SECOND-CLASS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY: Why an English Parliament Would Stop the Rot

How much longer are the English supposed to tolerate being treated like second-class citizens in their own country? It’s time for England to stand up, and demand its own parliament—before there’s nothing left to save.

England should have its own Parliament, just as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all do. Allowing the English to govern their own affairs would not only redress that imbalance, it would enable the English people to make England great again.

Tony Blair denied England its own parliament.

In 1997, shortly after taking office, Tony Blair carved up the United Kingdom. Under the lie of 'devolution', he gave new powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to govern themselves — while deliberately denying the same to the English people.

This was no accident, it was by design. Blair wanted to break up the United Kingdom, and the best way to do that was to play on the anti-English sentiment that had festered in all three countries for decades.

Blair also knew that with Scotland and Wales leaning hard left, he'd bake in permanent socialist rule somewhere in the UK—no matter how England voted. It wasn’t devolution. It was division by design.

The English are the only people in the UK without a voice, while their money bankrolls the very governments that despise them.

The Scottish and Welsh elites whine about “oppression” while sitting in cushy devolved assemblies, spitting venom at England and demanding more cash. Meanwhile, English interests are trampled, its people silenced, and its wealth siphoned off to fund the endless grievance industry of its bitter, ungrateful neighbours

How much longer must the English people be treated as second-class citizens in their own country?

It’s time for England to stand up, kick the parasites out, and demand its own parliament—before there’s nothing left to save.

Calls for an English government have grown louder in recent years, but recently, the voices have become louder again. And not without reason. England is the only nation in the UK without its own legislature, leaving English domestic matters—such as borders, immigration, education, health, and transport—decided by MPs from across the UK. It’s a situation that defies common sense and democratic fairness.

The 'West Lothian' Question

At the heart of the issue lies the West Lothian Question. This term refers to the unfair reality that MPs from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can vote on matters affecting England—such as the NHS or schools—while English MPs have no say over devolved issues in those countries. It's a constitutional hangover that erodes trust and undermines English democracy.

An English Parliament would offer a much-needed solution to the problems England faces. It would allow for policy-making tailored to England's unique social and economic landscape. Moreover, such a shift would create greater accountability. At present, it’s often unclear whether a policy was the result of UK-wide decision-making or England-only legislation. This confusion allows politicians to evade responsibility and muddies public debate. An English government would draw a clear line in the sand: if something goes wrong, we know who to hold to account.

Here are 9 reasons why England should have its own parliament:

1. Democratic Fairness: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own devolved parliaments or assemblies—England is the only nation in the UK without one.

2. Addressing the West Lothian Question: MPs from devolved nations can vote on English laws, but English MPs can’t vote on devolved matters—an imbalance that must be addressed.

3. Tailored Policy-Making: England could develop policies better suited to its specific needs, such as in education, healthcare, and and mass immigration.

4. Greater Accountability: A dedicated English government would make it clearer who is responsible for decisions affecting England, reducing political blame-shifting, and eliminate meddling from other nations within the union.

5. Strengthening English Identity: For far too long the English identity has been attacked and reviled by the British government. This most stop, and an English parliament would be the obvious way to do that.

6. Responding to English Public Opinion: Polls repeatedly show English voters feel underrepresented— particularly in things like mass uncontrolled immigration. The English people suffer the majority of the problem, yet have no voice to complain. For this reason alone England must have an English government.

   
   

7. Ending Over-centralisation: London dominates decision-making; a new English government could decentralise power within England itself. Yorkshire, the Midlands or even Cornwall could hold an English Parliament, places currently all but ignored by those in the Metropolitan bubble.

   
   

8. Boosting Regional Equality: An English government could focus on levelling up regions that have been left behind by UK-wide policies.

   
   

9. Protection of Free Speech: Freedom of Speech is the very cornerstone of England's democracy. An English Parliament could ensure that, unlike in Scotland, Free Speech is protected under English law.

   
   

   England is not a region. It’s a nation. A proud one. One with a thousand year history, A country, and a people, who invented modernity, and it deserves its own voice, its own government, and its rightful place in the modern democratic landscape.

   
   

   Philip James is a proud Englishman.