against John Prescott's plans to use regionalisation as a weapon to destroy English National identity.

By Robin Tilbrook

English Democrats Party

THE English Democrats Party was launched some three years ago to campaign against John Prescott's plans to use regionalisation as a weapon to destroy English National identity. As Charles Kennedy enthusiastically put it “In England Regional(isation) is calling into question the idea of England itself.” John Prescott even went so far as to officially (and prematurely) claim that “there is no such nationality as English.”

The only time that regionalisation has been put to voters was in the north-east “Region”, which voted against the break-up of England in November 2004 by a resounding 79%!

An intelligent observer might think that the Conservative Party would think it is in their interest to stand up for English national identity, but, in fact, they have been consistently willing to sacrifice England's interests to maintain the “Union”.

The Liberal Democrats are fixed on the European federalisation project and are so hostile to Englishness that Vincent Cable MP, one of their leaders in setting up the Scottish Parliament, has even gone so far as to claim that English Nationalists are as much a “threat ...to harmonious social relations in Britain .... as Islamic Fundamentalists.”

Even Gordon Brown has now realised that the evaporation of British National identity, which is largely complete in Scotland and Wales, is also occurring in England and is threatening his chances of becoming the next Prime Minister. English Democrats are not against maintaining the United Kingdom for foreign affairs, defence, etc, but we are opposed to a false notion of Britishness being foisted upon the English in order to advance, at our expense, the careers of Westminster politicians.

Scotland now has its own Parliament because, Tony Blair said, it is “a proud and historic nation.”. The Welsh now have their Assembly, as the Act says, to be the “focus” for their nation. It is now time to have fair and democratic devolution for England.

English Democrats argue that fairness must give England a parliament in which MPs for Scottish and Welsh seats cannot vote on English issues. We also must have our own first minister, whose job will depend, just like those of the first ministers of Wales and Scotland for their countries, upon working for our interests.

This would ensure that in future unfair and disproportionate subsidies do not go to other parts of the United Kingdom - which is what is happening now under the indefensible Barnet Formula.

Robin Tilbrook is Chairman of the Ongar based English Democrats Party and contested the 2004 elections to the European Parliament.