The British system of government has for many years been one of the most centralised in Europe. Many more matters are decided at the national level than in Germany or Belgium, for example, where an effective level of regional government has been established.
Recent years have seen steps towards regional government, notably in Scotland and Wales but also on a smaller scale in England. But treating regional and national authorities as representatives of Westminster rather than representatives of the people in the areas concerned does not really change very much.
A federal system would be much better.
In England, some form of sub-national authorities (perhaps the existing regions, perhaps something else) would be directly elected and exercise clearly defined powers. Most of these powers would be drawn from those currently exercised by Whitehall. Such a system could bring the citizens closer to the decisions which most affect their lives. The power of distant bureaucrats would be reduced.
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The United Kingdom is desperate for federal governance. I have notice an increasing frustration expressed by fellow citizens here in the South of England that so much of our tax money is taken by a central London based government and distributed else where in the UK. A federal UK could give us the abilities to control our local services and provide the inhabitants of Southern England with the high quality services that our taxes should be providing.
Fully agree with the need for a Federal UK, and I think the time is right to start articulating for one – along with positive reasons for the Union to exist. I also think we need to offer the Overseas Territories the right to be part of the federation if they wish. Also, districts like Shetland and Cornwall could get autonomy within the larger federal units (Shetland could be an autonomous region of Scotland, in the UK), again if they wished.
I have written a blog on it at http://bit.ly/9Mgw3K
Talk of a federation is pointless unless we intend to get serious about sorting out the relationship of the UK (as in England/Wales/Scotland/NI) with the Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. Each territory/dependency and constituent country should have a referendum on weather or not they wish to become completely independent or join a federal UK, so as to formalise, simplify and equalise the relationships between them.
Personally I favour the Spanish model of autonomous communities as a basis for a new UK arrangement including the “forgotten worlds” that we either ignore or trash by turning into static aircraft carriers.
The United Kingdom is desperate for federal governance. I have notice an increasing frustration expressed by fellow citizens here in the North of England that so much of our tax money is taken by a Manchester based government and distributed else where in the UK. A federal UK could give us the abilities to control our local services and provide the inhabitants of Northern England with the high quality services that our taxes should be providing.
I think Federalism is a must for this country, and failure to make serious moves in that direction will be the end of the Union.
People are angry and are sick of being ruled by Westminster (whether you are English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish). Federalism would be a great way to get rid of the London-centric nature of this country. Westminster has proven time and time again that blanket nationwide policies don’t work. We need more localised policies to deal with local issues.
The UK remains one of the most centralised states in the Western world. This needs to change.
‘Devo-max’ in Scotland will make the need for federalism even greater. Sign the petition for a Federation of British Nations.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1107