Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Well without the SNP stringvest, the hunting ammendment might have had a chance of getting through. So the SNP have been very useful here for those opposed to the hunting bill ammendment.


I don't see how four English parliaments would work Loz, unless we adopt a US style two tier government. And given that the south east disproportionately generates tax revenue, can't see how that would help the rest of the country if those powers are devolved, like they have been in Scotland. It all just becomes too complicated, and I believe would further impoverish the North.


It's like a panic has set in because the SNP won a few seats. So now we have to change the rules! In five years the balance could change again. That's politics. All those people voting in Scotland for the SNP were voting for a presence in Westminster, a presence the SNP have every right to use in any way they want to. If Cameron or any party want a working majority, then they have to earn it through the ballot box, and not by changing the rules of parliamentary voting to suit themselves. Remeber the slogan from the independance vote? Better together was the cry from Labour and Tories alike. What they meant was better together as long as you don't kill our parliamentary bills. Cameron better get used to it.

Blah Blah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well without the SNP stringvest, the hunting ammendment might have had a chance of getting through.


Possible, but it was unlikely as it was a free vote. I'd have been surprised to see it pass.


> I don't see how four English parliaments would work Loz, unless we adopt a US style two tier

> government.


Well, yes, with devolution that is exactly the logical conclusions. At the moment we have two tiers in Scotland and Wales, and (sort of) one everywhere else. It's just a constitutional nightmare. And its not just the US that make two tiers work - Australia, Canada, Germany and many others do it too.


> And given that the south east disproportionately generates tax revenue, can't see how that would help the

> rest of the country if those powers are devolved, like they have been in Scotland. It all just becomes too complicated, and

> I believe would further impoverish the North.


That's quite easy to get around - you keep certain tax-raising powers with the national government who can distribute them as necessary. Australia manage this quite easily with rather wildly performing state economies. In fact, it makes the distribution far more visible and so, in theory, more equitable.


> It's like a panic has set in because the SNP won a few seats. So now we have to change the rules!


Actually, the West Lothian Question has been rumbling along for nearly 40 years. EVEL was actually an issue discussed before the election as you can see from that article I linked to. This is not in any way new.

Interesting Loz. You have pursuaded me it could work.


I just get suspicious when electoral, boundary, etc reform takes place as the party in power on the day invariably skews things to benefit themselves if they can. If change were a genuine effort to realise democracy, or to advance the economy etc, then I think I'd pay more attention to the detail. I take your point about the background debate having rumbled on for 40 years though.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Another glowing recco for Jon, he painted our rental flat which after 8 years of a single tenancy was in quite a state. He listened carefully to our requirements, and worked incredibly speedily to deliver us a beautiful job, with real attention-to-detail. I was particularly impressed with how tidy Jon was - he took great care to protect any furniture and flooring and left the place spotless! Highly recommend.
    • Our current councillors follow a rather opposite course, in my view. They certainly don't respect the views of their electorate. 
    • The planters would be lovely if only the plants had been maintained once they had been planted. I think it would have been better not to have had them at all than to just leave them with plants in very poor condition. Were whoever installed them hoping that  residents in the relevant streets would look after them? 
    • I spoke at the council meeting last night to object. 400 people objected to the development. I, and I suspect everyone else, is not against development, BUT the size of this too BIG to accept. The council is held hostage by the developer who is promising 53 affordable homes. And in return they get to build 360 bedrooms for students. The original plan was all student accommodation. 8 stories is completely out of sync. It’s sets a precedent for future development. They have been taking to the council since 2022.  What did not help our cause whatsoever was Counsellors McAsh and Mwangangye speaking as ward counsellors at the meeting. As the Chair of the committee said, it’s not often ward counsellors attend such meetings. The counsellors will say they didn’t speak for or against the development. However, they did speak up for the benefits of the site bringing more affordable housing to the borough. They asked for a window to have frosted glass to protect privacy. They asked for residents to be consulted during the building phase. So let’s be really clear, they did not say anything about the “optimisation” of the site. They did not ask for the site to be scaled down. Now I know why James would not be drawn into discussing the development before now….   Make no mistake, this development is optimised for profit and the trade off is the developer profits at scale and the council have 53 affordable homes. The Southwark Plan says they should respect the character of East Dulwich. How can an 8 story building be ever respectful to the character of East Dulwich. It’s a hugely imposing building.  Unless we stand up together as a community, then we shall be stuck with it, although I suspect we won’t be stuck with our Labour counsellors for much longer… Feeling let down and disappointed this morning.   
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...